Status Markers

[Jack J Ward]

A long time ago I developed a script library database in Lotus Notes that I still use today.
In it, I break the shows down to series (or one offs) and I create response documents (child documents) that include all of those episodes in the series.
The initial document identifies the Script Bible for the series (or attaches a file for it), the genre, number of episodes involved, characters, actor notes, and any other elements.
I assign all scripts uncompleted with as STATE of "Open".
All my scripts get attached as their own documents and follow through a series of STATUS'.
I have
Work in Progress
Rough Edits Completed
1st Draft Completed
Mark Edits Completed
Actors Selected
Recorded
Post Completed
Music Completed
Ads Completed (if necessary)
Sponsor Sign Off (if its initiated by a third party)
Product Released

When Product Released is assigned then the STATE turns to "CLOSED" and the entire life cycle of the series or script is finished.

I'm providing this to you folks so that anyone who thinks this process might be of use, by all means use it. It works for us, but, I'm a structure freak.
J

[SupComTabz]

Look at you all organized.

We have an excel doc broken down by episodes (each episode gets it's own tab). Then each sheet is broken down by scene... and each scene has the list of characters in that scene. Then our talent manager marks things complete when we have them.

Then beside each scene there's who is editing what... and our editing manager keeps that straight.

It's VERY helpful.

[UltraRob]

I have a file folder- when all the lines are in it, the project is ready to mix....Umm....that's pretty much it for organization....

Rob

[JoeRMedina]

Jack, if you're a structure freak, I don't know that makes me!

If anything, I've made a conscious effort to keep fewer records. I used to print cue-lists that itemize sound elements on every script page. But by the end of Afterhell Vol 2, I was the only one consulting them, so all the printouts turned out to be just redundant, even wasteful. I just scribble such details on my copy of the script anyway.

Now each Afterhell script gets the following:

* a production number
* brief character breakdowns for casting
* an actors' reference sheet for things like pronunciation or jargon definitions
* a production note sheet in case a script has special technical needs
* numbered sound & dialogue cues

That last item is great during recordings. Call out the line number, the page number, and how far up or down the page it is. Suddenly the entire studio -- actors and engineers alike -- is in sync. Such a time-saver.

For recording sessions, I keep script breakdown sheets where (ideally) every element in a given scene is mapped out: cast, fx, script pages, through-line. It saves me precious minutes of flipping through the script. When I play director, the script is my Thomas Guide and the script breakdowns are the index.

As far as status markers themselves, I keep a production status document on my Macbook. I divide produced and unproduced episode, and track the relevant details of each episode:

* production number
* working & final title
* writer(s) assigned,
* script status
* production status
* album assignment

[fthrll]

What great ideas - and ones I'll very probably nick in the future.
I have almost zero natural organisational skills and no sense of time so I pretty much have to rely on lists to remember to tie my shoelaces.

Currently (for acting and mixing) I use two tables: One is basically a calendar with real deadlines, my deadlines and a rough plan of what I hope to get done each day.
The other is a scene breakdown of every stage of the mixing process from choosing takes & cleaning through to adding music and rechecking. Each of these gets an estimated time in its box, which goes down throughout the process, and each box gets coloured in as I've done it, so it's easy to see from a glance how it's progressing.
I'd be lost without it.

[Jack J Ward]

It's really fascinating to see different people's methods to organize this stuff.

I'm always looking at tweaking our process.

I've noticed that Celtx has that feature that Joe talks about (assigning numbers to each line) and we've talked about it (Shan and I) but at this time wonder if it would just be too distracting for us to use for recording and editing.

That being said, there have, at times (Honestly when its only been me in the studio with actors) when we've not recorded lines... missed them.
Like when we have large productions like Wedding Day. We had three major recording times where different people would get together (Four if you include Adela and five if you add Shan and I).
In all those times, I missed a line here and there, or a small segment.

I'm also considering breaking up my post production markers to Rough Editing, in which the lines are ordered and timed (Which Shannon ostensibly does and does AMAZINGLY) and Final Editing which includes SFX, VFX, and music which I've started to take on as a role (so blame me.. because I end up changing some of that timing!)
J

[ClymAngus]

I keep a listing of where I am with what on my phone (it's an old phone with little brain) so I have to be quite concise a typical entry looks something like this:

(A:2:R) Red car green car. Azure

it works something like this:

(role: position: action) Descriptor. Contact or contacts

Role (what am I to this production?)
A: Actor
P: Producer
F: foley
M:Musician
W: Writer
(yes this can have more than one letter in it.)


Position (at what point in the process is this production currntly at?)
1: Preprod
2: Production
3: Post
B: Between episodes
C: Complete


Action (What do I need to do or be doing to progress this thing?)
R: Record lines, music, write, source foley
S: Stalled Production, nothing I can do and it's been hanging in the air for more than 4 months.
W: Web update, this production is in good enough shape to be added to one of my websites as part of my CV or to Isotope audio as new content.
D: Dead Production, nothing I can do due to exterior forces it's dead.
N: Nothing, just hanging around waiting for someone to do their thing. (but not yet stalled).

Descriptor, is the production name and episode and Contacts relate to the other people or person involved if there are any.

So far it's a bit clunky but it's working quite well.