Auto Background Scheduling

G-Casper Pro automates the most time-consuming parts of BG planning: building your role group list, estimating call times, and keeping that list in sync when the breakdown changes. All three are driven by the same scene breakdown data you already have.

• BG Role Groups from Import: Extras data in your breakdown file auto-creates one role group per (scene, role) pair in BG List
• Auto-Draft BG Call Times: The same engine that drafts cast call times also calculates draft call times for BG roles based on the scene schedule
• Update from Breakdown (Smart Merge): Compares your current breakdown data to existing role groups and shows a diff - adds new groups, flags quantity changes, and surfaces deletions for your review

When you import a breakdown file (Movie Magic, USS, or Excel), G-Casper Pro parses the EXTRAS column on every scene and creates a BG role group for each distinct role type. A scene with '8 SCHOOL KIDS, 6 OFFICE WORKERS' produces two groups - one for SCHOOL KIDS with a planned count of 8 and one for OFFICE WORKERS with a planned count of 6. Each group is linked to its source scene so the BG Breakdown view can aggregate by shoot day.

• One group is created per (scene, role) pair
• Planned count comes directly from the quantity in the extras field
• Group name uses the role label exactly as written in the breakdown
• Groups appear immediately in BG List after import completes

G-Casper Pro's auto-draft engine calculates draft call times for BG roles using the same call-block-set-lose logic it applies to cast. Each BG role group gets a draft call time based on when its associated scene is scheduled in the shoot day. Draft times appear at 50% opacity on CS Front to signal they are estimated, not confirmed. You confirm or adjust each one before sending the call sheet.

• Draft call times are calculated from the scene's scheduled start time and the standard prep buffer for background
• All draft times appear at reduced opacity on CS Front - they are visible but clearly unconfirmed
• Clicking a draft call time to edit it promotes it to a confirmed time (full opacity)
• Re-running the auto-draft engine on a day does not overwrite confirmed times - only blanks or unconfirmed drafts are replaced

When your scene breakdown changes after import - scenes added, extras quantities revised, new roles written in - the Update from Breakdown button re-reads the current breakdown data and merges it against your existing role groups. It does not blindly overwrite your BG List. It computes a diff and presents it for your review.

• New role groups in the breakdown (no existing match) are added to BG List
• Existing groups with a blank planned count get updated to the breakdown quantity
• Groups where the breakdown quantity differs from the current planned count are flagged for review - you decide whether to accept the change
• Groups that no longer appear in the breakdown are flagged as potentially deleted - you decide whether to remove them
• Results appear in a blue summary bar at the top of BG List after the merge runs