# Cross-boarding

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

> Cross-boarding is combining scenes from two or more episodes, or separate scripts, onto one stripboard and ordering them together, usually by location or cast availability. It lets a series shoot every scene at a location in one visit regardless of which episode each scene belongs to.

## What a cross-boarded day looks like

Day 4 of block 2 on a fictional series, all at the precinct set:

| Ep-Sc | I/E | Set | D/N | Pgs | Cast | Story day |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 103-14 | INT | PRECINCT BULLPEN | D | 1 6/8 | 1, 2, 5 | 3D2 |
| 104-02 | INT | PRECINCT BULLPEN | D | 2 1/8 | 1, 5 | 4D1 |
| 103-27 | INT | PRECINCT BULLPEN | N | 1 1/8 | 1, 2 | 3D3 |
| 104-19 | INT | PRECINCT, INTERVIEW RM | D | 7/8 | 1, 8 | 4D2 |
| END OF DAY 4 | | | | 5 7/8 | | |

Total: whole pages 1 + 2 + 1 = 4, eighths 6 + 1 + 1 + 7 = 15/8, which is 1 7/8. So 5 7/8 pages. The story day column matters more than usual: Maya changes clothes four times in one shoot day.

## Why productions do it

A series that shoots episode by episode visits its main sets again and again. Cross-boarding lets the AD plan each visit once for all the episodes in a block, which cuts set moves and location days. It also packs guest cast. If a guest actor appears in episodes 103 and 104, their scenes can be grouped into a short run so the [day out of days](https://storiara.com/glossary/day-out-of-days) shows two days instead of a work day in each episode's schedule with holds in between.

## Setting up the board

Add an episode field to every [strip](https://storiara.com/glossary/strip) and prefix [scene numbers](https://storiara.com/glossary/scene-number) with the episode. Keep a consistent cast ID list across episodes: if Maya is 1 in 103 she's 1 in 104. Banner strips for episode start and end help department heads read the one-liner. The [stripboard template](https://storiara.com/templates/stripboard) can take an extra episode column.

## Where it breaks

Rewrites are the weak spot. If 104 gets pink pages that cut scene 02, day 4 drops to 3 6/8 pages and the AD may pull something forward from another episode, which in turn affects that episode's cast.

Directors are another. If episodes 103 and 104 have different directors, cross-boarding forces them to share days. Most series avoid that by cross-boarding only within a [block](https://storiara.com/glossary/block-shooting) that has one director. Vertical and short-form shows that shoot a whole season at once cross-board every episode, and the [vertical dramas](https://storiara.com/solutions/vertical-dramas) page covers that workflow.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do you number scenes when cross-boarding?

Prefix scene numbers with the episode, such as 103-14 for episode 103 scene 14, so strips from different episodes never collide. Most scheduling software lets you add an episode field to each strip.

### What's the main risk of cross-boarding?

Continuity and script changes. When scenes from different episodes shoot on one day, wardrobe and makeup have to track more story days, and a rewrite in one episode can scramble the board for others.

### Can you cross-board features?

Yes, when two films share locations or cast, for example back-to-back sequels. It's the same technique: one board with strips from both scripts.