Once the production day is done, it is time to record what actually happened. The daily production report (DPR) is the most critical document for tracking the progress and financial health of a project during principal photography.
The Information on a DPR
Accuracy is of the utmost importance when preparing a production report, as this document is used to track the health and success of the project and is archived for future use. A professional DPR tracks:
- Shooting Progress: How many pages of script were shot previously, today, and what remains.
- Scene Details: Which scenes were scheduled, which were shot, and which were rescheduled.
- Minutes of Film: A running total of the minutes of film or digital media shot.
- Cast Time: When actors left their hotel, when they arrived at the location, and when they were dismissed.
- Extras and Bumps: How many background actors were on set and if they received any "bumps" (e.g., for smoke on set).
Crew and Safety on the Back of the DPR
The back of the production report shows:
- Crew Roster: All crew members by name, including their report times, meal times, and out times.
- Safety Meetings: When the daily safety meeting was held.
- Incident Reports: Whether there were any illnesses, accidents, or injuries during the day.
- Special Equipment: Whether any special gear like cranes or specialty vehicles were used.
Why Accuracy Matters
The production report is frequently used in cases of disputes about payroll, for insurance reasons, and even for lawsuits. The line producer and UPM must sign off that all information on the DPR is accurate. It is the final word on what occurred on set and is used by the studio or production company's physical production, post, and VFX executives to monitor the health of the project.