WHAT DOES A SCRIPT SUPERVISOR DO ALL DAY?
Disclaimer: This information is based on Eve Butterly's own two decades+ of experience in the film business. You are free to disagree with her.
Each job varies. It is vital that your system be thorough, but flexible. This is not an exhaustive list, but here is what a script supervisor should be doing every day:Before principal photography:
➔ Break down the script• Divide the scenes.
• Decide how many eighths of pages each scene covers.
• Decide which "script day" each scene takes place on.
• Decide on a time of day for each scene.
• Count the total scenes and pages.
➔ Other breakdowns as needed (flashback timelines, progression of injuries, etc.) Provide a "One Line" synopsis of this info.
➔ Time the entire script (optional, and for an additional fee).
➔ Attend the production meeting.
➔ Prepare master forms and make copies.
• Script notes pages (goes to Editor)
• Daily Progress Report (goes to A.D.s and Editor)
• Daily Editors Log (goes to Editor)
• Daily Continuity Log (goes to A.D.s and Editor)
• One Line (goes to any department head that wants it)
➔ Assemble your kit:
• Master script notebook
• Blank paperwork file
• Tool belt
• Pencils, pens, sharpies, white out, hole punchers, etc.
• Digital camera
• Set chair (if not provided)
• Stop watch
Every morning:
➔ Prepare the script pages to be shot that day.➔ Prepare all logs and reports with today's date, and previously shot information.
➔ Put away all notes from yesterday's work.
➔ Record the time of the first shot.
Every shot:
➔ Time and make notes on rehearsals.➔ Determine what scene number will go on the slate, and inform the Camera and Sound Departments.
➔ Write scene number, camera/sound rolls, scene description for each setup.
• Enter take number.
• Time length of take.
• Jot down condition of take: complete, NG sound, NG camera, incomplete, etc.
• Circle the takes the Director likes.
➔ Inform Camera and Sound of circled takes.
➔ Transcribe information from circled takes to your logs and reports.
➔ Repeat until lunch time!
Lunch time:
➔ Record what time the 1st A.D. calls lunch.➔ Hand in lunch report to 2nd A.D.
• Scenes scheduled, scenes covered, scenes partially covered, scenes not shot.
• Number of setups shot.
• Minutes shot.
• Pages scheduled, covered, partially covered, not shot.
• Time lunch was called.
➔ Eat lunch.
➔ Record the time of the first shot after lunch.
At end of day:
➔ Record time 1st A.D. calls wrap.➔ Confer with camera and sound departments to ensure they have all circle take information.
➔ Wrap up all your report information:
• Number of film and sound rolls used today.
• Number of setups, scenes, minutes and pages shot.
• Add to previous numbers for new totals completed.
• Subtract total scenes and pages from script total for amount left to do.
• Transfer totals to tomorrow's paperwork as "previous total."
➔ (optional) Make copies of the day's work. (*NOTE: if there is no copier on set, Production gets the originals. They make whatever copies needed, then return the originals to the Script Supervisor at call the next morning.)
➔ Hand in all of the day's notes, logs and reports to ADs.
➔ Look at call sheet to determine what time to get up tomorrow.