Before You Begin
Before you start, gather:
- Production basics (title, company name, contact details)
- Your schedule from scheduling software (ThinkCrew, Movie Magic), or at least your first shoot day
- Key crew members and their departments
- Location information for your first shoot day
Tip: If you have a schedule, import it first. That brings in the scenes, cast and days.
Step 1: Create a New Production
Set up your production:
- Click New Production on the dashboard. It opens Create New Production
- Enter the Production Name
- Set the First Shoot Date, the number of Shoot Days and the General Crew Call
- Pick your Scene Grid Banners, check the Summary and create it
Tip: You can edit production details later.
Step 2: Set Up Your Crew List
Your crew list drives the call sheet back. Crew is organized by department:
| Department | Typical Positions |
|---|---|
| Production | Producer, UPM, Production Coordinator, PA |
| Director | Director, 1st AD, 2nd AD, 2nd 2nd AD |
| Camera | DP, Camera Operator, 1st AC, 2nd AC, DIT |
| Sound | Production Sound Mixer, Boom Operator |
| Grip & Electric | Gaffer, Key Grip, Best Boy Electric, Best Boy Grip |
| Art | Production Designer, Art Director, Set Decorator |
| Hair & Makeup | Department Head Hair, Department Head Makeup |
| Wardrobe | Costume Designer, Wardrobe Supervisor |
| Locations | Location Manager, Assistant Location Manager |
Step 3: Add Your Cast
For each cast member, specify:
- Actor name and character name
- Food restrictions and pickup details
- Which scenes they are in, through the breakdown
Step 4: Create Your Shooting Day
Create your first shooting day:
- On the Days tab, click + Add on a shoot week's banner
- In Add Shooting Day, set the Shoot Date and General Crew Call. Day numbers are assigned for you
- Drag scene strips onto the day in the Stripboard view, or add them in the CS Front scene schedule
- The call sheet picks up the day's scenes
Step 5: Set Call Times
Set the GENERAL CREW CALL on the CS Front header, then set individual crew calls on the CS Back. Each call is stored relative to crew call:
| Call Time Entry | What It Means | Example (7:00 AM Crew Call) |
|---|---|---|
| Call | Same as General Crew Call | 7:00 AM |
| Call-30 | 30 minutes before crew call | 6:30 AM |
| Call+60 | 60 minutes after crew call | 8:00 AM |
| 6:00 AM | A clock time, saved as an hour before crew call | 6:00 AM |
Tip: Change General Crew Call later and every crew call moves with it, including ones you typed as a clock time.
Step 6: Add Locations
Set Base Camp and Crew Parking for the day on the Days tab, picking each address from the Google list. The weather comes from the base camp address, and the nearest hospital is looked up from it. Each scene in the schedule has its own LOCATIONS cell.
Step 7: Review and Finalize
Review front and back before distributing:
- Crew call times
- Cast call times and pickups
- Location addresses
- The scene schedule and special instructions
- The weather block