Call sheet software that builds itself from the schedule

The definition

The call sheet is the document that tells everyone involved when they need to be where, and what happens on a shoot day. In German-speaking productions it is also called the Tagesdisposition, Tagesdispo or simply Dispo. It means the same thing: one sheet per shoot day, sent to cast and crew the day before.

The call sheet is usually put together by the assistant director or the production coordinator, based on the shooting schedule. So it is only as good as the plan behind it, and only as current as the last change to it.

What belongs on a call sheet

• Header: project, production company, client, date and which shoot day it is, for example day 2 of 4. Plus the production office address.
• Times: general call (when everyone meets), shooting call (first take), lunch and planned wrap.
• Light and weather: sunrise, sunset, temperature and chance of rain. For exteriors this decides clothing and running order.
• Locations: address, parking, the contact on site and, where needed, the permit reference.
• Emergency: the nearest hospital with its address and the emergency number. In the EU that is 112.
• Running order: the day’s scenes or shots in order, with time, location and duration, including moves and breaks.
• Cast: who is needed, with their own call time and times for makeup and wardrobe.
• Crew: every department with a contact and call time. Not every department has to arrive at the same time.
• Notes: safety, drone flights, animals, children on set, catering and anything that differs from the usual day.

When the call sheet goes out

It usually goes out the evening before the shoot day, as soon as the plan for the next day is locked. Send it at midnight and you risk someone seeing the change only on set. That’s why confirmation matters so much: it shows you who has actually read the current sheet.

Common mistakes

1. The times on the call sheet no longer match the schedule, because only one file was updated.
2. The nearest hospital is missing or wrong, because the sheet was copied from the last location.
3. Everyone gets the same call time, and the cast waits three hours for their first shot.
4. Parking notes are missing, and the camera truck is looking for a spot at 06:30.
5. Nobody knows who has read the call sheet until someone is missing.

Tip: just need a single call sheet quickly? The free call sheet generator below makes one without signing up. As soon as several shoot days or changes come into play, building it from the schedule saves you the double upkeep.