How to Format a Company Move on a Call Sheet (And Keep Your Crew on Schedule)
A mid-day company move can disrupt your shoot if details are vague. Here is how assistant directors format company moves cleanly on a call sheet and keep crews aligned.
Relocating an entire cast, crew, and camera package mid-day is one of the highest-risk operations on any production. A company move involves packing up gear trucks, transporting personnel, parking at a second location, and re-establishing basecamp. When details on your call sheet are vague, crew members end up at the wrong address, trucks get stuck in tight parking zones, and your shooting schedule loses precious hours.
Why Company Moves Break Shoot Days
Most company move delays stem from poor call sheet communication. If you simply bury a second location address in a footer or rely on verbal instructions at lunch, departments move at different speeds. Camera and grip crews need clear transit windows, while hair and makeup teams require immediate staging details upon arrival. A clean layout removes guesswork so everyone moves as one unit.
Where to Position the Move on Your Call Sheet
To keep your crew aligned, highlight the relocation across two main sections of your document:
- Daily Schedule Block: Insert an explicit time block between scene blocks labeled Company Move. Include total allocated travel and setup time, such as 30 minutes travel plus 30 minutes load-in.
- Location Header: List both Location 1 (Morning) and Location 2 (Afternoon) clearly at the top, complete with exact street addresses and GPS coordinates.
If you are building your layout using Easy Call Sheets, address autocomplete pulls verified GPS coordinates automatically, ensuring crew members tap directly into turn-by-turn navigation on their phones.
Key Details Every Company Move Needs
Never assume your crew knows where to go. Every multi-location call sheet should specify:
- Truck and Unit Parking: Separate crew personal parking from heavy equipment truck loading zones.
- Advance Department Calls: Note if pre-rigging or art department crews depart early to prep Location 2.
- Nearest Hospital for Location 2: Provide local emergency contacts for both shoot sites.
- Attached Site Maps: Attach parking diagrams or entrance maps directly to the call sheet email.
While heavy enterprise platforms like StudioBinder offer broad production suites, indie filmmakers and commercial video producers often need a simple, single-purpose builder focused purely on fast setup and instant delivery.
How Modern Call Sheet Tools Simplify Multi-Location Days
Managing last-minute adjustments during a multi-location shoot requires speed. When weather shifts or Location 1 wraps early, updating a static spreadsheet creates mass confusion over email chains.
With dedicated software like Easy Call Sheets, you can build a complete multi-location call sheet in under two minutes. You can resend revised call sheets with one click, send SMS notifications directly to crew phones, and track live digital confirmations without chasing replies. Start building your next production for free today and get your crew confirmed fast.