Free call sheet template
A two-page, industry-standard call sheet for film, TV and commercial shoots. Download the editable Excel file or a print-ready PDF, and check the filled-in example to see what goes where.
No sign-up, no email address. Free to use on any production.
Download the template
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Excel template (XLSX)
XLSX · US LetterEditable. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice. Front and back on two sheets, set to print one page wide.
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Blank PDF (US Letter)
PDF · US LetterPrint-ready. Fill it in by hand or in any PDF editor.
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Blank PDF (A4)
PDF · A4Print-ready. Fill it in by hand or in any PDF editor.
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Example call sheet (PDF)
PDF · US LetterA complete call sheet for a fictional shoot day, so you can see how each section is filled in.
Need it in Turkish? Turkish call sheet template
What goes on a call sheet
A call sheet answers three questions for every person on the shoot: where do I need to be, when, and what are we shooting today? A standard call sheet has:
- Header: production title, production company, director, producer, 1st AD, the date and the shoot day ("Day 4 of 20").
- Crew call, printed big, plus shooting call (first shot), lunch and estimated wrap.
- Weather, sunrise and sunset. They decide how exterior scenes and golden-hour shots are scheduled.
- Locations: the full address of each set, parking and crew base.
- Nearest hospital and emergency numbers: name, address, phone and travel time from set.
- Shooting schedule: scenes in shooting order with scene number, INT/EXT, day or night, set and description, cast numbers, page count and location.
- Cast: cast number, character, actor, status (SW, W, WF, H), pickup, hair and makeup, on-set time and remarks.
- Background (extras): how many, what they play, call time and wardrobe notes.
- Department notes, key contacts and walkie channels.
- Advance schedule: tomorrow's scenes, so departments can prepare.
How to make a call sheet, step by step
On most shoots the 1st AD builds the call sheet with the 2nd AD the afternoon before, once the day's wrap time is clear.
Start from the shooting schedule
Take the day's scenes from the stripboard or one-liner, in shooting order. The call sheet doesn't invent the schedule; it reports the one the 1st AD and the UPM have agreed on.
Set the call times
Work back from the first shot. How long do lighting and camera need, and how long does hair and makeup take for each actor? Crew call is usually 30 to 60 minutes before shooting call. Check turnaround: the gap between yesterday's wrap and today's call has to respect your union or local rest rules.
Fill in the header
Production, company, key creatives, the date and "Day X of Y". Add the script revision (color or date) so everyone works from the same pages.
Add locations and safety information
The full address of each set, where to park and where crew base is. Then the nearest emergency room with address, phone and travel time, the emergency number (911 in the US, 112 in Europe and Turkey), the set medic and the time of the safety meeting.
List the scenes and the cast
Enter each scene with INT/EXT, day or night, cast numbers and pages, and mark meal breaks and company moves. Then give each actor a pickup, a hair and makeup call and an on-set time that matches their first scene.
Add background, departments and contacts
How many extras, what they play and when they're called. Short notes for camera, sound, art, wardrobe, makeup, effects and transport. Walkie channels and the phone numbers people actually need on the day.
Check, approve and send
The UPM or producer approves the draft, then it goes out to cast and crew, usually after wrap the day before. Ask everyone to confirm. If anything changes overnight, send a new version clearly marked as revised and call the people it affects.
Tips from the AD department
- Ask for confirmation. Someone who hasn't confirmed by evening may not show up at 6 AM.
- Keep one source of truth. When the schedule changes, update the call sheet and mark the new version as revised.
- Give individual times. Hair and makeup, cast and background often start earlier or later than the crew.
- Use cast numbers in the scene list. They keep columns short and avoid spoilers on a printed page.
- Always print the nearest hospital, even on an easy studio day. It's the first thing anyone looks for when something goes wrong.
- Print only the phone numbers people agreed to share, and no home addresses: printed call sheets get left lying around the set.
Call sheet FAQ
- Who makes the call sheet?
- The 1st AD, with the 2nd AD, based on the shooting schedule. The UPM or producer approves it, and the 2nd AD or production coordinator sends it out.
- When should the call sheet be sent?
- The evening before the shoot day, once the day's wrap time is known. A late change means a revised call sheet and a phone call to the people it affects.
- What is the difference between crew call and shooting call?
- Crew call is when the crew starts work. Shooting call is when the first shot is expected to roll, usually 30 to 60 minutes later.
- What do SW, W, WF and H mean?
- They're cast status codes from the Day Out of Days: SW is start work (first day), W is work, WF is work finish (last day), SWF is a single day, and H is hold (booked but not working).
- Can I use this template in Google Sheets?
- Yes. Upload the XLSX file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets. It also opens in Excel, Numbers and LibreOffice.
- Should a call sheet be portrait or landscape?
- Most call sheets are portrait, printed front and back. This template follows that: page one is the day itself, page two has contacts, department notes and tomorrow's schedule.
- Is the template really free?
- Yes. Use it on any production, paid or unpaid, and change it however you like. No sign-up needed.
Make call sheets automatically from your schedule, free for your whole crew
In ProductionEngine the call sheet fills itself from your breakdown and shooting schedule: scenes, cast times, locations, weather and the nearest hospital. Send it by email or WhatsApp and see who has confirmed. View-only crew members don't need a paid seat.