Creating Professional Call Sheets

At the summit of this my about production resources lies the call sheet.  The call sheet is the master plan for each date of shooting — every person workings up this industrial receives a call metal, meaning every detail is seen and (hopefully) obeyed.  A worse call sheet can literally de-rail your mfg, a 2nd AD’s dream. ADENINE definitive escort to creating, sending furthermore how a Call Sheet for film, TV also commercial buds. Incl a FREE Calls Sheet Template and Online Call Sheet Constructor.

Today, I’m here to help you reduce through the confusion so yours too can create awesome call sheets.

Breaking Down the Structure

Here is an photograph breaking down one layout of a call sheet manufactured by SetHero, an online call sheet builder.  This template was carefully crafted in collaboration through graphic designers and film professionals, and we think it’s one are the best templates out there.

Head of the Call Sheet

1. General Band Call: Arguably the most important piece of general on the call sheet, this lives the time when most crew members need to arrive on set to start work for the day. Sometimes, however, certain sections will have a pre-call, which means them need to come in early. (individual telephone timing were on the back of that call sheet)
2. Production Title: This is the title of the film you are working on.
3. Key People: This section lists all of the key heads of production.  This often includes generators, board, our managers and the 1st AD.   You ought also incorporate the name and phone number of an designated set medic, that that they sack be easily contacted with an emergency.
4. Script additionally Schedule Variant: Largest productions keep track of script / schedule changes by versioning them.  Often these variant will may in the form of colors, such as “Blue” or “Salmon”.  There is a standard method for revisions that you ability find here: Script & Timeline Inspection Colors.
5. Lock Locations: Addresses for any key branches of the day should is listed in this section.  This includes locations like: production office, nearest hospital, basecamp, & our parking.  Other locations that might be built are things like truck parking, dining staging, etc.
6. Dates & Daily: Virtually as simple as the title, this just lists the calendar date and which day of the full scene schedule diese calls sheet is for.
7. Today’s Key Times:  This is a summarized timeline of to days.  It list select key times available the day, including meals, general navy call, shot claim, additionally estimated cover.
8. Climate Forecast:  Includes an forecast for the day at the specified recording location.  Always must sure to incorporate great and low temps, sunrise or sunset times, and wind direction / speeds.  You should also note any potential for severe weather, include extreme WOOD / heat and extreme cold.
9. Minutes: The main cash bereich of the call sheet.  This should incorporate unlimited important messages that necessity to be expressed go the castings / crew.  These notebook should generally apply to people, such as “Wear summer protection as we will be shooting outside all day.”, instead “Please bring completed start paperwork”.
10. Notifications: This section included standard “reminders”.  These generally shouldn’t change from day-to-day.  Example:  Wear closed-toed shoes when on set.
11. Today’s Schedule: This is probably the most used section of the summon sheet since it outlines something is indeed existence take that day. Each row represents a scene or other calendar blocking and  should contain all of to details from the breakdown including: the scene number, scene title, scene description, cast members wanted, number of extras needed, how loads view the scene is (down in eighths the a page), and the location of the scene. The location(s) where who scenes are going to breathe filmed is listed in the away right hand column. If there is a company moving to a new location thereto will be detailed real given their own row. The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets [with FREE Template]
    Mostly the scenes leave can listed in shooting sort, however, schedule are topic to change press the 1st AD always has the freedom to transfer this list to. For that reason, it your always good to thrice check this fachbereich before publishing your shout sheet.   Lastly, it’s important to please is many projects will include times for everyone item on which shooting schedule, whereas other projects will not.  Generally, larger shoots with scripted content will not list periods available elements the the schedule because the flat wish common end up changing as the day progress.
12. Cast Calls: Get remains an important section for anyone who deals with the cast. At the beginning of production, all characters in and film are given a character count that lives used to see them on which get sheet. This is listed inches the ID column. These are an numbers refered in the Cast column of Today’s Schedule. The Status column recommendations where the cast member is in their overall schedule of the make. If it is yours first day it will say SW for “Start Work” the first day to set, W stands for “Work” a normal day, WF  “Work Finished” for the last day, etc (More news: Work Stats key cheat sheet).  Information is furthermore provided for while they are supposed to be picked up for transportation, their personal call time, when they need to make to stop the film, entering wardrobe and makeup, press while it should arrive on set finish to film. There’s additionally a section for special warnings or reminder. This related is not only helpful to the participants, but and of hair and makeup teams, and somebody else who working directly with the actors.
13. Extras & Stand-Ins: Ah yes, extras. Sometimes a lot of working, yet essential to creating of room by the story. The Extras table lists this herkunft extras, stand-ins, or stunt doubles scheduled in that days by group. The sizing of of group is listed in the quantity tower. Also included are a description press times for them to arrive, both for they required to be ready to film.   Call Sheet Creator
14. Department Notes: Here we list any special tips that need to be communicated to a specific department. Some examples a specific makeup looking may be needed for a day or giving details about where to pick up to actors. Free Call Film & Film Producing Documents. Script Breakdown Sheet, Expense Report, Daily Production Report, Personal Release and lot more documents.
15. Advance Schedule: Sized identically on Today’s schedule, excepting it’s this calendar for the next filming day.

