What is a Call sheet?

A Call Sheet is distributed to all crew members prior to each day of filming. It lets everyone on set know what time they must be on set or location each day. The call sheet is created by the 2nd Assistant Director and is handed out in printed copies at the end of each shooting day. These days it is also common for call sheets to be emailed to all cast and crew in digital format.

It is called the Call Sheet as it lets everyone know their call time – the time when individuals are expected to start work each day

At the top of the Call Sheet the Call time is written. The times for breakfast, lunch and expected wrap time is also placed.

What is a call sheet besides the call time

The Call sheet is packed full of information to help the shooting day go smoother.

Contact numbers

At the top of a Call sheet the phone numbers of people you may need to contact are listed. This usually includes the Line producer, Production manager, production coordinator, the entire AD department and all of the location department. On a smaller film set the directors and the producer number may be included.

A weather report

A brief weather report is also included. As well as the sunrise and sunset times. This is important information for all departments. It lets the camera, lighting, art, make up and costume department daily prep. It also lets everyone dress appropriately for the days work.

Health and Safety information

The address of the nearest hospital. The contact details of the first aider on set, the locations of the first aid kit. Additional information if stunts are being shot.

The scenes to be shot

A list of scenes that are going to be shot for this day of filming. This will be formatted by listing the scene number, if the scene is INT (interior) or EXT (exterior), a brief one sentence outline of the action being shot, whether these are being shot in D/N (day or night), how many screenplay pages each scene covers (Traditional each page of a screenplay is split into 8ths), the Cast needed and any set/location notes.