Exercise: Backwards Shot List Film: Donnie Darko (2001)

Creating a Visually Precise Shot List

Scene: Scale: Angle: Camera Move: Character Dialogue or
Blocking: Action:
1 American Shot Straight/Frontal Steadicam Child 1 in right Children
Angle foreground of dancing in
frame. talent show

Child 2 in left
background of
frame.
2 Medium Shot Straight/Frontal Dolly Shot Donnie Donnie Darko
angle meanders moving towards
through from middle of room.
right
foreground to
left foreground.
Then walks to
center frame
middle ground.
3 Medium shot Straight/frontal Static Donnie in Donnie looks
angle middle ground, sinisterly.
center frame.
4 Wide Shot Straight/Frontal static Dancing Children are
angle children, dancing their
middle in routine in talent
foreground of show. They
frame, two spin, and film
children on starts to slow
sides - middle down.
ground. Two
children
towards front
are in
background.
5 Medium shot Straight/frontal Static Donnie in Donnie begins
angle middle ground, to spread
center frame. arsenic over the
room. Then
walks to
foreground of
frame.
6 American Shot Straight/Frontal Static Girl in 2/3 Girls are
Angle foreground of dancing their
shot. Other routine. Jumps.
girls range from
 middle ground
to background.
7 Wide Shot Straight/Frontal static Dancing Children are
angle children, dancing their
middle in routine in talent
foreground of show. Then spin
frame, two to their finish
children on formation.
sides - middle
ground. Two
children
towards front
are in
background.
8 Medium High Angle Boom Shot Couch occupies Fire spreads on
background of couch.
frame, while
table ornaments
are in
foreground and
unfocused.
9 American Shot Straight/Frontal Tilt Mothers Mothers stand
Angle (presumably) up and cheer.
stand up and
cheer in middle
right
foreground of
frame.
10 Medium Shot Straight/Frontal Static Donnie Darko Donnie Darko
Angle moves from leaves room
middle left burning.
middle ground
to right
foreground of
frame.
11 Long Shot Straight/Frontal Static Audience is Audience stand
Angle from left up and cheer.
foreground to
right
background of
frame.
12 Medium Shot Low angle Static Animal plaque Flame engulfs
fore middle animal plaque
ground left of and wall.
frame. Fire
towards right
 background.
13 Wide Shot Straight/Frontal static All girls now in Girl's strutting
angle finished pose final pose of
occupy middle dance routine.
background of
frame
14 Medium Close Low Angle Static Teacher Teacher folds
Up occupies left arms in
middle ground approval.
of frame.
15 Close Up Straight/Frontal Static Painting Painting being
Angle occupies destroyed by
middle left flame.
middle ground Revealing
of flame. Flame canvas.
moves from
right middle
ground
engulfing
painting.
16 Medium Shot Straight/Frontal Static Three girls Middle girl
Angle from dance raises up her
group occupy hand as they
middle ground pose.
of frame
17 Medium Shot Straight/Frontal Static Three adults Sister, Dad,
Angle occupy middle Mom (Left to
ground. right) applause
18 Medium Shot Low Angle Static Teacher Teacher struts
occupies right with pride.
foreground of
frame. Light
occupies
middle left
background.
19 Wide Shot Straight/Frontal static All girls now in Girls finish
angle finished pose pose and leave
occupy middle stage.
background of
frame.
20 Medium Shot Straight/Frontal Static Woman Woman takes
Angle occupies left off glasses in
middle ground. contentment.
21 Medium Shot High Angle Dolly Shot Girl occupies Girl
Middle left sitting/sulking,
 middle ground looking
of frame. upward.
-Dolly-
Looks up.
Becomes center
foreground.

22 Full Figure shot Straight/Frontal Dolly/Tilt/Pan Donnie Darko Donnie Darko

Angle (Respectively) middle left walks into
background theatre.
walking
forward. Walks
to Left
foreground -
(Camera pans) -
Donnie sits in
seat.
23 Medium Shot Straight/Frontal Pan Donnie and Donnie sits next
Angle Gretchen in to Gretchen in
left-right the theatre.
middle
foreground.
24 American Shot Straight/Frontal Static Firefighter in Firefighter
Angle middle left makes report of
middle ground. arson.
Burnt house in
right
background.
Firefighter
walks forward
to left
foreground of
frame.
25 American Shot Straight/Frontal Static Sister in middle Sister watches
Angle left middle report of Arson
ground of next day.
frame.
26 Close Up High angle Static Television in Sister watches
foreground of television.
frame.
27 American Shot Straight/Frontal Static Sister in middle Sister watches
Angle left middle report of Arson
ground of next day.
frame.
28 Close Up High angle Static Television in Sister watches
 foreground of television.
frame.
29 American Shot Straight/Frontal Static Sister in middle Sister watches
Angle left middle report of Arson
ground of next day.
frame. Donnie
moves into to Donnie watches
sit right middle news with
ground of sister.
frame.
30 Medium Close Straight/Frontal Static Television in Television
Up Angle middle ground broadcasting.
of frame.