One continuous shot or real cuts

For every scene with more than one beat, write both options, then choose.

Write both options, then make one choice [proven]. Record the choice in your shot plan with a one-line reason:

• One continuous generated shot when the beats are one camera idea moving through one world: one primary action, up to about four visual beats, each in its own window, on one camera path.

• Several shots, each cut hard to a clearly new angle, when the beats are separate key moments. Neighbouring shots differ in both size and angle, or they morph instead of cutting.

One scene usually becomes 2–4 shots [official guidance]. The viewer sees this choice, so it goes in the shot list as a decision, not a method.

Never plan on one clip's last frame matching the next clip's first frame. A mismatch can't be fixed in the edit, so a scene is either one continuous shot or real cuts (see Planning, budgets and takes → The rules for each shot).

Sources

• Higgsfield's script-to-storyboard guide (beats into shots); Higgsfield Academy (courses).