Production Timekeeper Course

Lesson 1 • Overview of Production Schedules

Explains how shooting schedules, call sheets, and one-liners inform timekeeping decisions. Students connect schedule documents to daily time-tracking tasks.

Lesson 2 • Industry Terminology and Jargon

Introduces essential vocabulary used on professional productions. Accurate terminology enables clear communication with crew, UPMs, and payroll departments.

Lesson 3 • The Timekeeper's Role on Set

Defines the production timekeeper's duties and authority relative to other departments. Grounds students in the professional identity they are building throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Supporting Documents and Cross-References

Identifies secondary documents—production reports, movement orders, and advance schedules—that validate time entries. Cross-referencing prevents discrepancies before payroll submission.

Lesson 2 • The Daily Time Report

Covers every field of the daily time report (DTR) and the logic behind each entry. Accurate DTR completion is the central deliverable of every production day.

Lesson 3 • Timekeeping Software and Digital Tools

Introduces production payroll platforms and digital timekeeping applications used on modern sets. Students practice data entry workflows that reduce errors and speed payroll processing.

Lesson 4 • Exhibit G and Crew Deal Memos

Explains how deal memos and Exhibit G documents establish each crew member's pay terms. Students cross-reference these documents when completing time reports.

Lesson 1 • Meal Breaks and Meal Penalties

Details the rules governing mandatory meal breaks and the penalties triggered when they are missed or delayed. Students calculate meal penalties correctly under various contract scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Recording Crew Calls and Arrivals

Covers methods for logging each crew member's actual call time versus scheduled call time. Accurate arrival data is the foundation of all subsequent pay calculations.

Lesson 3 • Establishing the Official Clock

Explains how to set and maintain the authoritative time reference used across all departments. A single official clock prevents disputes and ensures consistent record-keeping.

Lesson 4 • Wrap Time and Turnaround Tracking

Teaches how to record official wrap time and calculate the minimum rest turnaround between shooting days. Turnaround violations carry significant financial and legal consequences.

Lesson 1 • Allowances, Adjustments, and Corrections

Addresses non-wage pay items—box rentals, mileage, and per diem—and the process for correcting calculation errors. Accurate allowance tracking prevents payroll disputes.

Lesson 2 • Sixth and Seventh Day Premiums

Covers the elevated pay rates triggered when crew work a sixth or seventh consecutive day in a workweek. Students identify workweek boundaries and apply correct multipliers.

Lesson 3 • Holiday Pay and Special Premiums

Identifies recognized holidays and the premium pay obligations they trigger under labor agreements. Students distinguish holiday pay from standard overtime calculations.

Lesson 4 • Straight Time and the Basic Workday

Defines the standard workday and the straight-time rate that forms the baseline for all pay calculations. Understanding the base is prerequisite to all overtime computation.

Lesson 1 • Understanding Labor Agreement Structure

Explains how collective bargaining agreements are organized and where timekeeping provisions appear. Students navigate agreement documents efficiently to find relevant rules.

Lesson 2 • Rest Period and Turnaround Requirements

Details minimum rest periods mandated by labor agreements and the financial penalties for violations. Students apply rules consistently across different agreement types.

Lesson 3 • Grievance Triggers and Avoidance

Identifies the most common timekeeping errors that trigger union grievances and how to prevent them. Proactive compliance reduces production costs and crew relations issues.

Lesson 4 • Crew Classification and Pay Scales

Covers how crew classifications determine applicable pay scales and timekeeping rules. Misclassification is a leading cause of payroll errors and grievances.

Lesson 1 • Audits and Payroll Disputes

Prepares students to respond to payroll audits and resolve crew pay disputes using documented records. Strong record-keeping is the primary defense in any dispute.

Lesson 2 • Payroll Deadlines and Submission Schedules

Explains how payroll cutoff schedules are structured and the consequences of missing submission deadlines. Students build personal tracking systems to meet every deadline.

Lesson 3 • Payroll Package Preparation

Defines the components of a complete payroll package and the order in which documents are assembled. A well-organized package reduces payroll company processing errors.

Lesson 4 • Working with Payroll Companies

Covers the working relationship between the on-set timekeeper and the production payroll service. Clear communication protocols prevent processing errors and payment delays.

Lesson 1 • Location and Distant Location Timekeeping

Covers the additional time categories—travel, per diem, and lodging—that apply on distant location shoots. Students track all location-specific pay elements without omission.

Lesson 2 • Second Unit and Splinter Unit Tracking

Addresses the coordination required when multiple units shoot simultaneously on the same production. Students maintain separate, accurate records for each unit without confusion.

Lesson 3 • Night Shoots and Shift Differentials

Explains how night work triggers shift differential premiums and alters workday boundary calculations. Accurate night-shoot timekeeping requires careful clock management.

Lesson 4 • Emergency and Unplanned Shooting Events

Prepares students to handle timekeeping during unplanned events such as emergency pickups, forced calls, and production shutdowns. Accurate records during crises protect all parties.

Lesson 1 • Managing High Crew Count Productions

Addresses the organizational challenges of tracking 100-plus crew members across multiple departments. Students apply scalable methods that maintain accuracy under volume pressure.

Lesson 2 • Building a Personal Timekeeping System

Guides students in designing a personalized workflow that handles high crew counts without errors. A reliable personal system is the mark of a senior-level timekeeper.

Lesson 3 • Communicating Time Data to Stakeholders

Develops skills for presenting time data clearly to UPMs, producers, and payroll companies. Effective communication of time data supports informed production decisions.

Lesson 4 • Continuous Improvement and Professional Growth

Establishes habits for ongoing skill development, staying current with contract changes, and building a professional reputation. Career longevity depends on consistent quality and adaptability.