The Continuity System (PowerPoint)
This 34-page presentation explains the key elements of the continuity system, and how you can use them to ensure your movie makes sense to viewers. It’s illustrated with clips and stills from my EditClass editable movie package. Free/Pay What you Want. Download it here.
PDF film planning forms
Right-click on the image (or touch and hold on mobile) to download the full-size PDF.
Please read the terms and conditions at the bottom before downloading.
Shot Size Poster
This PDF poster covers all the main shot sizes and abbreviations, from extreme long shot to extreme closeup.
Filmmaking templates
Storyboard
You can use this for planning how to shoot a scene and making sure your shots will make sense together. Put drawings of your shots in the boxes on the left, and descriptions of the images and sound in the other two columns. If you want to change the order of shots or add shots in, you can cut the sheet into strips and tape it together, or just renumber the clips (write numbers to the left of the pictures).
Shot list
You don’t always need a storyboard. A shot list is another way to make sure you get the shots you need. You can use it with a storyboard, or on its own.
Call sheet
A call sheet lists the main information you need for a day’s shoot. It includes names of crew and actors and a brief description of the action. I designed this simplified version for amateur, school and youth filmmaking.
Logging sheet
If your film has more than a few shots, you’ll need to review each clip you’ve filmed before you edit. Use this sheet to make notes about the content and quality of each clip, putting a tick or a cross in the ‘Good’ column. You can also use logging sheets to plan a ‘paper edit’: photocopy the sheets, highlight the good takes, then cut them out in strips and work out which order to use them in.
Documentary script
You can use this simple template to plan a documentary or a news item. The left column is for the text of voiceovers, presentations or interviews; the other two columns are for describing images, sound and music.
- All of these resources are copyright © Learnaboutfilm Ltd.
- You can print them out and use them for planning your own films or for training in schools and not for profit organisations.
- You must not sell them, host them on your own website, deep link to them, use them for commercial courses or include them in your own publications or resources without prior written permission.
- You must not remove the Learnaboutfilm logo, copyright notice and link.
If you find these free resources useful, please consider supporting Learnaboutfilm by buying me a coffee or becoming a supporter.
