What a day out of days is and how to read one

Where it comes from

The English Wikipedia article "Day out of days (filmmaking)" explains that in the US, producers use this chart to count each actor's paid days. It can only be made once the shooting schedule is done, and the budget is drawn up after it.

The order matters: schedule first, then the day out of days, then the cast budget. Whenever the schedule changes, the chart has to be redone.

The letters on the chart

The article lists the common letter codes:

Code	Meaning
W	Work day: the actor performs that day
T	Travel day (paid)
R	Rehearsal day (paid)
S	First paid day (start)
F	Last paid day (finish)
SR	First paid day is a rehearsal day
WF	Last paid day is a work day
H	Hold day: paid, with no performance that day
D	Last paid day before pay stops (drop)
P	Day pay starts again (pick up)

The article also says the gap between two stretches of an actor's work can be held (paid) or dropped (not paid), and the US actors' union has detailed rules on when a drop is allowed. A short film schedule does not always need H, D and P; W, S and F are already very useful.

How to read the chart

Look at the start and end of each row. The days from S to F are the days that actor is tied up. If most of that stretch is blank, the actor is held for many days but only works a few.

Look at the gaps. The English Wikipedia article "Production board" uses actors' day rates as an example: an actor with three scenes at the same location costs three days' pay if the scenes are shot on three days, and one day if they are shot together. For actors with many gaps, go back to the schedule and see whether their scenes can be grouped.

Look at the head count on each day. A day with a very full column means the most makeup, the most meals and the most transport to arrange.

Use it to confirm with actors

The most direct use of the chart is confirming availability actor by actor. Send each one their row: "You work on days 2, 3 and 5; you are not needed on day 4." Actors understand that more easily than a full schedule, and come back faster with conflicts.

If an actor then cannot make day 3, go back to the schedule, move things around and produce the chart again.

How to produce it on our site

In our script breakdown and scheduling feature, the last sheet of the schedule and call sheet Excel download is the day out of days: one row per character and one column per shoot day, with the scenes to be shot that day in each cell, and voice-only scenes noted separately. At the bottom it lists each person's days on set, number of scenes, first and last shoot day, and the gap days in between. Extras and crowd have no fixed actor and are not included.

Once a day is settled, you can send it to the call sheet generator to create personal call text for each actor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a day out of days and a call sheet?

The day out of days covers the whole shoot: which days each actor works. The call sheet covers one day: when each actor arrives and which scenes they shoot.

When should the chart be made?

After the first draft of the schedule and before confirming availability with the actors.

How are the gap days worked out?

Our method counts the days between the first and last shoot day on which the actor is not needed. For example, if an actor works on day 1 and day 4, the gap is 2 days.

References

Wikipedia, Day out of days (filmmaking): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_out_of_days_(filmmaking)
Wikipedia, Production board: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_board

The pages above were accessed on 1 November 2026.

This article is general information compiled from the references above, accessed on 1 November 2026, and is not legal advice. Check the latest notices from each authority or organisation before you apply or make arrangements.

Published 1 November 2026.