Kinds of rehearsal days
A table read and rehearsal with the director is the most common. Stunt rehearsals with the stunt coordinator and doubles come next, often at a gym or on the actual location. Dance or fight choreography, playing an instrument, driving a picture vehicle, and scenes involving an intimacy coordinator all get rehearsal time too. On bigger shows a camera rehearsal day at the location lets the DP and director walk key scenes with cast before the crew arrives.
On the DOOD and schedule
Rehearsal is marked R. A fictional two-day rehearsal before day 1:
| Cast | R1 (Sep 24) | R2 (Sep 25) | D1 | D2 | D3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. MAYA | R | R | SW | W | W |
| 3. JOE | R | SW | |||
| 9. STUNT DBL MAYA | R |
Maya's rehearsal days lead straight into her work, so they're simply added to her paid days: 2 R + 3 W so far. Joe rehearses on September 24 and doesn't start shooting until day 3. Under SAG-AFTRA's theatrical rules, whether the days between are paid depends on whether he got a general availability notice with an "on or about" or firm start date (SAG-AFTRA consecutive employment). Casting should get that notice into his deal.
On the stripboard, rehearsal days sit before day 1 with a banner strip ("REHEARSAL DAY 1: CAST 1, 3. STUDIO B") and don't get a shoot day number.
Scheduling rehearsals well
Rehearse what will be expensive to figure out on the day. A stunt in scene 88 that takes 2/8 page but needs a car, pads, and a ratchet is a good use of a rehearsal day. Two actors talking in a kitchen may not need one.
Book rehearsal close to shooting so it's fresh, and keep the location in mind. A fight rehearsed in a gym may need a short walk-through at the real set where the furniture and floor are different.
Mistakes
Leaving rehearsals off the day out of days means the budget misses paid cast days. Another mistake is scheduling a stunt rehearsal on a shoot day's lunch break with the double, which cuts into their meal period and leaves no room if the rehearsal shows the gag needs changes. Give it its own time. The DOOD generator will count R days once they're placed.