Production scheduling chart tracking each actor's employment dates, work days, and compensation, automatically linked to the shooting schedule.
Technical Details
The Day Out of Days table typically includes the columns: Character Name, Actor Name, Start Date, End Date, Number of Working Days, Hold Days, and a Calendar Matrix. Modern versions in software like Movie Magic Scheduling or StripBoard automatically link to the shooting schedule and calculate salary sums based on SAG-AFTRA rates. The table distinguishes between Guaranteed Days (fixed minimum days agreed upon) and Overscale Days (additional shooting days beyond the minimum).
Variations include Cast Day Out of Days for actors, Crew Day Out of Days for key personnel, and Location Day Out of Days for shooting locations with time-dependent rental costs.
History & Development
The system became established in Hollywood in the 1930s when studios began to bill actor contracts based on actual working days rather than weekly lump sums. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer developed the first standardized forms in 1934. With the founding of the Screen Actors Guild in 1933, Day Out of Days calculations became a contractual obligation.
Digitalization began in 1985 with the first computer scheduling programs. Entertainment Partners introduced automation in 1992 with Movie Magic Scheduling, virtually eliminating manual calculation errors.
Practical Application in Film
For "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Peter Jackson's Day Out of Days spanned over 400 days for lead actors like Viggo Mortensen, who was involved in 274 out of 438 shooting days. Complex productions like Marvel films use separate Day Out of Days for different units (Main Unit, Second Unit, VFX Unit).
The workflow begins after the stripboard: the First Assistant Director creates a rough draft, the Line Producer reviews it against budget limits, and the Casting Director matches it with availabilities. Changes in the shooting schedule automatically update all affected Day Out of Days entries.
Comparison & Alternatives
The Call Sheet only shows daily cast and crew, while the Day Out of Days provides the overall overview. Production Reports document retrospectively, while Day Out of Days plans proactively. One-liners (single-line shooting schedules) do not contain salary information.
Cloud-based alternatives like StudioBinder or Yamdu synchronize Day Out of Days in real-time between production offices. Traditional Excel spreadsheets remain standard for low-budget productions but do not offer automatic linking with scheduling software.