Reply To: What’s the Most Realistic Way to Build a Shooting Schedule?

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#11665117
Don
Participant

I don’t think that it’s possible to over-plan– although it is certainly possible to overthink. Its also a mistake to ignore the reality of the shoot day in favor of the ill-informed fantasy of the schedule.

The best schedule is vague and un-ambitious. So: just list the scene numbers that you plan to shoot, in order; don’t list the time of day that you plan to start/finish the scene. If necessary, specify that a scene has to happen at a certain time of day or place on the set: “sunset” or “overlooking the lake”. These will end up on the call sheet; it’s all of the schedule that anyone needs to get it done. Everyone will apportion the day dynamically (managed by the 1st AD) as the situation evolves. Each department should primarily self-manage to be ready to shoot each scene when it comes up.

Planning and flexibility, combined with experience and professionalism, dramatically reduce the chaos that is implied in Maura’s question. Lacking any one of these things tends to create a wildfire of chaos.

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