Practical guides on every step of the pre-production process — from first draft to first day of shooting. Written for indie filmmakers and students, not studio veterans.
How to go from a finished screenplay to a lined script and shot list — the foundation of every production's visual plan.
What script lining is, why it matters, and how to do it — from the traditional pen-and-ruler method to using digital tools. Includes a breakdown of line types, squiggles, and how lined scripts connect to shot lists and storyboards.
Read guideA practical guide to building a shot list from your lined script or from scratch — covering shot types, framing, camera movement, lens selection, and how to organize shots by scene for efficient shooting.
Read guideWhen storyboards are worth the effort and when a shot list is enough. Covers hand-drawn, photo-based, and digital approaches to storyboarding for indie filmmakers.
Read guideHow to break down scenes, build a shooting schedule, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks before cameras roll.
What a script breakdown is, what the standard categories are, and how to systematically tag every element in every scene so your schedule and call sheets have the data they need.
Read guideHow to build a stripboard schedule from your breakdowns — ordering scenes for efficiency, managing company moves, balancing day lengths, and generating a Day Out of Days report.
Read guideWhat to look for on a location scout, questions to ask property owners, permits and insurance, tech scouts, and managing locations through production.
Read guideThe final steps before shooting begins — assembling and distributing the information your crew needs to show up ready.
Understanding the key roles in a production crew and how the pre-production workflow fits together from start to finish.
The role, responsibilities, and tools of the script supervisor — from tracking coverage and continuity in pre-production to logging takes on set and preparing editor's notes for post.
Read guideA complete checklist for prepping a short film or micro-budget feature — from script lock through the day before shooting. What to do, in what order, and what you can skip when you're working lean.
Read guideQuick-reference resources for terminology and concepts you'll encounter throughout pre-production.
Lína connects every step of pre-production — from screenplay to call sheet. Try it free and see how the workflow comes together.
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