The SetHero Journal
Lessons from the set.
Guides, templates and stories from crews who’ve been there.
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Production knowledge worth keeping close on prep days and shoot days.
Industry15 min read
Top 6 Film Budgeting Softwares Compared
We put six film budgeting platforms head-to-head—from industry-standard Movie Magic Budgeting to cloud-first newcomers like Saturation.io—comparing features, pricing, collaboration, and learning curves to help you pick the right tool for your production.
Product6 min read
Announcing Our New Integration with Scriptation
SetHero now imports tagged scene breakdowns directly from Scriptation, the Emmy Award-winning script annotation app. Here is how the integration works, and how to get from a marked-up script to finished call sheets in minutes.
Production11 min read
Daily Production Reports Made Easy: Complete Guide + Free Template
Production reports are notorious for being tedious—but they don’t have to be. Here’s a section-by-section breakdown of the daily production report, front and back, plus a free Excel template download.
Product6 min read
Announcing Our New Integration with Cinapse
SetHero now imports scene data directly from Cinapse, so your breakdowns and shooting schedule land in your call sheets without any retyping. Here’s how the integration works, what it saves you, and how to set it up in two steps.
Industry11 min read
Fix or Fallout? Everything We Know About Trump’s Film Tariff
In May 2025, President Trump announced plans for a 100% tariff on films produced outside the U.S. Here’s what was actually said, why runaway production is a real problem, and whether a tariff on a movie could even work.
Industry13 min read
2nd Assistant Director: The Ultimate Job Description + Guide
The 2nd Assistant Director is the communication hub that keeps a film set running. Learn what the role involves—from call sheets and base camp to wrangling extras—plus the skills, salary ranges, and career path to get there.
Industry13 min read
Best Call Sheet Software: A Comparative Guide
Call sheets keep your entire crew on the same page—but which tool should make them? We compare SetHero, StudioBinder, Yamdu, Celtx, and four more call sheet platforms on ease of use, distribution, pricing, and customization.
Industry34 min read
Film Production Insurance 101
Production insurance protects your film from on-set accidents, equipment losses, and lawsuits. Here is every major type of coverage explained, what it costs, and how to find and buy the right policy for your production.
Pre-Production12 min read
Bullet-Proof Crew Deal Memo Template
A crew deal memo sets the terms between a production company and its crew before cameras roll — day rates, meals, kit fees, and kill fees. Here's what every section means, plus a free template download.
Pre-Production14 min read
Shot Lists: An Expert’s Guide
How directors and cinematographers plan every shot before stepping on set—what belongs in a shot list, how it becomes the shooting schedule, and a free template for Excel and Google Sheets to follow along.
Pre-Production23 min read
The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Call Sheet in Google Docs
A well-crafted call sheet is your blueprint for a successful shoot day. Learn what goes into one, how to build yours in Google Docs with our free template, and pro tips for customizing and distributing it to your crew.
Industry32 min read
The Ultimate Film Crew Positions & Department Breakdown
Explore every major film crew department and role, from development through distribution, with clear explanations of what each position does and a downloadable visual guide to the complete production team.
Industry12 min read
Ultimate Line Producer Salary Guide for 2024
As of late 2023, the average line producer in the United States earns $91,992 a year—but experience, project size, location, and union status can all swing that number. Here’s what line producers actually make, and how to raise your rate.
Industry7 min read
Top 10 Entertainment Payroll Companies for Paying Film Crew
A rundown of the ten most popular entertainment payroll companies for US film, TV, and commercial productions—what each one offers, who they serve best, and how to pick the right one for your project.
Industry10 min read
Working With Child Actors
Child actors deliver some of the most memorable performances on screen, but putting a minor on set comes with strict rules. Here’s a producer’s guide to work-hour limits, permits, studio teachers, Coogan accounts, and directing kids.
Industry10 min read
Feature Film Funding – Complete Guide
Most independent features are financed through a combination of sources. This guide breaks down ten ways to fund your film, from crowdfunding and grants to pre-sales and gap financing, ordered from least to most risky.
Industry9 min read
Film Unions Explained
How film and TV unions actually work from a producer’s perspective: union vs. non-union shoots, grievances, strikes, and set flips, plus a breakdown of SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, WGA, DGA, and the PGA.
Production5 min read
How To Make Script Sides
Script sides are the “mini scripts” cast and crew carry on set — copies of just the scenes being shot that day. Learn how sides are used, how to make your own, and grab a free example PDF.
Pre-Production13 min read
How To Make an Indie Feature Film + 14 Essential Templates
A step-by-step breakdown of how a low-budget feature actually gets made, from treatment and script breakdown through scheduling, releases, and music clearance. All 14 paperwork templates are free to download.
Industry5 min read
What Does an Entertainment Lawyer Do?
