Let’s be honest, producing films is fun, but it’s a time-consuming process as well. What most people from outside the business don’t see: Making films involves a lot of planning and paperwork. But: Assets like a film budget template, a shooting schedule template, or a shot list template can save you tons of time and money.
As a startup that creates review and approval software for filmmakers, we work closely with film productions such as yours. We know how busy you are. Therefore, we decided to support you during your production process by listing the most helpful templates, such as storyboard templates, budget sheets, and license agreements.
To provide you with a better overview, we grouped these free templates into Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production.
Our first article in this series is about the best free pre-production templates for filmmakers. I promise it will save you a lot of time and effort dealing with unnecessary paperwork. And trust me when I say, we believe that you should make the most out of the present and really focus on what’s essential: Making great films.
And a big thanks to all these great websites for their permission to mention their extremely helpful templates!
Screenwriting/Scriptwriting
Here are some nice screenwriting examples to fuel your creative fire.
- Writing Credit Contract for Film – New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-Operative
- Writing Credit Contract for TV – New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-Operative
- Documentary Script – Learnaboutfilm
- Director’s Worksheet – Film Contracts
- Character Bio Template – Filestage
Script Breakdown Template
A script breakdown template is necessary for every kind of film. Take a look at our templates. Maybe they are exactly what you’ve been looking for.
- Script Breakdown Sheet – StudioBinder
- Breakdown Sheet – New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-Operative
- Breakdown Sheet – Michael Wiese Books
Storyboard Templates
Storyboards are graphic organizers in form of illustrations or images. Kind of a shot list, but in an arty way. Storyboards are sometimes part of the shot list, but you can also separate them.
- Storyboard – Filestage
- Storyboard – StudioBinder
- Storyboard – Filmsourcing
- Storyboard – Film Contracts
- Storyboard – Learnaboutfilm
- Storyboard – PremiumBeat
- Storyboard, 4-up – FreeFilmSchool
- Storyboard, Horizontal – FreeFilmSchool
- TV Storyboard – Film Contracts
Shot List Template
Before starting the filming process, you need to structure your processes. One of the tasks: Organize your script into a clear “checklist” filled with detailed information for every shot. A shot list helps you to keep track of all actions and the needed equipment for each of your scenes and shots. Moreover, a shot list will provide your team with clear expectations about the results. Important parts of a shot list are for example scene and shot number, a brief description, involved people, and conversations. I know everyone will have their own way of shot listing. So feel free to get some inspiration by looking at these shot list templates.
- Shot List – Studio Binder
- Shot List – Film Contracts
- Shot List – Learnaboutfilm
- Shot List – LAvideoFilmmaker
- Camera Shot List (1) – Film Contracts
- Camera Shot List (2) – Film Contracts
- Camera Shot List (3) – Film Contracts
- Camera Shot List – Filmsourcing
- Camera Shot List Advanced – Filmsourcing
- Shot List Template – Open Source Ecology
- B-Roll Shot List – Izzy Video
- Shot List Template – fstoppers.com
- Essential Shot List – Intrepid Freelancer
- Shotlist Template – George V.K. Media
- Shot List Template – TechSmith
Film Budget Template
A film budget template helps you to manage your shoot expenses and overall budgeting. It doesn’t matter if you want to create a short film, an ad, a music video collaboration, or a movie. Managing your film budget is crucial. But you don’t need to spend a lot of money using complicated software. Often, an easy film budget template is totally sufficient and is half the job. So take a look at these helpful film budget templates. Some also have examples of budgeting.
- Questions & Budget Creation – Michael Wiese Books
- Blank Budget Top Sheet1 – Michael Wiese Books
- Blank Budget Top Sheet2 – Michael Wiese Books
- Blank Budget Top Sheet3 – Michael Wiese Books
- Detail Budget Sample – Michael Wiese Books
- Budget Breakdown Sheet – Michael Wiese Books
- Budget and Invoice Template – Fstoppers
- Cash Flow Sample (Summary Top Sheet) – Michael Wiese Books
- Film Budget Top Sheet – Making the Movie
- Development to Production Budget Sample 1 – Michael Wiese Books
- Development to Production Budget Sample 2 – Michael Wiese Books
- Free Film Budget Template – Making the Movie
- Documentary Budget Template – Desktop Documentaries
- Film Budget Template – Scribd
- $10k Short Film Budget Template – robertbrucecarter.com
- Film Budget Template – Mastering Film
- Development Budget Template – Irish Film Board
- Sample Short Film Budget – johnaugust.com
Personnel Forms
We’ve collected some useful templates from general contracts and agreements to specific crew templates.
Note: This is not our complete list. More crew templates can be found in our Production and Post-Production articles (that will follow soon).
