Production Planning Mnemonic: SCRAPE LOW

Planning a production? Here's a bare-essentiails list of things to include in your planning. Probably not a comprehensive list of all the details you'd need to account for, but a complete enough list of all the high-level categories for a production plan.

And in case you don't have this list handy, a memory aid: SCRAPE LOW. Each letter in this phrase corresponds to an item on this production planning list:

• Shotlist/Storyboard (or anything that gives you an idea of what exactly will be shot for each scene, usually as a result of a script breakdown process).
• Crew (contact information, roles, availability calendar, dietary requirements to plan catering services, etc.)
• Releases, Permits (standard forms that will be used throughout the project to acquire locations and talent to work on the project; keep extra blank ones handy in case you need to invite passers-by to work as extras)
• Actors (contact information, roles, availability calendar - including rehearsal schedule, dietary requirements to plan catering services, etc.)
• Props (list of props that are borrowed, or rented, availability, cost; include vehicles/batteries/chargers and other things that might be necessary for a special prop)
• Equipment (list of equipment that are borrowed, rented, along with availability or cost information; include vehicles/batteries/chargers and other things that might be necessary for a special equipment)
• Locations (location information including availability, releases, insurance needs, complete address and parking information, etc)
  
• Food (Or catering/craft services, with estimates on # of meals, headcount, and snacks/drinks to be made available throughout a typical day of shooting)
• Wardrobe & Makeup (list of wardrobe items to be acquired by borrowing/renting, availability, costs)