Film Production Master Checklist

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PRE-PRODUCTION / CORE

☐ Lock project scope
☐ Lock creative direction
☐ Lock budget
☐ Confirm client approval process
☐ Confirm client decision-makers
☐ Create build schedule
☐ Approve build schedule
☐ Approve post schedule with client
☐ Approve final list of deliverables with client
☐ Assign producer roles
☐ Clear ownership of all departments
☐ Confirm insurance coverage
☐ Confirm COIs
☐ Confirm safety plan
☐ Confirm emergency procedures
☐ Designate safety meeting lead
☐ Prepare list of known concerns
☐ Hold creative kickoff call with client
☐ Align creative goals
☐ Align creative tone
☐ Align creative references
☐ Schedule pre-production call
☐ Hold pre-production call with department heads and client

LOCATIONS

☐ Lock all locations
☐ Secure location agreements
☐ Secure permits
☐ Confirm drone permissions
☐ Confirm FAA/local approvals if applicable
☐ Conduct full tech scout
☐ Conduct final walk-through with location owner/manager
☐ Identify bathrooms
☐ Identify holding areas
☐ Identify quiet zones
☐ Create parking plan
☐ Create parking map
☐ Identify load-in paths
☐ Identify load-out paths
☐ Capture location contact info for call sheets

CREW

☐ Lock department heads
☐ Lock full crew
☐ Confirm rates
☐ Confirm hours
☐ Confirm kit fees
☐ Confirm terms
☐ Issue deal memos
☐ Confirm payroll method
☐ Confirm pay timing
☐ Identify who should be paid day-of
☐ Confirm per diem structure
☐ Confirm per diem process
☐ Collect W-9s
☐ Confirm turnarounds
☐ Confirm labor expectations
☐ Assign call sheet sender for crew

TALENT

☐ Lock casting
☐ Confirm availability
☐ Confirm holding
☐ Issue deal memos
☐ Secure talent releases
☐ Confirm usage
☐ Confirm term
☐ Confirm territories
☐ Confirm wardrobe sizes
☐ Confirm wardrobe needs
☐ Collect dietary restrictions
☐ Assign call sheet sender for talent

ART DEPARTMENT

☐ Assign props master
☐ Build props list
☐ Source props
☐ Build props
☐ Purchase props
☐ Confirm storage
☐ Confirm transport
☐ Confirm set dressing plan
☐ Confirm art department budget
☐ Confirm receipts process

WARDROBE / HMU

☐ Create wardrobe moodboard
☐ Create HMU moodboard
☐ Confirm fittings schedule
☐ Confirm continuity plan
☐ Confirm kit requirements
☐ Confirm chair requirements
☐ Confirm touch-up plan for production day

GEAR / CAMERA / DATA

☐ Lock camera package
☐ Lock lighting package
☐ Confirm specialty gear needs
☐ Confirm hard drives
☐ Confirm data workflow
☐ Assign data manager / DIT
☐ Confirm backup plan
☐ Confirm redundancy plan
☐ Confirm power needs
☐ Confirm power distro
☐ Confirm camera timecode
☐ Confirm frame rate
☐ Confirm audio scratch track on camera
☐ Approve LUTs
☐ Distribute LUTs
☐ Test client monitoring feed
☐ Confirm playback plan

COMMUNICATIONS

☐ Create communications plan
☐ Assign radio channels
☐ Assign call signs
☐ Confirm radios ordered
☐ Confirm radios charged
☐ Create emergency contact list
☐ Assign call sheet sender for locations
☐ Assign call sheet sender for client

CALL SHEETS & DOCUMENTS

☐ Create call sheets
☐ Include location addresses
☐ Include location contacts
☐ Include parking info
☐ Include parking maps
☐ Include nearest hospital info
☐ Include weather info
☐ Include sunrise/sunset info
☐ Confirm distribution lists
☐ Print hard copies as needed
☐ Assign call sheet sender for talent
☐ Assign call sheet sender for crew
☐ Assign call sheet sender for locations
☐ Assign call sheet sender for client

TRAVEL & LOGISTICS

☐ Confirm crew travel status
☐ Book flights
☐ Book hotels
☐ Confirm mileage policy
☐ Confirm parking coverage
☐ Confirm ground transportation

MEALS & CRAFT SERVICES

☐ Lock caterer
☐ Confirm menu
☐ Confirm headcount
☐ Confirm dietary restrictions for crew
☐ Confirm dietary restrictions for talent
☐ Confirm delivery times
☐ Confirm serve times
☐ Reconfirm catering in pre-production
☐ Reconfirm catering morning-of
☐ Assign craft services shopper
☐ Purchase craft services
☐ Confirm meal penalties plan

VIDEO VILLAGE / CLIENT EXPERIENCE

☐ Design video village layout
☐ Confirm location
☐ Confirm seating
☐ Confirm tables
☐ Confirm power
☐ Confirm monitor feeds
☐ Confirm headphones
☐ Confirm speakers
☐ Assign client liaison

PRINTING & PHYSICAL MATERIALS

☐ Print schedules
☐ Print call sheets
☐ Print shot lists
☐ Print scripts
☐ Print storyboards
☐ Print talent releases
☐ Print signage as needed

PRODUCTION DAY

☐ Hold safety meeting
☐ Confirm radio distribution
☐ Confirm parking setup
☐ Confirm basecamp setup
☐ Confirm bathrooms stocked
☐ Confirm bathrooms accessible
☐ Confirm video village ready
☐ Confirm catering setup
☐ Confirm data backups throughout the day

WRAP DAY

☐ Confirm gear return
☐ Confirm location wrap
☐ Conduct location walkthrough
☐ Send invoice request email
☐ Send W-9 request email
☐ Confirm per diem invoicing
☐ Confirm receipts collected
☐ Confirm final backups
☐ Send crew thank-you message
☐ Send location thank-you message
☐ Send client recap email
☐ Document lessons learned

POST-PRODUCTION

☐ Confirm editor availability
☐ Confirm colorist availability
☐ Confirm sound mixer availability
☐ Lock post workflow
☐ Schedule internal checkpoints
☐ Schedule client review checkpoints
☐ Deliver final assets
☐ Archive project
☐ Share creative brief with post team
☐ Share reference cuts with post team
☐ Confirm checkpoint review dates with client