# Company move

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/company-move
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Spencer Kaufman, Storiara

> A company move is a relocation of the whole shooting unit, including cast, crew, trucks, and base camp, from one location to another in the middle of a shoot day. It costs wrap time, driving, parking, and setup at the new location, so ADs schedule as few as possible.

## What actually moves

On a mid-size location day, a move means the grip and electric trucks break down and re-park, the camera truck follows, the honeywagon and cast trailers relocate or cast gets shuttled, catering either moves or serves lunch before, and PAs lock up the new location. The [transportation coordinator](https://storiara.com/roles/transportation-coordinator) plans the route and parking. The [location manager](https://storiara.com/roles/location-manager) needs the second location's permit window to start early enough.

## On the board and on the call sheet

On the [stripboard](https://storiara.com/glossary/stripboard), a [banner strip](https://storiara.com/glossary/banner-strip) sits between the last scene at location A and the first at location B. The call sheet prints the move in the schedule block:

| Time | Item |
| --- | --- |
| 7:00A | General crew call, Rosie's Diner, 4420 Ventura Blvd |
| 12:30P | Lunch at diner |
| 1:00P | COMPANY MOVE to Hill St. garage, 2nd and Hill. Park at crew lot on Olive |
| 2:30P (est.) | First shot, Sc. 42 |

## Doing the math on a move

Say the plan was 5 2/8 pages in a 12-hour day: 3 pages at the diner, 2 2/8 at the garage. If the move costs 90 minutes door to door, the garage block now has less time than the page count suggests. One common way to handle this is to put the move right after lunch, so the lunch hour absorbs part of it, and call the [Abby Singer shot](https://storiara.com/glossary/abby-singer) at the first location early enough that departments can start wrapping.

Compare it with shooting both locations on separate days. Two days with no move each carry about 2 5/8 pages. That's lighter, but it adds a shoot day. The line producer weighs a move's lost hours against the cost of an extra day of crew, equipment, and location fees.

## Where moves go wrong

The new location isn't ready: the permit starts at 2:00P but the company arrives at 1:30P, or the parking lot is still full. A second problem is moving the whole company for one small scene that a [splinter unit](https://storiara.com/glossary/splinter-unit) or [second unit](https://storiara.com/glossary/second-unit) could have covered. Night moves need extra care because lighting a new exterior takes longer than a day exterior.

Two moves in a day are rare on a well-planned board. If the first draft shows three, regroup strips by location first. More on planning and cost in [company moves: planning and cost](https://storiara.com/blog/company-moves-planning-and-cost).

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does a company move take?

It depends on how much gear is out, the drive, parking at the new location, and whether the new set is pre-lit. A move between two sets on the same property can be quick; a cross-town move with a full grip and electric package can take a big part of the day.

### Is a move to a different room in the same building a company move?

Usually not. If base camp and the trucks stay put and crew walks the gear over, most ADs call it a set move or a 'walkaway move'. A company move means the trucks and base camp relocate.

### How do you show a company move on the schedule?

With a banner strip between the scenes on the stripboard, and a line on the call sheet giving the new location address, parking, and an estimated time.