A SHOOTING SCHEDULE IS A PROJECT PLAN OF EACH DAY'S SHOOTING FOR A FILM

PRODUCTION. IT IS NORMALLY CREATED AND MANAGED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,

WHO REPORTS TO THE PRODUCTION MANAGER MANAGING THE PRODUCTION
SCHEDULE. BOTH SCHEDULES REPRESENT A TIMELINE STATING WHERE AND WHEN
PRODUCTION RESOURCES ARE USED.

HOW TO SCHEDULE A SHOOT:

The expression time is money doesnt get any truer than when the cameras start rolling. If your
shoot is not carefully scheduled, your budget will start evaporating. Consider an average half-hour
television show: they shoot for a hundred hours in a given week on a budget of around $1,700,000.
This prescribes a burn rate, or the amount of money required to keep a professional crew operating,
of nearly $20,000 an hour.
No two production schedules or budgets are alike, but they all adhere to the same basic principles.
Scheduling starts with a good breakdown. The breakdown and catalog allow you to manage your
assets and determine the most time and cost effective way to schedule those assets across your
shoot days. Learning how to schedule a shoot means learning how to manage assets.
Before you begin scheduling, here are a few things to consider:

Logistics, Logistics, Logistics

From big budget features to 30 second video ads, all film crews are made up of multiple departments
with different responsibilities. Theres an order of precedence in prepping a shoot:
Camera crews need to wait on set decoration before they can get the grips to start setting up
lights.
Hair, makeup, and wardrobe need to wait on transport to get the talent in the chair.
Craft service needs to be on set before anyone to ensure that the food and coffee is ready to
go.
These timings are essential to informing your call times . If you have crew showing up on set when
theyre hours away from being able to do any work, youre just paying them to socialize.

Know Your Locations

Where do your scenes take place? If youre shooting in a studio, youll have to schedule prep days for
your carpenters and dressers to build, paint, and decorate the sets. Your grip and electrical
departments will need time to set up lighting grids and offload equipment. Your cinematographer will
need to do camera tests. All of these things need to be completed before your shoot day.
Similar rules apply for shooting on location. How many days do you have the location for? How long
will it take to set up the location for shooting and move from the location when youre done. Dont
forget to include prep and moving days on your calendar.

Serial, Not Sequence

Very few productions shoot their scenes in the order they appear on the page. It is important to try
and get as much out of a single set or location as possible. For example, If your script has multiple
scenes that take place in a diner and youve secured two days on location in a diner, schedule all
your diner scenes for that period. The same principle applies to night shoots or weather-specific
scenes.
The directors job is to carry the narrative. Your job is to make the process as efficient as possible,
even if that means shooting the last scene first and the first scene last.

Pages Can Be Deceiving

Generally speaking, one page of your script equals about one minute of screen time. One minute of
screen time is roughly an hour of shooting. However, a scene that is a couple of lines on the page can
take far longer to shoot than a scene that is a couple of pages. This is especially true when it comes
to action and stunt-heavy scenes or scenes involving children or animals.

If your script calls for things like car chases, fights, or any wrangling, remember that the prep and
rehearsal time required to execute these types of scenes is exponentially larger than the time
required to shoot two adult characters talking.

Hope For The Best, Plan For The Worst

While putting in all your pre-production prep work helps keep cast and crew on the same page and
on-time, theres always the potential for setbacks. Part of pre-production is preparing for the any
number of things that can go wrong on set for any number of reasons: equipment failures, foul
weather, illness, accidents, and good old fashioned bad luck. A tight schedule is important, but you
should always try to give your production a little breathing room.
Dont try to cram as much material as possible into any given day. Youll exhaust your crew, open
yourself up to logistical nightmares, and shrink the window of opportunity needed to address
whatever crises may arise.

