# Shot list template for video ads > A copy-and-paste shot list template for video ads with a filled-in 20-second example and a way to group shots by setup so you film faster. - **Author**: Marxx - **Published**: 2026-11-06 - **Category**: Video editing - **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-templates/shot-list-template --- A shot list is a table with one row per shot. Each row has the shot number, the picture, the framing, the line, the length and the setup. ## The template Copy this and fill it before you film, so every shot has a job. ``` SHOT LIST: [Ad name] Length: [20 s] Ratio: [9:16] Shoot date: [date] NO | SETUP | SHOT (what we see) | FRAMING | LINE OR TEXT | SECONDS | DONE 1 | [A] | [Product on the desk, hand enters] | [close-up] | [hook line] | [3] | [ ] 2 | [A] | [ ] | [medium] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] 3 | [B] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] TOTAL SECONDS: [must match the target length] PROPS AND OUTFITS: [list] LOCATIONS: [list] SOUND TO RECORD: [voice, room tone, product sounds] ``` ## A filled-in example This is a 20-second ad we wrote for a made-up steel water bottle. Letters in the Setup column mark shots that share one camera position and light. | # | Setup | Shot | Framing | Line or text | Seconds | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | A | Bottle on a desk, hand enters | Close-up | "Still cold at 3pm." | 3 | | 2 | A | Hand twists the lid open | Close-up | | 2 | | 3 | B | Person at desk, wipes a sweaty glass | Medium | "My old bottle never did this." | 3 | | 4 | B | Pours water, ice clinks | Close-up | | 3 | | 5 | C | Bottle dropped on a rug, lid stays shut | Wide | "Drop-tested." | 3 | | 6 | A | Bottle next to a price card | Medium | "INR 899. Link below." | 3 | | 7 | A | Logo and button text | Plain card | "Shop now" | 3 | "Drop-tested" is only true if you ran the test. Cut any line you cannot back. ## Group shots by setup Filming in order wastes time. Group shots that share a camera position and light, film them together, then reorder in the edit. Say each setup takes 15 minutes to light and place. - Filming in order (A, A, B, B, C, A, A): you set up A, then B, then C, then A again. That is 4 setups: 4 x 15 = 60 minutes. - Filming by setup: A (shots 1, 2, 6, 7), then B (3, 4), then C (5). That is 3 setups: 3 x 15 = 45 minutes. You save 15 minutes on one ad. Use your own setup time. ## Tips - **Film the hook three ways.** Change only the opening line or shot, then test each. See [how to write ad hooks](/guides/how-to-write-ad-hooks). - **Frame for 9:16.** Meta asks you to keep the top 14%, bottom 35% and sides 6% of Reels ads clear of text (checked 3 Nov 2026). Keep the subject near the middle. - **Add two spare seconds.** Hold each shot a little before and after the action. Editors need the room. - **Plan cutaways.** A second list for cover footage helps. Use the [B-roll shot list template](/templates/b-roll-shot-list-template). - **Hand it over with a brief.** The [video editor brief template](/templates/video-editor-brief-template) says how the shots become an ad. To learn from a real ad, break it into rows first with the [video ad teardown template](/templates/video-ad-teardown-template). For a script to film from, see the [ad script examples](/templates/ad-script-examples). We make Marxx. In [Marxx's AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor), you can add a competitor's ad as reference media and break it down shot by shot: where the hook lands, how long each shot holds and where the offer appears. ## FAQ ### How many shots should a 30-second ad have? There is no fixed number. If you change shot every two to four seconds, 30 seconds needs about 8 to 15 shots (30 / 4 to 30 / 2). ### Should the shot list include sound? Yes. Note which lines need a clean voice recording, and record room tone and product sounds while you are set up. --- - [More Video editing articles](https://marxx.ai/library-templates/category/video-editing) - [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-templates)