Template
Script Breakdown Sheet Template
One breakdown sheet per scene, covering every element a department needs to prep. Below is the full field structure and every standard element category, with what belongs in each.
What is a script breakdown sheet?
A script breakdown sheet records every production element required to shoot a single scene. It lists the scene's location, time of day and page count, then itemises cast, background, props, wardrobe, vehicles, stunts, effects and other elements by category, so each department knows exactly what to prepare.
The template, field by field
Scene header
| Field | What it's for | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Scene number | As numbered in the current script revision. | Required |
| Slugline | INT or EXT, the set name, and day or night. | Required |
| Page count | In eighths — the basis for scheduling estimates. | Required |
| Synopsis | One line on what happens, so the sheet is readable without the script. | Required |
| Location | The real-world location or stage, once scouted. | Optional |
| Script revision | Which coloured revision this breakdown was made from. | Required |
Standard element categories
| Field | What it's for | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Cast | Speaking roles appearing in the scene, with their cast ID numbers. | Required |
| Background / extras | Non-speaking performers, with approximate numbers and any specific requirements. | Optional |
| Stunts | Any stunt action, plus the coordinator and performers required. | Optional |
| Vehicles | Picture vehicles and any that appear on camera, including condition and period. | Optional |
| Props | Objects handled or used by performers. Hero props should be flagged separately. | Optional |
| Set dressing | Items that furnish the set but are not handled by performers. | Optional |
| Wardrobe | Costume per character, including doubles, distressing and continuity state. | Optional |
| Makeup and hair | Specific looks, prosthetics, blood, ageing or period styling. | Optional |
| Special effects | Practical effects — rain, fire, smoke, squibs, breakaways. | Optional |
| Visual effects | Shots requiring post work, flagged early so plates get shot correctly. | Optional |
| Animals | Any animal on set, plus wrangler and welfare requirements. | Optional |
| Music and sound | Playback, source music, or specific sound requirements. | Optional |
| Special equipment | Cranes, drones, underwater housings, steadicam, motion control. | Optional |
| Notes | Anything that does not fit a category but a department must know. | Optional |
How to break down a script
- 1
Lock the revision you're working from
Record which coloured revision you are breaking down. Breaking down a stale draft is the most common and most expensive breakdown error.
- 2
Number the scenes
Confirm scene numbering is locked. Renumbering after breakdown invalidates every downstream document.
- 3
Read once without tagging
Read the scene for comprehension before tagging anything. Tagging on first read produces false positives and missed implications.
- 4
Tag element by element
Go through the scene tagging by category — cast, then props, then wardrobe, and so on. Working category by category is more reliable than trying to catch everything in one pass.
- 5
Mark the implied elements
The hardest part. A character who 'storms out' needs a door that opens. A line about the cold implies visible breath or coats. These are not in the text as nouns.
- 6
Count pages in eighths
Measure each scene in eighths of a page. This drives every scheduling estimate you make afterwards.
- 7
Circulate for department review
Send each department its filtered view. Art, costume and VFX will each catch things you missed in their own domain.
Hard-won tips
- Break down for what the scene needs, not what the script says. Implied elements outnumber stated ones.
- Flag VFX early. A plate shot wrong is far more expensive than a plate shot twice.
- Keep cast ID numbers consistent with the Day Out of Days and the call sheets from the very beginning.
- Distinguish hero props from background props — one needs doubles and continuity tracking, the other does not.
- When a revision lands, re-break only the changed scenes. Track which scenes moved rather than starting over.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the standard script breakdown categories?
- Cast, background/extras, stunts, vehicles, props, set dressing, wardrobe, makeup and hair, special effects, visual effects, animals, music and sound, and special equipment. Most productions use these, sometimes with additions specific to the project.
- Who does the script breakdown?
- Typically the 1st Assistant Director, sometimes with the production manager. Individual departments then review their own elements and add what was missed.
- What do breakdown sheet colours mean?
- Traditional breakdown marking uses coloured pencils per category — red for cast, blue for props, green for special effects, and so on. Conventions vary by region and production; digital tools use category labels instead.
- How long does a breakdown take?
- A 90–100 page feature typically takes an experienced 1st AD three to five days for a careful first pass, plus department review time. An AI-assisted first pass can cut the mechanical portion substantially.
- What is a page eighth?
- Script pages are divided into eighths for measurement. A scene of 1 4/8 pages is one and a half pages. Page eighths are the standard unit for estimating how much can be shot in a day.
- What comes after the breakdown?
- The tagged elements become stripboard strips, which are ordered into shoot days. That order generates the Day Out of Days and the daily call sheets.
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