List and Sheet
- Crew Contact List – Film Contracts
- Crew Contact List – Filmsourcing
- Crew List – Michael Wiese Books
- Cast and Crew List – StudioBinder
- Time Sheet – Michael Wiese Books
- Crew Start-Up & Data Sheet – Film Contracts
- Freelance Reference Data Input – Film Contracts
Memo and Contract
- Crew Deal Memo – Film Contracts
- Crew Deal Memo – New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-Operative
- Writers Deal Memo – Film Contracts
- Writing Team Deal Memo – Film Contracts
- Director Deal Memorandum – Film Contracts
- Assistant Director Film Deal Memo – Film Contracts
- Director of Photography Deal Memo – Film Contracts
- Unit Production Manager Deal Memo – Film Contracts
- Director’s Inducement Letter – Film Contracts
- Producer Contract – ISP Group Inc
- Producer Video Release & Contract – Film Contracts
Agreement
- Spec Production Deal/Letter of Agreement – ISP Group Inc
- Freelance Contractor Agreement – Film Contracts
- Independent Contractor Agreement – Film Contracts
- Photographer Work For Hire – ISP Group Inc
- Producer Agreement (Short Form) – Film Contracts
- Producer’s Royalty Attachment – ISP Group Inc
- Production Agreement 1 – ISP Group Inc
- Production Agreement 2 – ISP Group Inc
- Executive Employment Agreement – ISP Group Inc
Partnership Documents
Almost every filmmaker needs partners, whether it be investors, collaborators or funding corporations. Maybe our templates can help you secure a new partner ;)
- General Proxy – ISP Group Inc
- Deal Memorandum – Michael Wiese Books
- Consulting Agreement – ISP Group Inc
- Investor Suitability – ISP Group Inc
- Investment Memorandum – ISP Group Inc
- General Partnership Agreement – ISP Group Inc
- Limited Partnership Agreement – ISP Group Inc
- Joint Venture Agreement 1 – ISP Group Inc
- Confidentiality Agreement – ISP Group Inc
- Non-Disclosure Agreement 1 – ISP Group Inc
- Non-Disclosure Agreement 2 – ISP Group Inc
- Loanout Agreement – Film Contracts
Cast Forms
What would a movie be without actors – not a movie at all, with the exception of cartoons of course. Here are several relevant templates, from information sheets and lists to contracts.
List and Sheet
- Cast Information – Film Contracts
- Cast and Crew List – StudioBinder
- Cast List – Michael Wiese Books
- Cast List – Film Contracts
- Talent Audition Sheet – Film Contracts
- Audition Sign-In Sheet – PremiumBeat
- Casting Sheet – Film Contracts
- Cast Scene Number Breakdown – Film Contracts
- Makeup & Hairdressing Record – Film Contracts
Memo and Contract
- Cast Deal Memo – Film Contracts
- Freelance Actors Contract – Film Contracts
- Day Performer Contract Theatrical Motion Pictures – Film Contracts
- Day Performer Contract TV Motion Pictures or Videotape – Film Contracts
- Minimum Freelance Contract Theatrical Motion Pictures – Film Contracts
- Minimum 3-Day Contract TV Motion Pictures or Videotape – Film Contracts
- Minimum Freelance Weekly Contract TV or Videotape – Film Contracts
- Performer Contract Interactive Programming – Film Contracts
Release and Agreement
- General Release – Video University
- Personal Release (2) – Film Contracts
- Personal Release – Film Contracts
- Personal Release Payment – Film Contracts
- Talent Release – Filmsourcing
- Talent Release – PremiumBeat
- Actor Release – Film Contracts
- Minor Release – Video University
- Group Release – Film Contracts
- Freelance Performer Agreement – Film Contracts
- Model Release Form – StudioBinder
- Independent Contractor Agreement: Live Models – Film Contracts
- Actor Player Casting Agreement – Film Contracts
- Nudity Rider for Casting Agreement – Film Contracts
Location Scouting
Finding the right place to shoot is often easier said than done. Unfortunately, we can not help you there. But, our templates could help you to organize everything else.
List and Sheet
- Location Contact List – Film Contracts
- Location Scout Checklist – StudioBinder
- Location List – Film Contracts
- Location Scouting – Filmsourcing
- Location Fact Sheet – PremiumBeat
- Location Fact Sheet – Film Contracts
- Location Information Sheet – Film Contracts
- Scouting Report – Film Contracts
- Location Survey Check – Film Contracts
- Cinematography Location Information Form – Film Contracts
Contract
Release and Agreement
- Location Release – PremiumBeat
- Location Release – Film Contracts
- Location Release – Filmsourcing
- Location Release – Video University
- Location Release – Michael Wiese Books
- Production Location Release – Film Contracts
- Location Agreement – Film Contracts
Music Releases
Background music is just as important for the movie as the actors. But you also need agreements to use the tunes. Feel free to take a look at these useful templates.
- Sound Report – Filmsourcing
- Music Reference – Filmsourcing
- Music Release – New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-Operative
- Music Release – Filmsourcing
- Cue Sheet – Filmsourcing
Insurance Forms
Don’t forget to ensure your equipment, your crew, and yourself for that matter. You never know!
- Insurance Claim Worksheet Personal – Film Contracts
- Actor Insurance Claim Worksheet – New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-Operative
- Insurance Claim Worksheet Damage – Film Contracts
- Insurance Claim Worksheet Automobile Accident – Film Contracts
- Insurance Claim Worksheet Theft – Film Contracts
- Injury / Illness Report Form – Film Contracts
- Accident Report – Michael Wiese Books
Shooting Schedule Template
Managing your schedule when creating a film is crucial. There are different ways to achieve that. One of them is to use a simple shooting schedule template that helps you to create interactive shooting schedules.
- Shooting Schedule Template – FormsBirds
- Shooting Schedule Template – afieldinengland.com
- Production Schedule Template – BBC
- Shooting Schedule Template – TidyForm
- Shooting Schedule Template – Anthony Hanson
13. Other Templates
- Cinematography Pre-Production Checklist – Film Contracts
- Ultimate Creative Brief – Filestage
- Buyer Persona Template – Filestage
- Smart Goals Template – Filestage
Please note that this list is not a guideline. I think everyone in this business knows that the order of production steps are always different, and depend on the film or your personal preference.
NOTE:
If you don’t have time for a personal meeting, but want to discuss an agreement, storyboard or some moodshots, Filestage allows you to do just that. We have developed Filestage in order for you to share and collaborate on files and mark your change request as comments in a document. Our lean dashboard helps you to manage all your media projects on a single platform. You will easily share online different videos, documents and other assets.
As always, let us know if you have further suggestions. We look forward to your feedback.