Daily call sheet is a
filmmaking
Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, casti ...
term for the schedule supervised by the
assistant director
The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have to tak ...
and crafted by the
2nd assistant director, using the
director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''Di ...
's shot list, the production schedule and other logistics considerations. It is issued to the cast and crew of a film production to inform them of where and when they should report for a particular day of
filming
Cinematography (from ancient Greek κίνημα, ''kìnema'' "movement" and γράφειν, ''gràphein'' "to write") is the art of Film, motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography.
Cinematographers use a lens (o ...
, usually no later than 12 hours before the start of the next work day.
The start of the day's production schedule is marked by a general and individual call times, the time when people are expected to start work on a
film set
A set is artificially constructed scenery used in theatre, film and TV. In the latter two cases there are many reasons to build or use a set instead of travelling to a real location, such as budget, time, the need to control the environment, or t ...
.
Information found on call sheets
![G-casper-layout-sheet call-sheet](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/G-casper-layout-sheet_call-sheet.png)
Call sheets include other useful information such as contact information (e.g. phone numbers of crew members and other contacts), the schedule for the day, which
scenes and
script
Script may refer to:
Writing systems
* Script, a distinctive writing system, based on a repertoire of specific elements or symbols, or that repertoire
* Script (styles of handwriting)
** Script typeface, a typeface with characteristics of handw ...
pages are being shot, and the address of the shoot location and parking arrangements.
Call sheets also have information about
cast
Cast may refer to:
Music
* Cast (band), an English alternative rock band
* Cast (Mexican band), a progressive Mexican rock band
* The Cast, a Scottish musical duo: Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis
* ''Cast'', a 2012 album by Trespassers William
* ...
transportation arrangements, parking instructions and safety notes.
A section on the front of the call sheet is usually dedicated to reminding department heads of the day's specific needs that go beyond the unit's usual tools and equipment - such as special crane rentals, special effects builds required, props and sets needing to be readied for the day and more.
Call sheets may also provide logistical information regarding the
location
In geography, location or place are used to denote a region (point, line, or area) on Earth's surface or elsewhere. The term ''location'' generally implies a higher degree of certainty than ''place'', the latter often indicating an entity with an ...
. It is common to find such items as weather information, sunrise/sunset times, local hospitals, restaurants, dietary limitations, meal times and quantities, and hardware stores on call sheets.
Historically, call sheets were typed by typewriter (or hand-written), then copied and delivered by courier or runner. While the history of call sheets is not well-documented, the oldest artifacts being sold publicly date back to as early as 1941. Modern call sheets are Excel-based and emailed as PDFs as well as printed and distributed on set. The latest generation of call sheets is cloud-based, while emailed PDFs remain as the industry norm; paper copies on set have become more rare during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. Call sheets adhere to the
Legal
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
paper size format, and film production departments keep them handy on set for printing on the specialized format.
Further reading
* Peter W. Rea, David K. Irving. Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video. Focal Press 2000, pg. 55.
* Eden H. Wurmfeld, Nicole Shay LaLoggia. IFP/Los Angeles Independent Filmmaker's Manual. Focal Press 2004, pg. 222.
* Pat P. Miller. Script supervising and film continuity. Focal Press 1998, pg. 48.
References
Film production
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it:Ordine del giorno (cinema)