Call Sheet
The daily production document detailing shooting schedule, cast calls, crew calls, and logistics.
Definition
A call sheet is the daily production document distributed to cast and crew specifying everything needed for the next shooting day. It includes call times (when each person reports), the day's scenes, locations, cast requirements, special equipment, weather information, contact numbers, and logistical details.
Call sheets are prepared by assistant directors and distributed the evening before shooting. They represent the plan of record—everyone's responsibilities distilled into one essential document. Changes after distribution require updates or announcements.
Why It Matters
Call sheets coordinate complex operations involving hundreds of people, expensive equipment, and tight schedules. They prevent chaos by ensuring everyone knows where to be, when, and what's expected.
Reading call sheets properly is fundamental production literacy—essential for anyone working on set.
Examples in Practice
A call sheet's precise timing ensures 50 crew members, 12 cast, and 3 locations coordinate seamlessly for a complex shoot day.
An actor misreads their call time and arrives an hour late, demonstrating the consequences of not carefully reviewing call sheets.
A production coordinator distributes updated call sheets when weather forces location changes, keeping the production coordinated despite last-minute adjustments.