A shoot day runs in a fixed order: paperwork first, then makeup and test shots, then the consent conversation, then filming in sections, then wrap. Knowing the order takes most of the nerves out of a first shoot, and knowing you can pause or stop at any point takes care of the rest.
The night before
Lay everything out before you sleep. ID, test results, wardrobe, makeup bag, phone charger, water and snacks. Read the call sheet one more time and check the journey. If your call time is 10am and the journey is an hour, plan to leave with forty minutes spare. Late is the single most common complaint producers make about new performers, and it is the easiest one to avoid.
Get a proper sleep. Shoot days are physical and often run eight hours or more. Alcohol the night before shows on camera and slows you down.
Arrival and paperwork
Aim to arrive ten minutes early, not thirty. Very early arrivals can catch a location before it is ready. When you arrive you will usually meet a runner, the producer or the photographer, and be shown somewhere to put your things.
Paperwork comes first: ID checks, a copy taken for the production's records, and the release form. Read the release before signing, even if you have read one like it before. If anything differs from what was agreed in messages, query it now. A professional producer will not mind. Keep your messages about the booking on Climaxx Media so you have a record of what was agreed if you ever need to point back to it.
Makeup, wardrobe and test shots
Depending on the production there may be a makeup artist, or you may be doing your own. Wardrobe gets confirmed against what was agreed. Most producers take a short set of test shots at this point to check lighting and look. This is a normal part of the day, not a judgement of you.
The consent conversation
Before anything is filmed, the acts for the day get confirmed out loud. On a well run set this is a structured conversation: what is on the list, what is not, and what the signals are for pause and stop. If you are working with a scene partner, you both take part. If nobody starts this conversation, start it yourself. You are never being difficult by asking for clarity before cameras roll. Working with a scene partner covers that conversation in detail.
Filming
Scenes are shot in sections with breaks for lighting, angles and continuity. Expect a lot of stopping and starting. Use breaks to drink water and eat something small. Speak up early if you are getting cold, sore or tired. Small problems flagged early stay small.
You can pause or stop at any point. Agreeing to a scene in advance never removes your right to stop it on the day.
Wrap
At wrap, confirm in writing what happens next: when and how you will be paid, and roughly when the content will be released. Take photos of anything you signed. Gather all your belongings, and check the bathroom and green room before you leave. Then eat properly and rest. A short thank you message the next day costs nothing and gets you rebooked.
If the day goes wrong
- If anything happens on set that was not agreed, you can leave. Your safety outranks the booking.
- Make notes as soon as you can while details are fresh.
- Report serious concerns to Climaxx Media through your dashboard so we can act on the producer's account.
Our safety guide lists the outside organisations to call as well.