Keeping a Production Notebook is an industry-standard practice that helps you stay organized during your shoot and always have the appropriate paperwork when you need it. We recommend all student productions that shoot off-campus or have multi-day shooting schedules keep some sort of production notebook.
Students making a Senior Project Film are required to keep a Production Notebook. The notebook must contain:
Pre-Production
- Locked Script
- Storyboard
- Script Breakdown
- Shot List (Narrative)
- Location overheads/Lighting setups (Narrative)
- Interview questions and shooting plans for locations (Documentary)
- Casting Notes and Actor’s Headshots
- One-line Schedule/Shooting Schedule
- Budget with Actuals
Production
- Call Sheets
- Daily Production Reports
- Cast and Crew Contact List
Legal
- Location Agreements/Releases
- Proof of Insurance
- Shooting Permits
- Cast/Subject & Crew Liability Waivers & Contracts
- SAG paperwork (if applicable)
- Rights & Clearances Log and any necessary proof of rights/clearances
- Composer release form
Post Production
- Notes and samples for composer (if applicable)
- Revised script or storyboard for editor
- Credits List signed off on by producer and director