A/V Two Column Script and Shot List

The two column, or A/V script format is designed for non-narrative, non-talky productions. Instructional, corporate, documentary, etc. It lists what the viewer will see and hear in parallel columns, in a linear start at A and finish at B style that is easy to read and understand. Unlike the Hollywood narrative script format, this format is designed to be a working document that all crew can reference.

While the two column script format is meant to be directly useable as an on-set reference document, many producers may find it useful to create a shot list document separate from the script. This is particularly true if the audio and video portions are not tightly bound together, as in the case of primarily voice over or narrated videos. A shotlist would be a numbered list of the shots necessary to tell the story, whether that's narrative, documentary, or instructional. A script may use broad descriptions to allow the reader to use their imagination to set the scene. A shot list should do no such thing. A shotlist should be as detailed and specific as possible. Including as much detail as possible will speed operations on set and reduce the potential for errors or omissions that might necessitate re-shoots or other costly and time-consuming correction.