Entertainment lawyers protect your film from lawsuits and lost distribution deals. Learn what they actually do for filmmakers, when you genuinely need one, how to find the right fit, and what their services cost.
Pre-Production10 min read
The 12 Essentials of Film Pre-Production Paperwork
The twelve documents every film needs before cameras roll, from script breakdowns and shot lists to release agreements and call sheets — plus a free downloadable bundle with all twelve templates.
Industry4 min read
Production Coordinator
The production coordinator keeps the production office — and the whole show — running. Learn what the role involves, the skills it takes, what production coordinators earn, and how the job leads to line producing.
Pre-Production6 min read
8 Steps to Pitching a Successful Video Concept
Pitching a video concept to a client doesn't have to be a mystery. We break the process into eight easy-to-follow steps—from reading the creative brief to delivering your proposal—with advice on pitch decks, treatments, and mood boards.
Product4 min read
How To Export Data from Movie Magic Scheduling to Excel
Movie Magic Scheduling has no built-in way to export your scene breakdowns to an editable format. Here is the step-by-step workflow for converting your scheduling data into a fully editable Excel file in minutes.
Industry4 min read
The Best Cities for Filmmaking in the US (2021)
What are the top US cities for filmmakers? From Atlanta to New York, this list rounds up the best cities to consider living in as you pursue your film career—and to call home base for your next production.
Industry9 min read
The Filmmaker Salary Guide
Freelance filmmakers negotiate their own wages — but what should you actually charge? How to calculate your day rate, negotiate with clients, and put it all in a contract, plus a union rate chart for crew positions in every department.
Industry4 min read
Line Producer Job Description
Line producers manage the set on behalf of the producer — the budget, the logistics, and the daily operations that keep a film on schedule. Learn what the job involves, the skills it demands, and what line producers earn.
Industry13 min read
Film Incentives State By State Breakdown 2021
A state-by-state guide to U.S. film tax incentives: what each state offers, the minimum spends, incentive caps, and the terms your production must meet to qualify.
Pre-Production7 min read
Talent Release Form for Filmmakers
A talent release form protects your film’s future distribution by granting you the legal right to use an actor’s image, voice, and performance. Here’s when and how to use one, what a good form includes, and a free template you can download.
Pre-Production9 min read
7 Stages of Film Production
A producer's seven-stage workflow for film production scheduling—from script development and breakdowns to hiring crew and locking the schedule—plus free stripboard, shot list, and call sheet templates.
Pre-Production5 min read
Character Profile Template for Filmmakers
What a character profile is, how to create one, and how screenwriters, directors, and casting directors use them throughout development. Plus a free downloadable character profile template.
Industry9 min read
How To Sell Your Film at the American Film Market
Festivals build buzz, but most films actually sell at film markets. Here’s how the American Film Market works and how to sell your film there — from booking buyer meetings and pitching to building a media kit and budgeting for the trip.
Industry6 min read
The Best 15 Film Grants for Funding in 2021
Film grants can be a useful way to fund your film production—and unlike investments, you never have to pay them back. Here are the top 15 funds and grants open to US-based filmmakers in 2020 and 2021.
Production14 min read
How to Complete a SAG Exhibit G Form
The SAG-AFTRA Exhibit G is the official record of each actor’s times on set. This field-by-field breakdown covers who fills it out, how to record times in 24-hour decimal format, and how to handle meal breaks, travel time, and penalties.
Pre-Production12 min read
The Complete Guide to Film Pre-Production
Pre-production is the planning stage that makes or breaks a film shoot. Here’s a complete breakdown of the process, from script breakdown and scheduling to hiring crew, casting, locations, and the paperwork you need before day one.
Pre-Production5 min read
How to Storyboard a Film For Beginners
Want to create storyboards for your next film project but don’t know where to start? We’ll walk you through how storyboards are used from pre-production through post, and how to sketch your own—complete with a free storyboard template download.
Industry7 min read
How to Get Your Film Distributed in Theaters
A theatrical release is the riskiest way to distribute an independent film—but it’s not out of reach. Here’s how to get your movie on the big screen through festivals, distribution deals, four-walling, and theatrical-on-demand platforms, plus what an independent release really costs.
Industry10 min read
Film Distribution Explained
Making a film is a momentous achievement, but it means nothing if nobody can watch it. Learn how film distribution works, from contacting distributors and sales agents to festivals, film markets, pre-sales, and self-distribution.
Production5 min read
Walkie Talkie Lingo Cheat Sheet for Film Crew
Film set walkie talkies have a language all their own. Learn proper radio etiquette, the essential code words, and standard department channel assignments—then grab our free printable cheat sheet PDF to keep on set.
