Free Call Sheet Template for Indian Shoots (Copy-Paste Format)

In short: a call sheet is a one-page document sent the evening before a shoot telling every crew member where to be, when, and what's happening that day. A good call sheet has eight sections: production details, date and weather, locations, crew call times, schedule, cast/talent, equipment and emergency contacts. Copy the template below, fill it in, and send it as a PDF plus a short WhatsApp summary.

Free to use and adapt. Last updated September 2026.

What is a call sheet?

A call sheet is the daily briefing for a shoot. It's usually made by the production manager or assistant director and sent to the whole crew the evening before. On a two-person wedding shoot it can be five lines; on an ad film with 30 people it's a full page.

The template

Copy this into Google Docs, Word or Notion.

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PRODUCTION: [Project name] — [Client]
SHOOT DAY: [Day X of Y] | DATE: [DD Month YYYY] | SHIFT: [Day / Night / Full day]
PRODUCER: [Name, phone] | DIRECTOR: [Name, phone]
PRODUCTION MANAGER: [Name, phone]

GENERAL CALL: [Time] | SHOOTING CALL: [Time] | EXPECTED WRAP: [Time]
SUNRISE / SUNSET: [Times] | WEATHER: [Forecast]

LOCATION 1: [Name] — [Full address] — [Google Maps link]
PARKING / ENTRY: [Gate, parking, permission notes]
NEAREST HOSPITAL: [Name, address, phone]

CREW CALL TIMES

Department	Name	Role	Phone	Call time
Camera		DOP
Camera		1st AC / Focus
Lighting		Gaffer
Grip		Key grip
Sound		Sound recordist
Art		Art director
Make-up & hair
Production		Runner

SCHEDULE

Time	Scene / Setup	Description	Location	Talent
07:00	—	Crew call, breakfast, setup	Loc 1	—
08:30	Setup 1
13:00	—	Lunch
14:00	Setup 2
19:00	—	Wrap, gear check

TALENT / CAST

Name	Role	Pickup	Make-up call	On set

EQUIPMENT

• Camera package: [Body ×, lenses, media]
• Lighting: [Kit list]
• Grip: [Kit list]
• Sound: [Kit list]
• Drone: [Unit, pilot, permission status]
• Hired from: [Rental house, pickup/return time]

CATERING: [Breakfast/lunch times, vendor, dietary notes]
TRANSPORT: [Vehicles, pickup points and times]
NOTES: [Permissions, dress code, safety briefing, what not to post on social media]

EMERGENCY CONTACTS: [Production manager], [Local police station], [Nearest hospital]

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How to fill each section

Production details

Name the project the way your team knows it, and include the client. Add the shoot day number (Day 2 of 3) so people know where they are in the schedule.

Calls and wrap

"General call" is when the crew arrives; "shooting call" is when the camera rolls. Give both, plus the expected wrap so people can plan their night.

Location

Always include a map link and entry instructions. Most late arrivals in Indian cities come from the wrong gate, not traffic.

Crew call times

Different departments arrive at different times — lighting and art before talent. List phone numbers so people can reach each other without going through the producer.

Schedule

Keep it realistic. Build in setup changes and a proper lunch break; a schedule that's always behind stops being trusted.

Equipment

List what's coming from the studio and what's hired. This is also your checklist at wrap.

A WhatsApp-friendly version

Send the full sheet as a PDF, then pin a short text version in the crew group:

Shoot: [Project] — Day 2/3, [Date]
📍 [Location + Maps link]
⏰ Crew call 7:00 · Shooting 8:30 · Wrap ~19:00
🌙 Shift: Day
📞 PM: [Name, phone]
Full call sheet attached.

Call sheets for weddings

Weddings need a lighter version per event: event name, venue and map link, report time, who's covering what (candid, traditional, film, drone), kit list and the family coordinator's number. See the full wedding photography studio workflow.

Where DODO fits

DODO doesn't generate call sheets. What it does is keep the information a call sheet is built from in one place: every shoot phase with its date, location, shift and call time; the crew assigned to it; and the equipment booked with clash checks — so the call sheet you send matches what's actually been scheduled.

Frequently asked questions

What is a call sheet in film production?

A call sheet is a daily document sent to cast and crew, usually the evening before a shoot, listing call times, locations, the schedule, talent, equipment and emergency contacts.

Who makes the call sheet?

Usually the production manager or first assistant director. On smaller shoots the producer or studio manager makes it.

When should a call sheet be sent?

The evening before the shoot day, early enough for crew to plan travel — ideally by 6–8pm.

What's the difference between general call and shooting call?

General call is when the crew arrives on location. Shooting call is when the first shot is expected to roll.

Do wedding shoots need call sheets?

Yes, a lighter one per event: venue and map link, report time, who covers what, kit and the family coordinator's contact.