Sample Shooting Schedule

Page 1

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION
DAY 1
MONDAY
11 MAY

TOTAL
PAGES:
4 7/8

CAST

LOCATION

**ILM SHOT**
EXT. CUESTA VERDE - PHASE I
Sc: 36 DUSK (3)
1/8 page

OVERLOOK, AGOURA
Note: Shoot dawn for dusk
SpFx: clouds, lightning
Grip: possible tiedown on
parallels

Est. shot of tract.

**ILM SHOT**
EXT. HILL (CUEST VERDE OVERLOOK)
Scs: 103, 104 (D7)
4 4/8 pages

2 STEVE

AGOURA
Trans: Teague's Jimmy
16 TEAGUE Grip: scaffold for tiedown
Note: Camera height 14'

Teague delivers pep talk; offers full partnership. Cat out of bag
about cemeteries.
EXT. CUESTA VERDE OVERLOOK
Sc: 9A (D2)
1/8 page

2 S.I.

1 ATMOS: AGOURA
trk. dvr. Trans: ice cream trk

Truck enters frame, leads camera to Freeling Street.

EXT. CUESTA VERDE OVERLOOK
Sc: 133 (DUSK21)
1/8 page

AGOURA

Est. "Two Weeks Later."

END OF DAY ONE - TOTAL PAGES 4 7/8

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

CAST

LOCATION

DAY 2
TUESDAY
12 MAY

EXT. FREELING'S YARD

Sc: 14 (D2)
1/8 page

4 ROBBIE

SIMI VALLEY
Welfare Wkr.

1 S.I.
TOTAL
PAGES:
2 0/8

Robbie musters courage to climb tree.

15 ATMOS:
5 boys (9-14)
2 gals (9-14)
1 ice cream trk. dvr.
2 age 18 gals wash
car
1 man, mow lawn
2 neighbr women
2 men, house
maintenance?
EXT. FREELING'S STREET CUESTA VERDE (SUN.
PM?)
Scs: 10, 10A (D2)
3/8 page

17 JEFF SHAW
1 S.I.
15 ATMOS: as above

Est. street; man running down street to Freeling's

house.

EXT. FREELING'S YARD

Sc: 20 (D2)
1/8 page

4 ROBBIE

SIMI VALLEY
Welfare wkr.
Trans: ice cream trk 4 TV
watchers' cars
Props: large brown bag w/ 2
sixpks.
3 ballon tire bike Dana's bike w/
handlebar basket
power mower
Grip: Titan crane
SIMI VALLEY
Welfare Wkr.
Grip: parallels

1 S.I./Dbl.
ATMOS: ?
Robbie in tree @ 2nd story window level; looks
off to gathering storm.
**ILM SHOT**
EXT. TREE - 16' ELEV. POV
Sc: 20A (D2)
1/8 page

ATMOS: ?

SIMI VALLEY
Grip: tie-down, parallels
NOTE: SB#0-20A-1

Robbie's POV, storm clouds gather.

EXT. FREELING'S BK. YD.
Sc: 22 (D2)
1 page

1 DIANE
3 DANA
4 ROBBIE

SIMI VALLEY
Welfare Wkr.
Props: cigar box coffin, shovel,
celery

5 CAROL ANNE

Grip: parallels

Canary funeral w/ Robbie in tree.

3 S.I.
INT. HOUSE/EXT. DRIVEWAY
Sc: 137 (DUSK21)
1/8 page
Diane's POV of Steve driving away with Teague.

2 STEVE
16 TEAGUE (photo
dbl)
2 S.I.
5 ATMOS

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: station wgn, Teague's
Jimmy

END OF DAY TWO - TOTAL PAGES 2 0/8

DAY/DATE

SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

DAY 3
EXT. FREELING'S BACK YARD
WEDNESDAY Sc: 29 (D2)
13 MAY
4/8 page

CAST

LOCATION

15 DOZER
DVR.

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: skip loader
Props: cigar box coffin, canary

1 S.I.
TOTAL
PAGES:
1 5/8

Canary coffin exhumed by pool dozer.

