Turnaround: What It Means in Filmmaking
By Muhammad Wisal and Muhammad Ali / 2 min read
Turnaround is the minimum rest period between the time a cast or crew member is released at the end of one shoot day and their call time on the next day.
What does turnaround mean?
On set, turnaround is counted from when a person wraps (often wrap plus travel back to base, depending on the agreement) to when they are next called. A common minimum is somewhere around 10 to 12 hours, but the exact number varies by union agreement, country, department and contract. If you are working under a union or guild, check its current agreement. If you are not, agree on a turnaround with your cast and crew up front and put it in their deal memos. Calling someone back before their turnaround is up is often called a forced call, and on union shoots it can trigger a penalty payment.
Turnaround is what makes schedules hard when you switch from night to day work. A crew that wraps at 4:00 AM cannot be called at 7:00 AM the same morning. Schedulers handle this by moving later calls each day, inserting a day off, or grouping night scenes together. In Lowerated you can filter the stripboard to night scenes and drag them into a block, which makes the flip easier to plan.
The word has a second meaning in development. When a studio decides not to make a project it owns, it can put it "in turnaround", which lets the producer take it to another company, usually after repaying some or all of the development costs.
Example of turnaround on a schedule
Here is a two-day stretch from a short called "Harbor Lights", with a 12-hour turnaround agreed in the crew deal memos.
| Day | Crew call | Wrap | Earliest next call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 4 (night exterior) | 5:00 PM | 3:30 AM | 3:30 PM |
| Day 5 (interior) | 4:00 PM | 2:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
Day 5's call is set at 4:00 PM instead of the usual morning call, so turnaround is kept. The call time on the next call sheet has to follow from the actual wrap, so if Day 4 runs late, the 1st AD updates Day 5 before the sheet goes out.
Related terms
- Night shoots: where turnaround causes the most schedule problems.
- Call time and deal memo, both linked above.
- Forced call: a call that breaks the agreed turnaround.
FAQ
Does turnaround apply to actors and crew equally?
Not always. Agreements often set different minimums for performers and for crew, so check each one separately.
Can someone waive their turnaround?
Some agreements allow it with conditions or extra pay, and others do not. Ask your union representative or production lawyer before relying on it.
