# Breakdown sheet

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/breakdown-sheet
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Nick Harty, Storiara

> A breakdown sheet is a form filled out for each scene (or group of continuous scenes) that records the scene number, set, INT/EXT, day or night, page count, script day, and a short synopsis, followed by boxes listing every cast member and production element that scene requires.

## Reading the header

The top of the sheet carries everything a [strip](https://storiara.com/glossary/strip) will later need. A filled-in header for a mid-film scene might read:

| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Sheet no. | 57 |
| Scene | 42 |
| INT/EXT | EXT |
| Set | GAS STATION, PUMPS |
| Day/Night | N |
| Pages | 5/8 |
| Script day | N4 |
| Synopsis | Maya fills a gas can; clerk calls police |
| Location | Sunny's Fuel, Route 9 |

Sheet numbers and scene numbers drift apart quickly once [A-scenes](https://storiara.com/glossary/a-scenes) and [omitted scenes](https://storiara.com/glossary/omitted-scene) show up, which is why both fields exist. The set is the story place ("GAS STATION, PUMPS"); the location is the real address you'll shoot at. Page count is in [eighths](https://storiara.com/glossary/page-eighths). The [script day](https://storiara.com/glossary/script-day) tells wardrobe and makeup which story day they're dressing for.

## The element boxes

Below the header, the sheet splits into category boxes. Cast goes in by ID number and character name, with IDs taken from the cast list (1 is usually the lead). Background goes in as counts with descriptions. Everything else is a plain list. A row from the scene above:

| Cast | Background | Props | Vehicles | SFX | Wardrobe | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Maya, 7. Clerk | 1 motorist at pump 2 | gas can (red), cigarettes, lighter | Maya's 1987 Volvo | rain towers | Maya: Change 6 (wet) | open flame near pumps |

The boxes match the [breakdown color codes](https://storiara.com/glossary/breakdown-color-codes), so an element underlined in orange in the script ends up in the stunts box and nowhere else. Consistent naming matters more than neatness. If the car is "Maya's Volvo" on sheet 57 and "the station wagon" on sheet 63, the transportation coordinator will count two cars.

## Common mistakes

People forget to fill in the script day, and the costume team finds out at the fitting that Maya needs four changes, not three. They write "extras" without a count, which leaves the [extras casting director](https://storiara.com/roles/extras-casting-director) guessing. They leave the notes box empty when it's the only place to flag a minor on set, a [cover set](https://storiara.com/glossary/cover-set) option, or a lit cigarette at a fuel pump.

## Where the sheet goes next

The [1st AD](https://storiara.com/roles/first-assistant-director) converts every sheet into a strip on the [stripboard](https://storiara.com/glossary/stripboard), then into the [shooting schedule](https://storiara.com/glossary/shooting-schedule), where each day lists the full element detail pulled from these sheets. Department heads use the same sheets for the [prop list](https://storiara.com/templates/prop-list) and [wardrobe breakdown](https://storiara.com/templates/wardrobe-breakdown). You can download a blank [script breakdown sheet template](https://storiara.com/templates/script-breakdown-sheet), or generate sheets from a parsed script with [script analysis](https://storiara.com/feature/script-analysis).

## Frequently asked questions

### What goes on a script breakdown sheet?

A header with sheet number, scene number, INT/EXT, set name, day or night, page count, script day, and a one-line synopsis. Below that, boxes for cast, background, stunts, props, wardrobe, makeup and hair, vehicles, animals, special effects, sound and music, special equipment, and notes.

### Is there one breakdown sheet per scene?

Usually. Some ADs put two short continuous scenes on one sheet when they will always be shot together, such as a character walking from a hallway into a bedroom, but one sheet per scene number is the safer default.

### What is the difference between a breakdown sheet and a strip?

The strip is a condensed version of the breakdown sheet. It carries the scene number, set, D/N, page count, cast ID numbers, and a short description so it can be moved around on a stripboard. The sheet holds the full element list.