INT. KITCHEN/EXT. YARD
Scs: 30pt (D3)
0/0 page

Over Steve on phone to backyard & dozer.

2 STEVE
SIMI VALLEY
15 DOZER
Trans: skip loader
DVR.
Props: phone
22 POOL WKR
1
23 POOL WKR
2
1 S.I.

EXT. YARD
Sc: 31 (D3)
3/8 page

Hard hats eyeball Dana. Driver "humps"

dozer.

3 DANA
SIMI VALLEY
14 PUGSLEY
Trans: skip loader pool co. pickup
15 DOZER
Props: school books Dana's bicycle
DVR.
22 POOL WKR
1
23 POOL WKR
2
3 S.I.

THRU KITCHEN DOOR/EXT. YARD

Sc: 32pt (D3)
0/0 page

1 DIANE
3 DANA
14 PUGSLEY

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: skip loader pool co. truck

Over Diane to hard hats' reaction to Dana.

15 DOZER
DVR.
22 POOL WKR
1
23 POOL WKR
2
3 S.I.

INT. KITCHEN/SIDE YARD

Sc: 34pt (D3)
2/8 page

Diane snatches cup from Pugsley, slams

window, drops blinds.
**ILM SHOT**
EXT. FREELING'S STREET
Sc: 36A (DUSK 3)
0/0 page
Steve drives down street storm clouds
gather in b.g.

1 DIANE
14 PUGSLEY
15 DOZER
DVR.
22 POOL WKR
1
23 POOL WKR
2

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: skip loader pick-up
Props: china coffee cup, coffee maker,
food in pot on stove, tasting spoon

2 STEVE

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: Steve's wgn
Props: grocery bags, frisbee, "steal" d
Welfare Wkr.
NOTE: SB# 0-36A-1
Grip: tie-down

1 S.I.
10 ATMOS:
3 women
adlts.
3 men adlts.
3 boys (9-13)
1 gal (9-13)

EXT. STREET/FREELING'S DRIVEWAY

Sc: 37 (DUSK3)
4/8 page

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
6 TUTHILL

Steve's car blocked by trash cans, Diane

whisks him inside.

2 S.I.
10 ATMOS: as
above

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: Steve's wgn Tuthill's VW
Props: briefcase, trashcans
Grip: Titan crane

END OF DAY THREE - TOTAL PAGES 1 5/8

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

CAST

LOCATION

DAY 4
EXT FRONT DOOR
THURSDAY Sc: 97B (D7)
14 MAY
1/8 page

4 ROBBIE

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: cab, Lesh's van (UC
panel trk)
Props: suitcase
Animals: dog + trainer
Welfare wkr:

TOTAL
PAGES:

Mom & Pop's POV of Robbie getting cab.

3 S.I.
5 ATMOS:
1 taxi dvr.
2 female jogrs

2 2/8

2 neighbors
EXT. FREELING'S HOUSE
Scs: 100pt (D7)
4/8 page

2 STEVE
9 LESH
16 TEAGUE

Steve urges Teague away from entrance. Steve

invited for drive.

2 S.I.
5 ATMOS:
1 gardner (+truck and
gear)
1 housewife to
market

EXT. LIV. RM/COMMON SIDE YARD

Sc: 16, 17, 18 (pts) (D2)
0/0 page

2 STEVE
6 TUTHILL

SIMI VALLEY
Trans: Lesh's van, Teague's
Jimmy
Props: Lesh briefcase

SIMI VALLEY
Props: 2 TV control units

2 S.I.

Portions of remote control battle.

**ILM SHOT**
EXT. BACK YARD
Sc: 54 (N3)
1/8 page

Tied-down shot of funnel cloud moving away &

breaking up on hills.
EXT. TUTHILL'S PORCH
Sc: 42 (N3)
1 4/8 pages

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
3 DANA
4 ROBBIE
6 TUTHILL
7 MRS. T-HILL
T-HILL SON
3 S.I.

