On the wrap day
1. Check in and return every piece of equipment Check item by item against the rental list, including small things like batteries, card readers and tripod bases. If anything is damaged or missing, photograph it on the spot and tell the supplier; that is far easier than arguing about it later.
2. Restore the location and thank the owner Put the furniture back and clear away tape, rubbish and floor marks. Photograph the restored space so you have evidence if there is a dispute later. A thank-you card or a small gift makes the next booking much easier.
3. Back up the footage twice, stored apart Keep the two copies on different drives in different places. Only format the cards once the file counts and sizes match. Do not return cards to the rental house until this is done.
Within a week of wrap
4. Get deposits back List the equipment, location, wardrobe and prop deposits one by one, and note the refund date and method. If a deposit is slow to come back, start with the photos from tasks 1 and 2.
5. Pay cast and crew in full Check against the amounts and days in the contract or what was agreed. If the number of days is disputed, check the attendance times on the wrap reports. Keep the transfer records.
6. Collect all receipts and signed acknowledgements Every expense needs a receipt; ask anyone paid in cash to sign for it. For production companies carrying on business in Hong Kong, the Inland Revenue Department requires sufficient records of income and expenditure, including invoices and receipts, to be kept for at least 7 years.
7. Hand the script logs and wrap reports to the editor The English Wikipedia article "Script supervisor" explains that the script supervisor's notes help the editor cut the shots together in shooting-script order and tell the editor which take the director wants. Hand over all the script logs, wrap reports and the list of footage backups together, and post-production will have far fewer questions.
Before delivery
8. Submit expense claims and reconciliation documents before the deadline Funding schemes, schools and investors usually set a deadline and a required format. Find out exactly what they need before you sort the receipts.
9. Check the end credits Confirm every name's spelling, job titles, sponsors and thanks. The safest approach is to send the list to each person named and ask them to confirm.
10. Download a backup of the project files Save the breakdown, schedule, call sheets, expense log and so on to your computer, so you still have a copy if an online tool or your browser data is cleared.
Who takes which task
The producer does not have to do all ten. One way to split them: the equipment team takes task 1, the art department task 2, the camera assistant or DIT task 3, the producer tasks 4 to 6 and task 8, the script supervisor task 7, and the director and producer check task 9 together.
Our wrap-up checklist lists these tasks as tick boxes. You can add your own items, then print it or copy it as WhatsApp text for the group so everyone knows which task is theirs.
Frequently asked questions
How many footage backups should we keep?
At least two, on different drives in different places. Do not format any card before the check is done.
What if a cash payment has no receipt?
Prepare a simple acknowledgement with the date, amount and purpose, and have the person paid sign it.
How soon after wrap should fees be paid?
As set out in the contract or agreed beforehand. If nothing was written down, pay as soon as possible and confirm the amount and date in a text message.
Who should confirm the end credits?
Every person named. A misspelled name is hard to correct once the film is out.
References
- Inland Revenue Department, Keeping business records (Chinese): www.ird.gov.hk/chi/tax/bus_rke.htm
- Wikipedia, Script supervisor: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Script_supervisor
The pages above were accessed on 1 November 2026.
This article is general production reference and is not legal or tax advice.
Published 1 November 2026.
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