A shot list is the most important document on a shoot day — it tells your team what to capture, what angle to use, and what size the frame should be. Building one manually from a script takes time and is easy to miss shots in. AI can generate a draft shot list from your script in minutes.
Important: AI-generated shot lists are drafts — not final documents. AI doesn't know what equipment you own, what your location actually looks like, or what your visual style is. Review and adjust before shooting day.
How AI shot list generation works
You provide your script to an AI tool (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) along with context — video type, equipment, visual style — and the AI parses the script, identifies scenes, and suggests corresponding shots.
AI will suggest: shot types (wide, medium, close-up), camera angles, camera movements, and sometimes lighting notes. This is a strong starting point — but it needs real-world adjustment.
Sample prompt for AI shot list generation
I have a 5-minute YouTube tutorial script about [topic].
Video type: [tutorial/vlog/product review/...].
Equipment: [camera model], [lens], [gimbal if any].
Location: [studio/outdoor/office].
Style: [clean and minimal/dynamic/cinematic].
Based on the script below, create a detailed shot list in this format:
- Shot number
- Scene / script timestamp
- Shot type (WS/MS/CU/ECU/...)
- Camera angle
- Camera movement (static/pan/tilt/dolly/...)
- Notes (lighting, props, special considerations)
[Paste your script here]Reviewing and adapting the AI shot list
After getting the AI draft, check for:
- Feasibility: Are the suggested shots achievable with your actual equipment and location? AI might suggest a crane shot when you don't have a crane
- Coverage: Are there enough shots to edit a seamless video? Add cutaways and B-roll where missing
- Efficient shoot order: Reorganize by location logic — capture all shots from the same angle before repositioning
- Time estimate: Estimate setup and capture time per shot to see if it fits your shooting schedule
Basic shot list format
| # | Scene | Description | Type | Movement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro 0:00 | Host to camera, opening line | MS | Static | Eye-level, key light front |
| 2 | Intro 0:15 | Close-up hands on product | CU | Static | Macro lens if available |
| 3 | Tutorial 0:30 | Wide establishing of full setup | WS | Slow pan | Introduce full scene context |
Best AI tools for shot list generation
- ChatGPT or Claude: Best overall — handles long scripts, large context window
- Notion AI: Convenient if your script is already in Notion — generates the shot list within your existing workspace
- Celtx: Professional scripting software with built-in shot list functionality — not pure AI but integrated workflow
Also see AI storyboard from script guide and AI B-roll suggestion guide for video creators.
Download reference videos to analyze shot lists and filming styles via @KlypioBot or Klypio YouTube downloader.