SIMI VALLEY
Welfare wkr:
Props: hot lite, flashlight
for Tuthill
SpFX: wet down, wind,
ritters (2)
Make-up:
Grip: tie down, poss.
parallels

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
6 TUTHILL
8 T-HILL SON

SIMI VALLEY
Props: cigar, cigar leaf
SpFX: mosquito FX
Elec: buglite & lightning FX

3 S.I.
Freelings ask Tuthill if his house is similarily affected. 5 ATMOS.
END OF DAY FOUR - TOTAL PAGES 2 2/8

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

CAST

LOCATION

DAY 5
FRIDAY
15 MAY

6 TUTHILL

SIMI
SpFX: possible wet down
Elec: lightning FX in window

EXT. TUTHHILL'S HOUSE/FREELING'S HOUSE

Sc: 113A generic(N8)
0/0 page

TOTAL
PAGES:
7/8

1 S.I.

Grip: Titan crane

2 STEVE
3 DANA
6 TUTHIHLL
7 MS. T-HILL
8? T-HILL SON
16 TEAGUE
17 J. SHAW
BITS:
B Dana's
boyfriends: Kirk
Franklin
C 5 additional bits
25 ATMOS:
3 kids (10-13)
4 kids (14-16)
Shaw's family,
neighbors
#2, 16 STUNT DBL.
3 S.I.

SIMI
SpFX: wind, wet down lawn casket
& corp aircraft engine, 4 ritters
Trans: TransAm
Steve's wgn
Tuthill's VW
Teague's Jimmy
12 ND vehicles
Elec: bright flashes from every
room
Grip: Titan crane parallels for
matte shots
NOTE: BEGINNINGS OF IMPLODING
HOUSE - FLASHES OF LIGHT
ACCOMPANY EXPLODING WINDOWS
Welfare Wkr:

2 STEVE
3 DANA
6 TUTHILL
7 MS. T-HILL
16 TEAGUE
17 J. SHAW
BITS:
B as before
C as before
25 ATMOS:
as before
3 ND STUNTS

SIMI
SpFX: wind, casket gags, wet down
Trans: as before
Welfare Wkr:

Tuthill sees bizarre light coming from Freeling's

window.
**ILM SHOT**
EXT. EST. FREELING HOUSE & NEIGHBORHOOR
Scs: 163, 163A (D7)
3/8 page

Neighbors gathered to view phenomenon. Dana

drives up with boyfriends. Bright flashes from
Freeling windows.

**ILM SHOT**
EXT. FREELING STREET & HOUSE
Sc: 164 (N21)
2/8 page

Teague and Steve drive up; immediately coffin

rockets out of lawn.

3 S.I.
**ILM SHOT**
EXT. NEIGHBORS' HOUSES
Sc: 165pt. (N21)
1/8 page

Reactions to coffins blooming. Laser bright

flashes from within other houses drive families
to the street.

17 J. SHAW

SIMI
Trans: 12 ND vehicles
SpFX: wind, wet down
25 ATMOS: as
Elec: rig bright light in selected
before
houses
3-4 ND STUNT
A. Evacuate in cars NOTE: INTENSIFY IN LASER
B. Driven off feet FLASHES?
Welfare wkr:
by emerging
caskets?

END OF DAY FIVE - TOTAL PAGES 7/8

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

CAST

LOCATION

DAY 6
MONDAY
18 MAY

EXT. FREELING FRONT HOUSE/SIDE YARD/STREET

Sc: 165 (N21)
4/8 page

TOTAL
PAGES:
4/8

Caskets wreck havoc with hydrant, Tuthill's VW,

underground utilities, etc. Teague escape route blocked
by caskets.

2 STEVE
3 DANA
6 TUTHILL
7 MS. T-HILL
16 TEAGUE
17 J. SHAW
BITS:
B Dana's
boyfriends: Kirk
Franklin
C 5 additional bits
25 ATMOS:
3 kids (10-13)
4 kids (14-16)
Shaw's family,
neighbors
STUNT:
16 Stunt DBL.
3 ND Stunt
3 S.I.