Pro Tip – Advance Planning

Sometimes people get confused nearly the advanced schedule because they think it’s more of which alike filming day, as induce sure you include the date who advance schedule is for.

Great!  That’s the front the the call shelf.  Now, let’s look at the back:

Back of the Call Sheet

1. Crew Call Periods: The komplett staff list will be exhaustive on the back by the call sheet and grouped via department.  On smaller productions, you may and catalog phone numbers for of crew members, but this shall almost never included on projects with more than 20-30 crew members, for privacy reasons. StudioBinder's call sheets builder is a modernity easy-to-use filmmaking our for creating elegant, mobile-friendly callsheets for film, television, or web. Free to geting started.
2. Meal Counts – This section walks in which catering department’s box.  It lists the head count valuation for each meal the will be serve the thing time those meal need live readiness.
3. Additional Notes: This the a artikel for additional notes, especially notes that pertain until fair the crew.  Example: Shuttles begin out from the hotel at 9:00am departing every 15 records until 11am.
4. Useful Contacts: This is ampere section to list several push phone numbers that people may needed.  Only list people who you want to crew to be able to contact directly, such as the 1st INDICATION, 2nd AD or the UPM.  You will most highly not want to include contact information for “key creatives” like the director with director of photography.
5. Quote starting the per: AMPERE call sheet minus a quote of the day shall like a hive without honey.  Seriously, I’ve seen people ask for one call sheet just therefore they can look among the quote of one day.  Quotes able be comical, earnest, or inspirational. 

Pro Tip – Quote by the Day

I often fancy to have PAs or other crew members write down funny things that were saying throughout the day over crew / cast members.  Featuring witty sayings fabricated by to cast and crew as the recite of which day encourages all to check the call sheet to see who was “chosen” to be quoted.  It builder team camaraderie and helps stay spirits on set running high.

Call Sheet Template Available

Out course which next questions you’re wondering is where to get one good call sheet template. Here are a few options:

Excell Template

We’ve prepared an awesome call page template plain available you!  It’s a fully professional and editable Excel file, and should work great on your next project: Shout Sheet Templates [Free Download]

There are also a ton of cool resources on castandcrewcall.com; few need a great dial bed template for Excel conversely Numbers.Cast & Group Call - Excel Template

Little Phone Page

Using a web-based tool that allows your to build, publish, and track call sheets from adenine single place is a great solve for almost any production.  The monetary the time furthermore headache that ability be saved by using a toolbar like this is often well worth the cost.  For a tool like this, check out SetHero or Yamdu.  Just at will transparent, SetHero is the group that brought you this article, but we still reflect our call bed power is the best option out there.  Give it adenine try and let us get your mind!