“Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small”.
An organizational and preparation-focused approach is what Sun Tzu advocates for in The Art of War.
In a sense, preparing for a film production is like preparing for battle and amassing the troops. The production team needs a film crew position list that is flexible and customizable during pre-production to ensure a smooth transition into production and post-production. Nevertheless, not accounting for an important crew member or vendor could sink your project. That's why a film crew list template is crucial to the process and we’ve got you covered.
You can access our film crew list template by clicking Use Template now, or read on as we take you through what’s included and why it’s important.
Why You Need a Film Crew List Template
A contact list might seem simple, but creating a production crew contact list becomes a complex task once you start adding all the additional details. Having a film crew list template in place to fill in all those details can be incredibly helpful.
Here are some key reasons why you need a film crew list template for your production.
1. Leave No Person Behind
Remember that army you are amassing? There are troops both on and off the battlefield. Obviously, you wouldn't forget to include important crew members such as the cinematographer, assistant director or script supervisor on your master film crew list, but what about off-site vendors or the person in charge of securing film permits? By using a film crew list template, you avoid costly mistakes that could affect the filmmaking process.
2. Add Most Recent Rates With Ease
Most professional film crews are represented by unions, so determining crew day rates can be a complex process. IATSE is the largest, but it is like an umbrella union, as each craft has its own local union representing its interests. Consequently, rules, rates and agreements vary from craft to craft with some special considerations. For example, you may have thought of a slot for your make-up artist, but have you accounted for the cost of their kit rental? A template makes sure no detail is overlooked and can be updated in real time. Check out our film equipment list template to keep track of all your film gear as well.
3. Keep a Paperwork Checklist
Keeping track of paperwork can be a nightmare, especially on a large production. Do you really want to be in the position of tracking down that replacement camera operator you hired mid-production because she never handed in her I-9 paperwork? Having a template in place where you can easily check off when a crew member has handed in their start paperwork will eliminate that burden. And once you have all this basic information on file, no need to generate it again should you hire them on your next project.
When to Use a Crew List Template for Film
A crew list template for film is useful in the production process as soon as pre-production begins. Every film production is different. Some crew members, equipment, and resources may not be necessary for your feature film or video production, depending on your budget and scale. That is why an adaptable template is so helpful in the process.
Our Crew Sheet Template: What’s Included
Our crew sheet template has you covered on the basics and beyond as it is fully customizable for the needs of your production. Moreover, Assemble allows you to securely store all your paperwork in a production binder in the cloud and control who has access to it.
Here are some of the elements you’ll find in our crew sheet template:
- Position
- Name
- Contact Information
- Crew Pay Rates
- Kit Rentals
- Paperwork Status
- Notes
In addition, Assemble provides you with advanced tools to help you create, collaborate and share your crew list:
- Add checkboxes or status tags to indicate paperwork status, dietary restrictions and more.
- Easily share as a view only link and track who's seen it
- Collaborate with others in real time
- Create new versions and manage version history
Also check out our dozens of other film templates including a shot list template and more.
Film Crew List Examples
The purpose of a film crew list is to make your life easier by displaying all the crew members, their roles, and their pay rates in one place. It can be a very simple list, or it can include more details if that is desired to make the process as transparent and accessible as possible. Here are some film crew list examples of modifications you can make to the template to aid the functionality of your film production’s needs.
Personal Details
Being part of a film crew is like being part of a family. Adding personal details such as crew members' birthdays, favorite food, or hometown is a valuable addition to the film crew list. On-set celebrations and craft services can benefit from this information. At the end of each week, many film sets have a lottery where money is collected, a name is drawn, and someone wins it all. You can keep fun details like the amount of money collected towards the cash prize here as well.
Special Accommodations
It would be smart to include relevant health information, such as food allergies or restrictions on lifting heavy objects. Obviously, you must be careful not to disclose private medical information without permission and should consult the crew member before revealing any personal information.
Create Your Film Crew List With Assemble
Our film crew list template provides a comprehensive list of all key roles, and space to add their responsibilities and pay rates. You can edit, delete and add information as needed to meet the specific needs of your production.
1. Open the Template
Open this template by clicking Use Template. The template will be created within a new blank project in Assemble.
2. Edit the Template as Needed
Click anywhere within the text to begin adding to or editing the template.
3. Share the Document
Click Share and select Share Document to easily distribute the document to your entire team with one click. You can even track who has viewed the document.
4. Save the Updated Template for Future Projects
Once you've updated it based on your needs, click the menu in the top right and select Save as Template to save it into your your personal template library.
Producing a Film with Assemble
Assemble enables producers to create a centralized hub to manage their entire project from start to finish - including documents, calendars, task management and asset management.
By using this film crew list template, you'll get access to all of Assemble's powerful features so that you can not only utilize this document, but keep production moving quickly and efficiently with our advanced collaboration tools built for producers.
Get started today for free by clicking Use Template to begin exploring all of Assemble's powerful features.