SIMI
SpFX: rain/wind casket
gags
Grip: tie-downs for any
action involving house as
b.g.
Welfare Wkr:
Trans: TransAm
Steve's wgn
Tuthill's VW
Teague's Jimmy
12 ND vehicle

END OF DAY SIX - TOTAL PAGES 4/8

DAY/DATE

SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

DAY 8
**ILM SHOT**
TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY EXT. FREELING HOUSE & SIDE YARD
19/20 MAY
Sc: 166, 167, 168 (N21)
6/8 page

TOTAL
PAGES:
1 0/8

Diane and kids appear in side yard; confront more

corpses. All jump into car as Steve screams at
Teague. House begins implosion. Drive off.

CAST

LOCATION

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
3 DANA
4 ROBBIE
5 CAROL ANNE
6 TUTHILL
7 MS. T-HILL
16 TEAGUE
17 J. SHAW
BITS:
B Dana's
boyfriends: Kirk
Franklin
C 5 additional
bits
25 ATMOS:

SIMI
SpFX: rain?, wind,
casket gags
Trans: TransAm
Steve's wgn
Tuthill's VW
Teague's Jimmy
12 ND vehicles
Animals: "E.BUZZ" +
trainer
Welfare Wkr:
NOTE: ILM RELATED
SHOTS PER
STORYBOARD SB#

3 kids (10-13)
4 kids (14-16)
Shaw's family
Neighbors
STUNT:
3 ND stunts

3 S.I.
**ILM SHOT**
EXT. FREELING HOUSE
Scs: 167pt, 168A (N21)
2/8 page

? ??
25 ATMOS:
as before

SIMI
SpFX: rain?, wind,
casket gags
Trans: Steve's wgn
12 ND vehicles
Welfare Wkr:

1. Steve's POV of beginning "implosion"

2. Shot holding house as Freelings drive off
HOLD for consuming implosion.
END OF DAY SEVEN & EIGHT -- TOTAL PAGES 1 0/8

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

CAST

LOCATION

DAY 6
INT. DR. LESH'S OFFICE
THURSDAY Sc: 65 (D6)
21 MAY
1 1/8 pages

2 STEVE
9 LESH
10 TAK
11 RYAN

STAGE 11
Props: questionaire, Tak's cassette recorder
Makeup: Steve looks awful
NOTE: NIGHT SCHEDULE CONTINUES ON
STAGE THROUGH END OF WEEK.

TOTAL
PAGES:
5 1/8

A dissipated Steve engages Lesh's services.

3 S.I.
INT. DR. LESH'S OFFICE
Scs: 106 (D7)
3 5/8 pages

VTR evidence too graphic according to Farrow;

talk Farrow discovers mortician's jaw clips;
suggest involving Tangina.
END OF DAY NINE - TOTAL PAGES 5 1/8

9 LESH
STAGE 11
13
Props: VTR playback equipment, Lesh's
FARROW briefcase, jewelry from "Translocation incl.
brooch and antique ring, earrings
"staples" - wire jaw clips, VTR cassette,
2 S.I.
wheelchair

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

CAST

LOCATION

DAY 6
FRIDAY
22 MAY

INT. LIVING ROOM/FRONT DR.

Sc: 98, 99 (D7)
1 2/8 pages

TOTAL
PAGES:
4 0/8

Teague at door wonders about Steve's illness; notices

software, TV's tuned to "snow" and dancing couch.

