2.2 – Shot List Creation Lesson

Lesson Overview

Turning a script into a video means thinking beyond words—visual planning is crucial. A shot list is simply a sequential list of every major camera shot or visual frame that you plan to include. Making this list early creates consistency and helps you control how your story unfolds on screen. This lesson shows you how to create such a list—and how artificial intelligence, like ChatGPT, can help brainstorm and organize ideas fast. You’ll see how a new chat thread keeps your workflow tidy and your ideas accessible. Whether you approach your video with a full vision or prefer to brainstorm options, using AI for shot list generation gives you added creativity and flexibility. You can ask for specific moods, experiment with alternative shot ideas, and guide the AI to help you find the right style—be it suspenseful, artistic, or inspired by directors like Spielberg. Creators who plan their shots using this method find it much easier to generate consistent, high-quality visuals later in production.

Who This Is For

Anyone who needs a practical system for planning video content or visual elements will find this lesson valuable.

• Creative professionals making short films or social content
• Solo creators and storytellers aiming for more visually structured videos
• Producers seeking to manage projects efficiently
• Educators teaching media or storytelling
• Content teams collaborating with AI tools
• Anyone planning to use their script to direct visuals with more control

Where This Fits in a Workflow

Creating your shot list comes directly after finishing your outline and script, and before you generate the actual images or video clips. The shot list bridges your written story and the visual assets you'll need. For example, before you begin creating AI-generated visuals, you’ll know exactly which shots to request. In a practical sense, the shot list acts as your visual checklist when directing your story or briefing other creators. If you’re collaborating with others, or repeating the process for multiple scripts, having organized, reusable shot lists speeds up the production phase and keeps projects on track.

Technical & Workflow Benefits

Traditionally, shot lists are created manually, which can be slow and vulnerable to missing creative opportunities. By using AI, you generate a first draft instantly and see new angles you might not have considered. For example, specifying a mood (like suspenseful) or referencing a specific director’s style instantly tailors the suggestions. You also save time as you can quickly generate variations—such as more artistic or abstract shot options—simply by prompting ChatGPT. Organization also improves, since starting with a new chat thread dedicated to shot planning keeps visual prep separate from scriptwriting. Renaming each chat as you go means searching for materials later is efficient and frustration-free. This method is especially useful for solo creators or small teams who need structured, repeatable, and adaptable processes as part of their workflow.

Practice Exercise

Select one of your finished scripts, or use a brief scene you’ve written.

1. Open a new ChatGPT chat thread and upload the script.
2. Use a clear prompt: “Generate a linear shot list for this story. Make it suspenseful and visually striking, including both wide shots and unique closeups.”
3. Review the AI’s shot list, then ask for a revised version: “Add a few more artistic and stylized shots.”

Reflection: How did the AI’s suggestions compare to what you pictured? Did it give you ideas you wouldn’t have considered on your own?

Course Context Recap

You’ve now moved from scriptwriting to the crucial step of visual planning with your shot list. This lesson builds directly on your outline and script, providing a methodical way to plan for visual storytelling using AI. Coming up, you’ll learn how to turn each item from your shot list into specific visual assets or scenes, making your story ready for production. Continue through the course to see how these steps combine into a simple system for creating polished, AI-powered movies.