I get real nervous when a new or very young director comes to me and wants to shoot without a shot-list. Personally I haven't worked with anyone yet that have shown enough discipline to shoot without one. What I also feel is that with a shot-list you know all the time what you cutting to in the next scene and then, consequently you can work in the appropriate movement and technical stuff to accommodate the cuts where needed. Nothing is more unprofessional, irritating and a total waste of time to me then a director who thinks he knows (without having seen the need for a shot-list) trying to figure it out on set what to do next or doing shots that is not going to cut or which are totally unnecessary.
In the same breath I must confess I find it very exhilarating and encouraging to work directors who, while on set, see opportunity and take advantage of it to enhance the story. I really don't mind doing extra work or setups when the actor is having a "ahhh" moment or something which would otherwise not have been available presents it self. I reckon it all depends on what you shooting, who is directing, what the work setup is and how much time is available. For me it helps with my "workflow", I get a chance to wrap my brain around what the director wants so we end up making more of the same movie on set.
Walking it through on set would be the second best thing to doing a shot-list but that is not always possible. What are these other areas your talking about? Maybe I'm getting too old for run and gunning it on set
