Production Paperwork - Producer Research

Production Paperwork

From researching he roles of the producer, they do most of the preparations, organising and paperwork. They have some creative input into the production to make sure the film is completed to a standard where it can still profit without going over budget. So making suggestions, finding alternatives etc... 

In terms of becoming a producer the best route is to become a production runner, after gaining more knowledge move up towards production assistant where you take on more responsibilities to  alleviate production paperwork from the producer.

Examples of production paperwork templates are not easily accessible online, it is not a skill to learn and professional templates are only available if you have worked on a low or high budget production.

Based on my own experiences working on bigger productions with Greg Macmanus, I have taken the schedules and other paperwork I have had access to and adapted it to what works best for me on my production.

I have managed to find an example of production notes for 'The Artist'. This document is a package which contains information about the film which includes:

Cast and Crew Credits
Synopsis
About the production
Notes on the production
More about the cast
More about the Filmmakers
End Credits

The Artist Production Notes

For independant filmmakers there are film schools such as Raindance which have examples of their own paperwork which filmmakers can take from. 

Contracts

Templates I have used from Raindance for this film are cast and crew contracts.

Actor Release Form

Crew Contract

Scheduling (pre-production)

To schedule things to do, I created a calendar and filled in things to do and deadlines to do it. The schedule will always change according to if targets were met and other obstacles. I have also colour coded it as 1 colour was for me and the other colour was the Director so we can see who has targets on the dates. I have also selected a different colour for days where we both meet up.

My example below:

First Schedule 

Schedule 1

Schedule after a couple of months:

Schedule 2

Unit List

This unit list template is a crew contact list, taken from a sony pictures production I had worked from in the summer (2015) I have taken the template and used it for my own crew in this production. This is so everyone can easily find and contact each other from this list.

UNIT LIST

Producers need to communicate to the cast and crew clearly, so finding different templates suitable for individual topics must be clear and up to date. Such as keeping the schedule up to date according to deadlines and meetings set up. Creating call sheets much also be clear so people know when to turn up at the correct time with the correct equipment.

Budget sheets are usually private so unless you have worked on a higher budgeted production there is no access to it. Information also changes during the shoot on a daily basis as people spend money, script always change up until shoot, locations can also change, that means things are constantly being re-arranged behind the scenes in which the producer will be involved with.

Call Sheet


Example of a call sheet on production. Usually the 2nd AD will do this as they will know what the director wants to shoot. Information will include important call times, contacts, equipment, location base address, shooting address, parking details, catering, lunch breaks, shoot scenes, transportation details etc...

The CARER Call Sheet

Call sheets are completed daily, printed and given to cast and crew members after wrap. From experience, the reason why call sheets are given after the 1st AD calls wrap is because things can change last minute.