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TV/Film Call Sheet Page Design

M

Hello,

I’ve created a database that essentially allows me to create a call sheet (sample here) using the page design app.

I currently have two tables:

  1. Call sheet table - lists the date as the main column. For each date, I have information such as the location, linked crew member, status etc.

  2. Crew table - this table lists each person’s name in the main column. There’s a linked record to the dates they’re working in the call sheet table, their email, cell, and role. I’d also like to add a column for the call time, but that will vary based on the date. On Tuesday their call time might be 9:00am but on Wednesday it’s 8:30am.

Since each crew member in linked to several call sheet dates, one person may be linked to 2-4 different days of work on set. The time that people need to report to set each day varies.

I’m trying to figure out a way, in the crew tab, to assign a call time for each person for each shoot day that they are assigned.

Would you be able to assist?

I then take all this information and pull it into the page designer app to build a call sheet with each crew member for that day and their corresponding call time.

    10 replies

    Shannon_Bradley

    Did you ever figure something out? I am also currently working to build a Call Sheet as well as a proper 1 Liner

    C
    Shannon_Bradley wrote:

    Did you ever figure something out? I am also currently working to build a Call Sheet as well as a proper 1 Liner


    @Shannon_Bradley - Did you ever work out a Call Sheet template? I'm about to start one for a documentary production, and I'm wondering if you have a public template you might share?

    Shannon_Bradley
    CollectiveHunch wrote:

    @Shannon_Bradley - Did you ever work out a Call Sheet template? I'm about to start one for a documentary production, and I'm wondering if you have a public template you might share?


    The key was Docs Automator! I ended up revamping my setup a bit and integrated the amazing 3rd party site. I can't say enough good things about it, the best part is the reduction in possible errors from copying info from the system to the call sheet since it pulls in automatically.  I then worked on learning interface setup to make something easy for my ADs to use

    M
    1 person likes this
    • M
      mhuesmann
    M
    • mhuesmann
    • New Participant
    • 1 reply
    • February 11, 2024
    Shannon_Bradley wrote:

    The key was Docs Automator! I ended up revamping my setup a bit and integrated the amazing 3rd party site. I can't say enough good things about it, the best part is the reduction in possible errors from copying info from the system to the call sheet since it pulls in automatically.  I then worked on learning interface setup to make something easy for my ADs to use


    Anything you can share?

     

    Shannon_Bradley

    Sorry this took a while 🙂 So here is a link to my blank "Master" base. https://airtable.com/appdCoFfDrwWFQ0ei/shrbiqC30dFycUSdz 

    The idea is that you begin with the script breakdown....all scenes and details. Then move on to fleshing out characters, sets, etc. Then add your locations etc as required.

    Finally you add actors and link them, crew and other details. And use the Shot List to organize shots (I have plans to create a DocsAutomator print port of this), and Scripty table to track on the day.  Update the Positions to meet the needs of the current project. Etc etc.

    BUT - the whole thing starts and ends on the backend with the Call Sheets. Everything eventually leads back to that table, and is intended to be able to create the call sheet. There are Interfaces on my main base to be used by the ADs for input, as well as a couple other ones. The plan is to have a full Template base I can copy for a new show.

    The call sheet creation itself will be through a Google doc and the DocsAutomator system, which literally prevented me from pulling all my hair out trying to make the native AirTable options work. One click and it does the magic on the day, and the setup was easy to understand and really didn't take very long. I don't have a generic version of those at the moment, but I can work on creating that. 

    Might be some ghost information in the setup of my show, working on cleaning it up lol. If anyone really really wanted to see the whole setup in action with proper data maybe we could video chat or something lol.

    I can literally run a whole production schedule and shoot from this base with DocsAutomator and a Google doc or two. I don't currently have a setup for proper HR because they generally have their own system.

    0
    C
    2 people like this
    • 0
      00sven
    • C
      CMObrien
    C
    • CMObrien
    • New Participant
    • 1 reply
    • September 30, 2024
    Shannon_Bradley wrote:

    Sorry this took a while 🙂 So here is a link to my blank "Master" base. https://airtable.com/appdCoFfDrwWFQ0ei/shrbiqC30dFycUSdz 

    The idea is that you begin with the script breakdown....all scenes and details. Then move on to fleshing out characters, sets, etc. Then add your locations etc as required.

    Finally you add actors and link them, crew and other details. And use the Shot List to organize shots (I have plans to create a DocsAutomator print port of this), and Scripty table to track on the day.  Update the Positions to meet the needs of the current project. Etc etc.

