Understanding Day Out of Days Reports and Stripboards in Film Production

By Jessica Mathis

Scripts may be the backbone of a production, but the cast and crew can’t go searching a script every time they need to quickly know what’s up next. That’s where Day Out of Days reports and stripboards come in handy. These two documents are staples in set paperwork, and are quick reference guides that determine the who, what, when, where and how of production. 

They impact scheduling and cost while organizing the shooting schedule, and understanding how they work can give anyone on a film set a clear picture of how things will operate day to day.   

Key Insights

1. Day Out of Days (DOOD) reports track actor availability, work days, travel, and hold periods, providing a quick reference for scheduling and budgeting.

2. Stripboards visually organize scenes by day, location, characters, props, and special requirements, helping production teams plan efficiently.

3. Accurate and coordinated use of DOODs and stripboards ensures union compliance, cost management, and smoother cross-departmental communication.

A Day Out of Days (DOOD) report tracks every actor’s presence on set throughout the shoot. It is formatted as a chronological table that shows which shoot days actors are working, preparing, not needed, or wrapping up. It’s a great, quick reference to know who is on set, how much someone is getting paid in total, what days actors are on set together, and more.

A standard DOOD document usually includes all of the shoot dates across the top of the document with actor info down the side to easily identify who is on set for a specific day, with a status code listed across the row under each date. You read them by looking at a shoot date and scanning down the column to see the status code, and to the left to see which actor the status code is for. Alternatively, you can start with an actor and scan their row for shoot days that have a status code.

1. Actor Name – Each actor or background performer included in the film.
   
2. Role – Character name or description.
   
3. Day Number/Date – Usually aligned with the production shooting days (e.g., Day 1, Day 2).
   
4. Status Code – Letter or symbol indicating the type of day, such as:

• W – Work day (the actor is filming)
  
• R – Rehearsal day
  
• P – Pick-up day (for additional shots or reshoots)
  
• T – Travel day
  
• H – Hold (actor is contracted, but not scheduled to work)
  

Comments/Notes

Additional instructions, special makeup or wardrobe requirements, or scenes covered.

This is a quick visual overview that can help each department plan appropriately for requirements, such as travel, makeup and hair, wardrobe and more. These are the ways a DOOD can impact a production:

Scheduling Actors Efficiently

Since shooting doesn’t usually follow story order, the reports can help when actors appear in non-linear sequences. By seeing all of their appearances, the assistant director and line producer can group them in the shoot schedule to minimize unnecessary time and budget for actors locked in for production on non-shooting days. 

Budgeting

Actors’ pay, including overtime and hold fees, is typically determined by the number of days on set. Sometimes pay may be different for travel than shooting. The DOOD report displays total actor days on set, helping them identify labor costs accurately.

Contract and Union Compliance

Union rules often require that actors be given minimum call times, rest periods or hold fees. The DOOD report ensures that these contractual obligations are met and reduces risk of fines or grievances.

Production Logistics

Knowing when each actor is on set or how many are on set each day can help hair and makeup prep, wardrobe fitting and availability, transportation and so much more.  

Stripboard (strips) is another type of visual tool used to organize the order of shooting and really lay out the basics of everything happening on a given shoot date, broken down by scenes. While the DOOD focuses on actors’ schedules, the stripboard focuses on the entire production, including scenes, locations, props and crew requirements.

The stripboard, occasionally referred to as a production board or shooting schedule board, contains colored strips, each representing a single scene. When looking at stripboards, you’ll see a shoot day number and date at the top of each section. Below that will be a list of “strips” for each scene shooting that day. These can change throughout a production if scenes get moved around, and updated copies should be sent out with call sheets.

 Key information on each strip typically includes:

• Scene number
• Scene description
• Location
• Estimated page count or duration
• Characters involved
• Props and special set dressings
• Special notes (stunts, effects, wardrobe, props, SFX, VFX, time of day or story day) 

There used to be actual physical boards with colored strips that would move around for each scene, but today’s producers use software like Movie Magic Scheduling or StudioBinder to make digital strips that are usually shared as a PDF.   

Both of these documents have their own purposes, but they work together. 

The stripboards are created first to identify logistics based on locations, cast, availability, lighting requirements and budget. Next, the DOOD is generated to track where the actors are on the shooting schedule. Any changes to one document could require changes to the other.  

Having these documents done accurately benefits everyone on set with scheduling, budgeting and preparation across all departments. They provide the necessary data in an easy-to-interpret  format so that each department can create actionable plans. They’re like the unsung heroes of production, and understanding how to read and use them can improve any crew member’s craft. 

Key Takeaways

1. DOOD reports and stripboards are essential tools for translating scripts into actionable daily production plans.

2. These documents reduce scheduling conflicts, prevent budget overruns, and support informed logistical decisions.

3. Understanding how to read and use DOODs and stripboards improves efficiency and effectiveness for every department on set.

Jessica Mathis (AKA Divinity Rose) is an award winning screenwriter/performer/producer from Louisville, Kentucky. She is the CEO of She Dreams Content Development and Production, which focuses on female-forward projects in comedy, docustyle and genre entertainment.

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