Production templates · Checklists

Pre-shoot (crank-in) checklist

Script, schedule, contracts, locations, gear, insurance and departments before day one.

The pre-shoot (crank-in) checklist groups everything to confirm before day one into five areas: script and schedule, people and contracts, locations and gear, departments, and safety and money — each item with owner, due date and notes.

English Excel — Pre-shoot (crank-in) checklist (English)Print · PDF — Pre-shoot (crank-in) checklist (English)
한국어 Excel — Pre-shoot (crank-in) checklist (한국어)Print · PDF — Pre-shoot (crank-in) checklist (한국어)

The Excel file includes Example and Guide sheets next to the blank form. How to fill it in

What's inside

Script & schedule

  • Lock and distribute the shooting script (version number and date)
  • Script breakdown — locations, cast, props, wardrobe, SFX per scene
  • Shooting schedule (stripboard) and scenes per day locked
  • Day 1 call sheet ready and sent the day before

People & contracts

  • Cast deals and availability (check conflicts)
  • Crew deal memos — hours, breaks, pay, insurance
  • Minor performers — consent and hour limits
  • Emergency contact list and department heads

Locations & gear

  • Location permits and agreements signed; neighbours notified
  • Equipment rental agreement, pickup and test dates
  • Production insurance in place (period, people, gear)
  • Vehicles, accommodation and catering booked

Departments

  • Wardrobe and makeup fittings; continuity photo rules
  • Art, props and sets signed off
  • Table read and rehearsals; stunt and SFX tests
  • Camera tests and LUT; data backup rules (DIT, two copies)

Safety & money

  • Safety briefing, first aid kit, nearest hospital
  • Budget locked; petty cash and pay schedule (pay dates, withholding) shared
  • How hours are logged (call and wrap) shared

How to fill it in

What it is for

The pre-shoot (crank-in) checklist confirms on one sheet that script, people, locations, equipment, safety and money are all ready before the first shooting day. The production manager and 1st AD assign an owner and due date to each item and review it together at every meeting.

When to use it

Fill in owners and due dates at a pre-production meeting three to four weeks out, update the Done column at each weekly production meeting, and do a final pass the day before the first shooting day.

Field by field

  • First shooting day

    What
    Date of day 1
    How
    Match day 1 on the schedule. Work due dates backwards from it.
    Example
    2026-10-29

  • Total shooting days

    What
    Planned number of shooting days
    How
    Keep it the same as the budget and schedule. If it changes, recheck the insurance period and rental deals.
    Example
    40

  • Production contact

    What
    Who owns the checklist
    How
    One person to ask about progress — title, name and number.
    Example
    Hana Kim, PM, 010-0000-0000

  • Area

    What
    Item group (script & schedule, people & contracts, etc.)
    How
    Already filled in. Insert extra items for your project inside the right group.
    Example
    Locations & gear

  • Check item

    What
    Something that must be done before the shoot
    How
    Keep the preset wording. If an item does not apply, do not delete it — write “n/a” in Notes.
    Example
    Production insurance in place (period, people, gear)

  • Basis / reference

    What
    Related document or where to look
    How
    Where the agreement or permit lives, or which other checklist covers it.
    Example
    Insurance checklist

  • Done

    What
    Whether it is finished
    How
    Change to ■ only when fully done. If in progress, leave it and describe the status in Notes.
    Example
    ■

  • Owner

    What
    Who will get it done
    How
    A person, not a department. If two people share it, list the lead first.
    Example
    Yuna Jung, 1st AD

  • Due

    What
    When it must be done
    How
    Work backwards from day 1. Items due the day before (like the day 1 call sheet) still get a date.
    Example
    2026-10-24

  • Notes

    What
    Status and what is left
    How
    Make the remaining work visible, such as “30 of 32 signed”.
    Example
    30 signed · 2 pending

Tips

  • Give every item a named owner. Items assigned to “production” tend to belong to nobody.
  • Work due dates back from day 1 and schedule upstream items (rental pickup, tests) first.
  • For items with their own checklist (minors, insurance, location permits), name that checklist in Basis / reference and follow it through there.
  • Put this sheet on screen at the weekly production meeting and only update the Done column — meetings get shorter.
  • Crew hours, breaks and pay terms follow the contract and applicable law. The /tools/labor-cost calculator helps estimate total crew cost.

Common mistakes

  • Ticking items that are still in progress, so a missing contract or permit surfaces the day before the shoot.
  • Sending the day 1 call sheet on the morning of the shoot, so crew do not know where to go.
  • Insuring shooting days only, leaving prep and wrap-out uncovered.
  • Starting without agreed data backup rules, so camera originals get muddled in week one.

Filled-in example

Filled in for the fictional drama “The Temperature Between Us”. All people, companies and numbers are made up; the Excel file has the same example on its Example sheet.

Pre-Shoot (Crank-in) Checklist

ProductionThe Temperature Between Us
First shooting day2026-10-29
Total shooting days40
Production contactHana Kim, PM, 010-0000-0000
AreaCheck itemBasis / referenceDoneOwnerDueNotes
Script & schedule
Lock and distribute the shooting script (version number and date)■Yuna Jung, 1st AD2026-10-204th draft, 2026-10-18
Script breakdown — locations, cast, props, wardrobe, SFX per scene□
Shooting schedule (stripboard) and scenes per day locked■Yuna Jung, 1st AD2026-10-22
Day 1 call sheet ready and sent the day before□Yuna Jung, 1st AD2026-10-28Send 10-28 at 18:00
People & contracts
Cast deals and availability (check conflicts)□
Crew deal memos — hours, breaks, pay, insurance□Hana Kim, PM2026-10-2430 signed · 2 pending
Minor performers — consent and hour limits■Hana Kim, PM2026-10-241 child actor — see minor performer checklist
Emergency contact list and department heads□
Locations & gear
Location permits and agreements signed; neighbours notified■Geonyoung Lee, PA2026-10-27Cafe Ondo signed · notice posted
Equipment rental agreement, pickup and test dates□
Production insurance in place (period, people, gear)■Hana Kim, PM2026-10-27See insurance checklist
Vehicles, accommodation and catering booked□
Departments
Wardrobe and makeup fittings; continuity photo rules□
Art, props and sets signed off□
Table read and rehearsals; stunt and SFX tests□
Camera tests and LUT; data backup rules (DIT, two copies)■Taerim Oh, DP2026-10-23
Safety & money
Safety briefing, first aid kit, nearest hospital□Geonyoung Lee, PA2026-10-28Briefing right after day 1 call
Budget locked; petty cash and pay schedule (pay dates, withholding) shared□
How hours are logged (call and wrap) shared■Hana Kim, PM2026-10-27Timesheet template sent
Open the example full size · print

FAQ

What does "crank-in" mean?

Korean and Japanese crews call the first day of principal photography "crank-in", after the hand crank of early film cameras.

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