2 STEVE
9 LESH
16
TEAGUE
1 DIANE
b.g.
11 RYAN
b.g.

STAGE 12
Props: Teague's briefcase, Lesh'
briefcase, ghost buster hardware
Sound: VTR playbk, video noise
SpFX: slide couch across floor into
piano
NOTE: CONCLUSION OF NIGHT
SCHEDULE

2 S.I.
EXT. FREELING'S HOUSE
Scs: 100 (D7)
3/8 page

2 STEVE
16
TEAGUE

STAGE 12
Elec: porch lite snaps on, "amazing
intensity"

2 S.I.
Steve finesses Teague outside. Porch light goes on.
Teague invites Steve for drive.
**ILM SHOT**
INT. DINING ROOM
Scs: 68 (D6)
2 3/8 pages

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
9 LESH
10 TAK
11 RYAN

STAGE 12
Props: coffee & pot, cups, Tak's cam.
gear, briefcases?
SpFX: coffee pot travels across table,
balancing on edge
Elec: lighting kick for optical FX
NOTE: TWO bright flashes of light.

Ghost busters on edge, kitchen phenomena doesn't

help.
END OF DAY TEN - TOTAL PAGES 4 0/8
END OF WEEK TWO
MEMORIAL HOLIDAY MONDAY 25 MAY 1981

DAY/DATE

SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION

DAY 11 & 12
**ILM SHOT** INT. LIVING ROOM
TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY Sc: 69, 71 (DUSK 6)
25/26 MAY
4 2/8 pages

CAST

LOCATION

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
3 DANA
9 LESH
10 TAK

STAGE 12
Props: console TV, cassette recorder,
headset, pencil mike, Nikon on tripod,
2 infra-red cameras, "electro static
loct, "magnometer" Dana's overnight

TOTAL
PAGES:
4 4/8

11 RYAN
4 ROBBIE
Ghost busters set-up. Diane & Steve "talk" 5 CAROL
ANNE
to Carol Anne. Spirit coaches dog. Tak
skeptical, checks back of set, etc. Caution (OS
Carol Anne to stay away from light. "stuff" dialg)
falls from thin air. Carol Anne being
"chased."

bag, Lesh's glasses, cigarettes, tool kit

w/ Phillips screwdriver & flashlight,
jewelry, cameos, brooches, coins,
watches, jaw clips
Sound: VTR playback, "local news" to
video noise (2 feed)
Animals: dog + trainer
Welware Wkr:
Grip: tie-downs

4 S.I.
**ILM SHOT**
INT. LIVING ROOM
Scs: 69pt, 70 (DUSK 6)
2/8 page

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
3 DANA
4 ROBBIE
9 LESH
10 TAK
11 RYAN

STAGE 12
Props: as above
Welfare Wkr:
Animals: dog + trainer

Dog catches object dropped from mid-air.

4 S.I.
FLASH to another FLASH, numerous
objects drop from mid-air.
END OF DAY ELEVEN AND TWELVE -- TOTAL PAGES 4 4/8

DAY/DATE SET/PAGE/DESCRIPTION
DAY 13
**ILM PLATES** INT. KID'S ROOM
THURSDAY Sc: 67pt (D6)
27 MAY
2/8 page

TOTAL
PAGES:
2 6/8

Levitating objects collide, flying books, dancing bed.

CAST

LOCATION
STAGE 11
SpFX: animated toys,
hopping bed w/ clown
atop, wind
Elec: lamp light FX (SB#
67-5)
NOTE: SHOOT PLATES TO
COVER SB#673,5,9,11,13

INT. LIVING ROOM

Scs: 73 (DUSK 6)
2 4/8 pages

1 DIANE
2 STEVE
4 ROBBIE
5 CAROL
ANNE (O.S.
dialg)
Carol Anne chased, calls for help, Diane enraged; helpless. Lamps 9 LESH
11 RYAN
overturned. Ghost child passes thru mother. Air "implosion" as
"being" passes thru folk & crazed picture window. Lesh leads group
4 S.I.
up stairs.
END OF DAY THIRTEEN -- TOTAL PAGES 2 6/8

STAGE 12
Props: monitors, meters,
ocilloscopes go wild
SpFX: lamps overturned,
gusts of air/wind,
picture window crazed
Sound: VTR video noise
Welfare Wkr: