Making out a shot sheet

Making out a shot sheet

Electronic Photo and Video Communications

Why make out a shot sheet?

A shot sheet gives reporter or producer a list of shots from which to choose to illustrate story. It allows the reporter or producer to write the story in such a way as to use the video in the most effective way. It allows the reporter and producer to "write to the video," which means to write the story so that a person in the audience feels that the narrator is talking directly to that person in the audience about the video at which they are both looking. It is a way of making the story more personal to the viewer. For example, instead of the narrator telling the audience member that there was a memorial service for custodian John Adams while the audience member sees video of that service, the narrator says, "this commemorative service was held" for custodian John Adams. The 2nd version refers directly to what the viewer is seeing, making connection between the narration and the video much more direct and establishing a connection directly to the viewer who is more likely to feel that the narrator is talking directly to them about a real event right on the screen in front of them.

Example of a shot sheet:

You don't have to use this exact format, but you do have to create a shot sheet for every video that you shoot. It does not matter whether you are shooting the video for yourself or someone else... if you shoot it, you are responsible for making out the shot sheet.

Shot sheet for: John Adams Memorial VO/bite

Tape #		Description on Tape Label		John Adams Memorial
Check here to indicate a shot that you want to use.	Description		For sound bites or stand‑ups			Times on original tape
			Incue		Outcue	Beginning time	Ending time	Total time
	Beginning of video					10:00:00
	Beginning of audio					10:25:00
Ö	Little white guy in suit with red shirt talks about Mr. Adams (Rev Sam Hammett/Baptist Pastor (Ret.)		“He was a church man…”		“…he would come here.”	13:59:00	14:15:22	00:16:22
Ö	Wide shot of right side of church					19:38:00	19:49:00	00:11:00
Ö	Person with head bowed in prayer					20:02:22	20:07:00	00:04:08
Ö	Medium shot of left side of church					20:23:00	20:34:00	00:11:00
Ö	2‑shot of Mr. Revan and fiance’ sitting in pew					21:04:00	21:26:00	00:22:00
Ö	Clayton Foster/John Adam’s Brother-in-Law		”He would come up and he would say…”		“…that was hard to get.”	23:36:00	24:01:07	00:37:07
	Cut-away of people in pews					32:29:00	32:34:00
Ö	Robert Sellars/Assistant Principal & Adam’s Supervisor		“I walked almost to the door…”		“…ready to look at (laughter).”	34:00:00	34:24:14
Ö	Robert Sellars/Assistant Principal & Adam’s Supervisor		“He was there for the kids when a lot of…”		“…get another chance.”	35:00:00	35:19:00
Ö	Speaker wraps up and leaves podium to handshakes					37:45:00	37:45:00

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Description

Times on original tape