Before you even start filming, what two planning tools help you draw out and list all the shots you need to tell your story?

The two planning tools that help you draw out and list all the shots you need to tell your story before filming are the storyboard and the shot list. A storyboard is a series of sequential drawings or images that visually depict the key moments of a film, scene, or sequence, much like a comic book. Each panel of the storyboard represents a specific shot, illustrating camera angles, character blocking, movement, and often includes accompanying notes for dialogue, sound, or camera action. This process visually 'draws out' the entire story's sequence of images, allowing filmmakers to see the visual flow and composition of each shot before production begins. The storyboard effectively creates a visual list of shots in their intended order. A shot list, on the other hand, is a detailed written document that meticulously catalogues every single shot required for a production, typically organized scene by scene. This document comprehensively 'lists' each shot, providing specific information such as the scene number, individual shot number, a textual description of the shot type (e.g., wide shot, close-up), camera movement instructions, lens choice, and any particular sound or actor requirements. The shot list serves as a practical blueprint for the director of photography and the camera crew, ensuring that every necessary shot is identified, planned, and systematically captured, effectively listing all the required shots in a detailed, organized manner.