In Michael’s words
“We’re significantly more productive now that we’re using SetHero. Spinning up a new call sheet for a shoot is quick and simple.”
Michael Nielsen
Owner & Director, Grain + Glass
How Grain + Glass
stays sharp.
Michael Nielsen shares how his team uses SetHero to spend less time on call sheets and keep everyone up to date.
How Grain + Glass
stays sharp.
Michael Nielsen shares how his team uses SetHero to spend less time on call sheets and keep everyone up to date.
01
About the customer
- Company type
- Full-Service Production Co.
- Headquarters
- Tampa, FL
- Founded
- 2015
- Website
- grainandglass.com
Michael Nielsen started Grain + Glass in Tampa in 2015. The team makes commercials and brand films, handling everything from the first idea to the final edit.
Their work includes films for Bentley Motors featuring chef Sean Brock and designer Breegan Jane, plus campaigns for Pennzoil, Ashley, and Publix Paws.
02
The Challenge
Before SetHero, each shoot started with a blank spreadsheet. Crew lists, talent contacts, and location details all lived in different places, which meant a schedule change would trigger a whole bunch of re-work: rebuilding the call sheet and emailing it out again and again, just hoping people opened the right version.
“When it came time for call sheets, we were always recreating an Excel spreadsheet, looking for talent contacts, and trying to keep everything organized.”
03
The Solution
Now, each shoot day starts with a call sheet that’s mostly built, thanks to being able to save and re-use templates in SetHero. It takes a fraction of the time it used to to get a call sheet out the door!
Crew and talent contacts can be added seamlessly from project to project, and the team finally has one single source of truth to reference.
“What surprised me the most was just how quickly it became an essential part of our workflow.”
04
The Impact
Call sheets went from the slowest part of prep to the fastest. And the upgrade reached past the crew: “Our clients love the experience of receiving their call sheets by text message,” Michael says. For a company whose clients include Bentley and Pennzoil, that last impression matters as much as the first frame.
The conversation
What’s the secret to maintaining a good set?
“Treat your cast and crew like gold,
make them feel respected and valued, and they’ll pour their hearts into the work. The human element is so critical. I just believe it’s vital to keep things positive on set. A negative or angry environment just kills creativity and morale.
“Pre-production is huge too. You can never overprepare when it comes to planning, storyboarding, scouting locations, and getting all your ducks in a row beforehand. That makes the actual shoot run like clockwork.
“And finally, a good idea can come from anywhere, so I try to foster an open, collaborative environment on set. You never know where that flash of genius might originate, whether it’s from a producer, cameraperson, or even an intern. I want everyone to feel they can contribute.
“So in summary — positivity, people first, meticulous pre-production, and encouraging free creative flow. Those are the ingredients for a great shoot in my experience!”
— Michael
More customer stories
