Volta Studio

How do you turn a script into a shot list?

To turn a script into a shot list, go through it scene by scene, decide which part of the text each shot covers, give each shot a size, an angle and a move, and check that every line is covered. In Volta Studio each shot is tied to its range of the script, so the list shows what is covered and what changed when the script does.

What goes in a shot list?

A shot list says what the camera does, in order. For each shot, write down:

  • What it covers in the script, and a line describing it.
  • The size: wide, medium, close-up.
  • The angle and any move.
  • Who and what is in it, and where it is.
  • How long it runs.

How to turn a script into a shot list

  1. Import the script.

    Bring it in as a PDF, Final Draft, Word or Fountain file, or write it in the editor. Scenes are read from the scene headings.

  2. Break it down first.

    Pull out the characters, locations and props, so each shot can name them instead of describing them again.

  3. Start with the master.

    Cover the whole scene in one wide shot, even if you barely use it. It tells you the geography, and it guarantees the scene can be cut.

  4. Line the script.

    Draw each shot over the lines it covers. A gap in the lining is a moment no camera sees, and overlaps give you choices in the edit.

  5. Choose sizes for what the scene needs.

    Go closer as a scene gets more intense. Keep the 180-degree line, so people look at each other across the cut.

  6. Let AI suggest coverage, then edit it.

    AI coverage can propose shots for a scene from its text. Treat it as a first pass: keep what serves the scene and cut the rest.

  7. Check it against the budget.

    Every shot costs something, on a shoot or in tokens. If the list is long, merge shots before you make any.

Common questions

Can AI make a shot list from a script?
Yes. Volta's AI coverage drafts shots from a scene's text, each tied to the lines it covers. It works best as a first pass that a director then edits.
What is the difference between a shot list and a storyboard?
A shot list is the camera plan in words. A storyboard is the same plan in pictures. Most productions make the list first, and draw from it.
How many shots does a scene need?
As many as the scene needs to be understood, and no more. Many short dialogue scenes work with a master and two close-ups. A vertical microdrama usually needs fewer wide shots, because faces carry a 9:16 frame.
What is a lined script?
A script with a line drawn through the text each shot covers. It shows at a glance what is covered and by which shot. Volta draws it from the shot list.