Production4 min read
Script Supervisor Report Explained
The script supervisor report—aka the daily progress report—tells you at a glance how successful each shooting day was. Here’s how to read one, plus a free template you can download.
Industry10 min read
How To Find A Film Crew That Won’t Let You Down
Finding crew who stick with you to the end of production takes more than money. Learn where to find film crew, how to vet and hire them, and how to negotiate rates that keep morale high — even on a low budget.
Industry4 min read
How to Make a Short Film That Wins Awards
You can't guarantee an award win, but you can raise your odds. From studying award-winning shorts to choosing the right script and building a smart festival plan, here are the techniques that help a short film stand out to judges.
Pre-Production9 min read
The Best Script Writing Software for Screenwriters
A look at the best script writing software available to screenwriters in 2021—from free options like Trelby, Drama Queen, and Fountain plain text to paid industry standards like Final Draft and Movie Magic Screenwriter.
Production10 min read
Ultimate Call Sheet Example for 2nd Assistant Directors
The call sheet is the master plan for every shooting day—and creating it falls to the 2nd Assistant Director. Here’s a front-to-back breakdown of a professional call sheet example, plus a look inside the 2nd AD’s daily workflow.
Production3 min read
7 Types of Camera Movement
A quick guide to the seven camera movements every filmmaker should know—zoom, pan and tilt, dolly, Steadicam, handheld, crane, and aerial—each illustrated with a storyboard from a classic film.
Industry5 min read
How To Join a Film Union as a Producer
Film unions and guilds give self-employed producers health coverage, pensions, and a professional network. Here are the major U.S. memberships to know and how to join them as your career grows.
Industry5 min read
How To Become a Film Producer in Hollywood
What does a film producer actually do, and how do you become one? A practical look at the producer's responsibilities, training options, career routes, and the real paths three Hollywood producers took.
Production7 min read
Extra! Extra!
Background actors make a film’s world feel real — but recruiting, wrangling, and releasing them takes more planning than most productions expect. Here’s how to assess your needs, recruit reliably, and keep your extras happy on set.
Pre-Production4 min read
Making a Stripboard Shooting Schedule for Your Film
How to build a stripboard (one-liner) shooting schedule: what goes in each scene strip, how to handle company moves and day breaks, and who creates it—plus a free professional stripboard template for Excel.
Pre-Production6 min read
Location Scouting for Film Shoots
The right locations can be a real boost for your film — if finding and securing them doesn’t drain your production first. A start-to-finish look at scouting, negotiating, signing, and caring for film locations.
Pre-Production4 min read
Creating a Day Out of Days Report
What a Day Out of Days (DOOD) report is, why any shoot longer than a day or two needs one, and how to build your own — with a free Excel and Google Drive template.
Industry9 min read
The Only Four Things I Learned From Film School
Was film school worth it? A University of Texas RTF grad on the four lessons that actually stuck: watching movies critically, budgeting a no-money short, taking criticism, and finding a crew of friends.
Industry4 min read
The 1st Assistant Director
The director may be the boss, but the 1st Assistant Director is the one who actually runs the set. Here are the four key areas where 1st ADs keep a production organized, on schedule, and moving forward.
Production6 min read
8 Tips for Making Killer Behind-the-Scenes Content
Hannah Kenney has shot behind-the-scenes video and photos for film sets, events, and everything in between. Here are eight lessons she has learned about capturing killer BTS content, from planning and interviews to coverage and camera settings.
Production4 min read
Tips for Filming in Cold Climates
The snow must go on. Certain climates can be really challenging to shoot a movie in. While many films are shot in warmer climates, some live in areas where below-freezing temps are…
Production8 min read
Creating Professional Call Sheets
Learn how to build a professional call sheet from front to back, what information each section should include, and how to avoid common production-day mistakes. This guide also includes a free, customizable Excel template.
Pre-Production3 min read
Day Out of Days Cheat Sheet
A quick-reference cheat sheet for Day Out of Days work status codes—what SW, W, WF, H, SWF, and the rest mean on your DOOD report and call sheet.
Production2 min read
Script & Schedule Revision Colors
Film productions track script and schedule changes by printing each revision on a different color of paper. Here’s the industry-standard revision color order—and how to mark revised pages so no one ends up working from an outdated draft.
Pre-Production2 min read
Budget Line Items
A quick-reference checklist of the key line items to include in your film’s production budget, covering above the line, below the line, and post production costs.
Production3 min read
The Lifecycle of a Call Sheet
Every call sheet begins as a line on the AD team’s one-liner schedule and dies on set the next morning. Follow the full journey — how each day’s call sheet is built, reviewed, approved, and published.
Product2 min read
This is SetHero
We're filmmakers, tired of making call sheets in Excel and tired of poor communication on set. SetHero is our solution — and this is where our start-up journey begins.