Script Supervisor: The Daily Grind
Script Supervisors are fortunate enough to occasionally experience fresh new scenery due to different sets, different set locations, new productions, different cast and crew, etc. While the scenery may change for a Script Supervisor, the day-to-day function of a Script Supervisor remains pretty much the same.
During pre-production, before ever being on set, a script breakdown must be done. The Script Supervisor may also do a script timing if the budget allows for it. We’ll talk more about pre-production soon.
Once production starts, the daily routine kicks in. First the Script Supervisor prepares for the day by gathering their stopwatch, pens, whiteout, ruler and any other gear, along with their forms and the all important script. Then the actors rehearse and return to their trailers for hair, makeup, and wardrobe while the crew sets up for the first scene of the day. Filming starts shortly thereafter. For each scene, the Script Supervisor is responsible for taking notes, timing the scene, lining the script, noting the action on the description page, and completing reports as they go along.
The same general routine, starting with the rehearsal, repeats for anywhere from twelve to eighteen hours with short breaks between setups and lunch after six hours. Before leaving for the night, reports are turned into the 2nd 2nd A.D. If the lined scripts are not yet completed, they are completed later that night, faxed to the editor, and turned into the Production Office the next morning. Shake, Stir, and Repeat.
After the production has wrapped, the Script Supervisor wraps the script. This means going through the script and notations with a fine tooth comb, ensuring nothing is missing or incorrect, and making copies for the Producer, Director, and Script Supervisor. The wrapped script is then turned in to the Production Office.
And that is the life of a Script Supervisor in a nutshell. While things do vary from time to time, this is pretty much the routine most of the time. Tell us your experiences in the comments section below.