Question 1

What is a call sheet?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

A call sheet is a document created by the 1st AD and shared among cast and crew daily during principal photography on a film or television show. It provides all the information that the cast and crew working on a particular day would need, such as shoot locations, shoot times, filming breaks, and arrival times for all involved in that day’s work.

Question 2

Why is a call sheet important?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

The call sheet is arguably the most important document on set during production. It allows the cast and crew to know where they should be at all times, as well as what scenes will be shot on that particular day.

Question 3

Why is it called a call sheet?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

A call sheet is called such because it notifies specific cast and crew that they are being called to set for a particular day’s work. Not everyone who is part of principal photography will be needed every single day on set. The call sheet lets the appropriate cast and crew know if they are part of that day’s shooting schedule.

Question 4

Who sends out the call sheets?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

The daily call sheet is always sent out by a member of the production team. In most cases, it’s the 1st AD, but it’s not unheard of for the Unit Production Manager, Production Coordinator, or 2nd AD to send out the call sheet as well.

Question 5

How late do call sheets go out?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

The daily call sheet goes out the night before the shoot day detailed in it. While not ideal for planners, the reason for the late send-out is because there are typically changes made to the call sheet well into the evening.

Question 6

When should you expect a call sheet?

Anna Keizer · Accepted Answer

Depending on when a shoot ends for the day, you should expect the next day’s call sheet within a few hours of wrap.

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