Must Know Film Call Sheet Abbreviations

Call sheets are handed out to cast and crew in advance of the film shoot to help everyone understand what is expected of them in the coming shoot days. If you’re not familiar with what’s included in a film call sheet, you should begin by educating yourself there. The next big step will be to understand the details that will be abbreviated. The average film call sheet will not have many abbreviations that you must know upfront, but even the basics could throw you into a state of confusion. We’ve outlined the most essential must know film call sheet abbreviations to help you understand what’s included in the call sheet when you read it.

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1. SW

This stands for Start Work. You’ll see this abbreviation used when an actor is on the set for his or her first time. They are starting work that day.

2. W

This stands for Work. You’ll see this abbreviation used when an actor is on the set for a subsequent day, they have been present before, and they will be present again in the future. They are working on the set.

3. WF

This film call sheet abbreviation stands for Work Finish. You’ll see this abbreviation used when an actor is finishing his or her time on the set that day. They have worked the set before, and they will wrap with the shoot that day.

4. SWF

This film call sheet abbreviation stands for Start Work Finish. This is sometimes used for actors that are on set only for the day, they start work that day and finish their work the same day spending only a single day on the set.

5. PU

This means Pick Up. You’ll see this term used when there are associated details regarding being picked up. This could mean you’ll be picked up from a set location and transported elsewhere on the set.

6. H/M/W

This stands for Hair/Makeup/Wardrobe. You’ll see these abbreviations used to provide a space for information on hair, makeup, and wardrobe. The details may include things like where your hair and makeup will be covered or what time to be present for hair, makeup, and wardrobe.

7. BG

This stands for Background. The background is an extra or added actor that will operate in the background of the scene or on the set. The associated notes next to the background data will tell the actors that are background actors where to be and when.

8. D/N

This is used to describe Day and Night. You’ll see these abbreviations used to dictate whether the film shoot is taking place during the Day or Night as well as to describe the weather at that time of the day or night.

9. I/E

This is used to describe the interior and exterior. The terms are used to dictate whether a shoot is taking place inside or outside and the appropriate description of the scene.