    BUT - the whole thing starts and ends on the backend with the Call Sheets. Everything eventually leads back to that table, and is intended to be able to create the call sheet. There are Interfaces on my main base to be used by the ADs for input, as well as a couple other ones. The plan is to have a full Template base I can copy for a new show.

    The call sheet creation itself will be through a Google doc and the DocsAutomator system, which literally prevented me from pulling all my hair out trying to make the native AirTable options work. One click and it does the magic on the day, and the setup was easy to understand and really didn't take very long. I don't have a generic version of those at the moment, but I can work on creating that. 

    Might be some ghost information in the setup of my show, working on cleaning it up lol. If anyone really really wanted to see the whole setup in action with proper data maybe we could video chat or something lol.

    I can literally run a whole production schedule and shoot from this base with DocsAutomator and a Google doc or two. I don't currently have a setup for proper HR because they generally have their own system.


    @Shannon_Bradley I would absolutely be interested!

    I work as a 1st AD Commercials, Toronto. Also working on my own short film and enormously put off by MM - pricing especially, for an essentially legacy system with minimal modernization. Studiobinder is utter and complete millennial tripe and Celtx has some silly limitations. Scenchronize is decent but also old school. I was DGC before Commercials (which are NU in Toronto).

    I was deeply fascinated by AT until I ran into the buzzsaw of presenting the info in a callsheet, plus tracking and accounting for all the changes.

    I'd love a link to your template, as an AD I fully understand discretion if there's ghost data.

    My personal site, www.ConorMOBrien.tv.

    Love to chat!

    Shannon_Bradley
    CMObrien wrote:

    @Shannon_Bradley I would absolutely be interested!

    I work as a 1st AD Commercials, Toronto. Also working on my own short film and enormously put off by MM - pricing especially, for an essentially legacy system with minimal modernization. Studiobinder is utter and complete millennial tripe and Celtx has some silly limitations. Scenchronize is decent but also old school. I was DGC before Commercials (which are NU in Toronto).

    I was deeply fascinated by AT until I ran into the buzzsaw of presenting the info in a callsheet, plus tracking and accounting for all the changes.

    I'd love a link to your template, as an AD I fully understand discretion if there's ghost data.

    My personal site, www.ConorMOBrien.tv.

    Love to chat!


    Whups looks like I need to re-link my revamped Master lol. Actually have made quite a few updates with the newest features DocsAutomator added in the last couple of months. 

    I've been playing around a bit with ThinkCrew, and to be honest I'm fairly impressed with it for what it does...may see about working with both. That said, you are absolutely right about all those other systems. They are just too expensive, or not flexible enough. The big draw for me with AT is that I can literally build whatever I want. Recently I was on set as Production Coordinator doing a wee bit of crafty, and last second had to cover for our missing Scripty. 5 minute build in AT and I was set to get the basics lol.

    J
    Moving Body Arts
    2 people like this
    • J
      JortArie
    • Moving Body Arts
      Moving Body Arts
    Moving Body Arts
    Forum|alt.badge.img+1

    ​Hi @Shannon_Bradley I appreciate that this may come out of the blue but I was researching using Airtable as a tool for Prod coordinators and your post showed up. I am, totally admit it, fairly new to the POC world, my experience is working with talent, and I'm slowly transitioning into Production.

     

    Would you mind sharing that lovely base that you were talking about? Sounds very interesting and I'd love to have a look. I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have about me! 

    Thanks so much!

    Shannon_Bradley
    1 person likes this
    • Shannon_Bradley
      Shannon_Bradley
    M
    Forum|alt.badge.img+1

    Hello Christine

    You're on the right track! To assign a call time for each crew member on each shoot day, you’ll need a junction table (a new table).

    1. Create a new table called "Crew Schedule".
    2. In this table, add a linked field to both the Crew and Call Sheet tables.
    3. Add a Call Time field where you can manually enter the time for each person on each day.

    This setup will allow each crew member to have a different call time for different dates.

    If you need help automating this or pulling it into the Page Designer smoothly, let me know!

    ScottWorld
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    • ScottWorld
    • Brainy
    • 8739 replies
    • March 20, 2025

    Note that you won’t be able to use Page Designer to create multi-page documents — and the other major problem with Page Designer is that it can’t be automated.

    Your best bet for automating the creation of professional PDF documents from Airtable is to use DocuMint.

    Hope this helps! If you’d like to hire the best Airtable consultant to help you with anything Airtable-related, please feel free to contact me through my website: Airtable consultant — ScottWorld

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