The checklist by department
| Department | Items to check |
|---|---|
| Camera | Body, batteries and chargers, media cards, card reader, monitor, cables, tripod and head, plates, cleaning kit |
| Lenses | Each lens with caps, filters, matte box, follow focus |
| Sound | Recorder or mixer, boom and pole, shotgun mic, lavaliers, wind protection, headphones, spare batteries, timecode device |
| Lighting | Fixtures, stands, diffusion and gels, flags, bounce, spare lamps, dimmers |
| Grip | C-stands, sandbags, clamps, apple boxes, slider or dolly, gimbal |
| Power | Extension cords, power bars, adapters, generator or battery station |
| Data | Laptop, two backup drives, labels, a written backup routine |
| Set | Slate, tape, markers, walkies, tools, first aid kit, rain covers |
| Paperwork | Call sheet, shot list, releases, permits, insurance certificate |
The check-out and return routine
- Build the list from the shot list. Every special shot names the tool it needs.
- Reserve before you promise. Check that the item is not already booked by another production on those dates.
- Check out with a name. One person signs for each case.
- Test before leaving. Power on, record ten seconds, play them back.
- Count at wrap. Tick the same list in reverse before the truck closes.
- Report damage the same day. A note now saves the next shoot.
Why a shared inventory beats a personal list
A checklist protects one shoot. An inventory protects the company: it knows what you own, what it is worth and where each item is stored. CrewDesk's inventory lists every item with photos, a category, a value and a storage location, so the whole team works from the same list. Check-out and return by shoot is added in a custom version.