Call Sheet Abbreviations and Terms: The Essential Film Crew Guide

Understanding Cast Status Codes

The Day Out of Days (DOOD) grid tracks actor schedules under SAG-AFTRA agreements. Getting these abbreviations wrong leads to payroll errors and union grievances:

• SW (Start Work): An actor's first day of paid work on the production.
• W (Work): An active, mid-schedule work day.
• WF (Work Finish): The actor's final day of work.
• SWF (Start-Work-Finish): A day player role where the actor starts and finishes on the same day.
• H (Hold): A paid standby day.
• I (Idle): An unpaid day off between work periods.
• T or TR (Travel): A day for transporting the actor to or from location.

Schedule and Time Abbreviations

Staggered arrival times ensure smooth coordination. Keep these terms in mind:

• Crew Call: The general arrival time when work begins for the crew.
• PU (Pick Up): The time an actor is picked up for transport.
• H/M/W (Hair, Makeup, and Wardrobe): The styling trailer report time.
• Ready or Set Call: When the actor must be dressed, styled, and on set.
• O/C (On Call): Scheduled without a fixed start time and must remain reachable.
• N/C (No Call): The crew or cast member is not working.
• NDB (Non-Deductible Breakfast): A union-mandated 15-minute breakfast within 2 hours of early arrival to reset meal penalties.

Technical and Setup Codes

These terms help camera, grip, and electric departments prepare gear before camera blockings:

• I/E (Interior or Exterior): Indoor or outdoor scenes.
• D/N (Day or Night): The script's time of day.
• D/N/D (Day for Night): Using filters and lighting to shoot night scenes during the day.
• MOS (Without Sound): Shooting silently without recording audio.
• BG (Background): Atmosphere talent and extras.
• First Team: The principal cast members.
• Second Team: The stand-ins used for lighting and camera focus.

The Problem with Spreadsheet Call Sheets

Many productions rely on Excel or Google Sheets, but manual spreadsheets introduce critical risks:

• Manual Errors: Typos and broken formula cells lead to wrong call times and location routes.
• No Receipt Tracking: Distributing PDFs requires manual follow-ups to ensure crew members saw their times.
• Version Chaos: Late-night schedule updates mean sending new files, causing confusion on set.

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