Day Out of Days Generator
The free day out of days generator for cast scheduling
Set your shoot days and cast list, then click cells to mark SW, W, H, and WF codes: this day out of days generator builds the standard cast scheduling grid that first ADs and UPMs otherwise get from Excel templates or paid suites like Movie Magic Scheduling. Totals, spans, and validation update as you click, and the finished report exports to CSV.
A day out of days report (DOOD) shows every cast member's employment pattern across the schedule: when they start work (SW), which days they work (W), when they sit on a paid hold (H), and when they finish (WF). Casting directors attach it to deal memos, UPMs cost it against SAG-AFTRA consecutive employment rules, and actors' agents read it before their clients commit to dates.
Everything runs in your browser and autosaves locally. No cast names or schedule data are sent to any server.
Cast numbers follow the script breakdown, with 1 usually the lead. Add up to 40 cast members.
Click any cell to cycle the main codes: empty, SW, W, H, WF, SWF. Press Tab from a cell to open the full status list, including rehearsal (R) and travel (T).
| Character | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Work | Hold | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Cast 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2Cast 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Cast working | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
SWStart Work: the performer's first day on set.
WWork: a regular work day between start and finish.
HHold: on payroll but not shooting. Paid under SAG-AFTRA consecutive employment rules.
WFWork Finish: the performer's last work day.
SWFStart Work Finish: starts and wraps on the same day (one-day player).
RRehearsal: rehearsal day, tracked separately from work days.
TTravel: travel day, tracked separately from work days.
Report summary
Cast members: 2
Shoot days: 10
Total work days: 0
Total hold days: 0
Validation
No issues found. Every scheduled cast member has one start, one finish, and nothing outside the span.
How it works
Rows are cast members, columns are shoot days, and each cell holds a status code. The generator counts work days (SW, W, WF, SWF), hold days (H), and the span from start through finish for every row, plus how many cast members work each day. Validation runs continuously and checks what an AD checks by hand: one start per performer, one finish, and nothing scheduled outside the span. Export the grid as CSV for Excel or Google Sheets, or copy the text summary straight into a production email.
What is a day out of days report and who reads it?
The DOOD is the one page where the whole cast schedule becomes visible at a glance. First ADs build it from the stripboard, UPMs cost it, casting directors attach it to deal memos, and agents check it before their clients sign. Most productions still keep it in a day out of days template in Excel or inside licensed software like Movie Magic Scheduling; this free DOOD report builder produces the same cast scheduling grid without the license or the learning curve.
The codes carry money. Under SAG-AFTRA consecutive employment rules a performer is paid from SW through WF, including every H day in between, so a schedule that scatters one actor's three scenes across three weeks pays for the holds whether the camera rolls or not. That is why ADs shuffle strips to compress each actor's span, and why drop and pickup (releasing a performer and rehiring them later, allowed once per performer on theatrical contracts after a qualifying gap) exists at all.
The DOOD flows from the stripboard: change the shooting order and every start, finish, and hold moves with it, which is why it gets rebuilt constantly during prep. Because this day out of days generator runs entirely in your browser and autosaves locally, you can test schedule variations in minutes, watch what each version does to hold days, and download a CSV whenever a draft is worth circulating.
Who this is for
- First ADs and UPMs: draft and compare cast schedules during prep without buying a scheduling suite for a short or a small feature.
- Casting directors and coordinators: hand agents a clean grid of start, work, hold, and finish days when negotiating availability.
- Film students and indie producers: learn to read SW, WF, and hold codes on a real cast grid before the first production meeting.
Day Out of Days Generator: the complete guide
It builds the standard day out of days report in the browser: cast rows, day columns, SW/W/H/WF/SWF/R/T codes per cell, automatic totals per row and per day, and validation that flags missing starts, double finishes, and codes outside the span.
For this workflow, the central problem is clear: the day out of days grid usually lives in fragile Excel templates or paid scheduling suites, so small productions skip it and discover expensive hold days too late. Left unresolved, this creates downstream friction and slower decisions. The practical target is a validated DOOD cast grid with per-actor work, hold, and span totals you can export and circulate before the schedule locks.
Limitation to keep in mind: It does not read contracts or compute payroll; it tracks days and codes, so union rules like drop and pickup eligibility still need a human check against the applicable agreement.
Advanced workflow: Experienced ADs run one DOOD per schedule draft, compare total hold days across versions, and use that delta as the argument for reordering strips before anyone calls an agent.
Step-by-Step Workflow
- Set the number of shoot days and add optional date labels so the columns match your calendar.
- Enter cast numbers and character names from the script breakdown, lead first.
- Click through each row marking SW on the first work day, W on working days, H on paid holds, and WF on the last day, using the full list for rehearsal and travel.
- Fix any validation warnings, then download the CSV or copy the summary for the production office.
Use Cases By Profile
- First AD: rebuild the DOOD after every stripboard shuffle and confirm no actor's span quietly grew by a week.
- UPM: total hold days per cast member and put a cost on each schedule variant before committing to dates.
- Casting director: send agents a clean start, work, hold, and finish grid instead of a vague date range.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Marking every day between start and finish as W instead of separating true work days from holds.
- Giving a performer two starts or two finishes after a schedule change, which corrupts the span math.
- Building the DOOD once at the start of prep and never rebuilding it after the stripboard moves.
Professional Best Practices
- Sort cast by span, not by cast number, when hunting for schedule savings: the widest spans hide the most holds.
- Use SWF aggressively for day players; a one-day booking costs one day only if it starts and finishes on it.
- Keep the cast-working-per-day row under 10 where you can; heavy cast days slow coverage and stack turnaround risk.
Treat this tool output as a decision support layer, not a replacement for authorship. Great scripts are remembered for specific choices, emotional precision, and clarity of dramatic movement. Tools help by removing noise so your energy can go where it matters: character, conflict, escalation, and payoff. If you review outcomes after each pass and keep an explicit log of accepted changes, your workflow becomes faster and more predictable from draft to draft. That consistency is exactly what professional collaborators value: fewer surprises, clearer rationale, and a script that evolves with intent.
Extended FAQ
Who prepares the day out of days on a production?
The first AD or the production coordinator usually builds it from the stripboard, and the UPM reviews it for cost. On small shoots the producer often does all three jobs, which is exactly when a free generator earns its keep.
When should the day out of days be locked?
It stays live through prep and only locks with the shooting schedule, typically after the final production meeting. Cast deal memos reference it, so late changes mean calls to agents.
What is drop and pickup on a SAG-AFTRA contract?
It lets a production release a performer and rehire them later instead of paying holds through a long gap. It is generally allowed once per performer on theatrical agreements after a qualifying break, so it is a scalpel, not a default.
How does the DOOD relate to the stripboard?
The stripboard sets the shooting order of scenes; the DOOD is the cast-side consequence of that order. Every strip move changes someone's start, finish, or holds, so the two documents are always read together.
Can this replace Movie Magic Scheduling?
For the DOOD itself on a short, a small feature, or a student film, yes. Movie Magic still does more around it: stripboards, breakdown sheets, and reports. This tool covers the cast grid, free and in the browser.
What do agents look for in a DOOD?
Start and finish dates, the number of holds between them, and whether the span conflicts with other bookings. A tight span with few holds is an easier deal to close than a loose one.
Frequently asked questions
SW is Start Work, the performer's first day on set. W is a regular work day, H is a hold, and WF is Work Finish, the last day. SWF means the actor starts and finishes on the same day. R marks rehearsal and T marks travel, both tracked separately from work days.
A hold (H) is a day between an actor's start and finish when they are not filming but remain on payroll. SAG-AFTRA consecutive employment rules require paying performers for every day from SW through WF on most contracts, so holds are real budget lines, not free gaps.
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser with no signup, no watermark, and no export limit. Your grid autosaves to your own device and nothing is uploaded to any server.
You can: cast down the rows, days across the columns, codes in the cells, and COUNTIF formulas for the totals. This tool does the same job with the codes, totals, and validation already wired, then exports a CSV that opens directly in Excel or Google Sheets.
Up to 40 cast members and 60 shoot days, which covers most features and any short. For a bigger board, export the CSV in sections and merge them in a spreadsheet.
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