5+ Best Film Production Software Tools of 2024 (Reviewed)
Are you looking for the best film production software tools to become more efficient as a filmmaker?
As an indie filmmaker myself, I know it’s easy to get so caught up on the creative side that you forget about the project management side of filmmaking – like budgeting, scheduling, marketing, etc.
Luckily, no matter what kind of film you’re working on, the basic steps and elements are the same. This way, you can use the same programs for every project.
In this article, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite film production software I’ve used to help streamline my filmmaking workflows. I’ll go into the details of each tool and explain what it’s used for, how much it costs, who it’s best for, and my personal opinion on it.
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What Are the Best Film Production Software Tools?
1. Celtx
Overview
Celtx is a great user-friendly production management software. It has a ton of features and tools to help you plan, write, and format scripts, as well as create storyboards and shooting schedules.
They also give you access to a large library of free sound effects, music, and images.
I have found Celtx to be my favorite all-in-one tool for any beginner or experienced professional in the filmmaking industry.
Top Benefits
- Organized Workflow: Keep track of everything from characters and locations to props and wardrobe, saving you time and making sure all your project elements are easily accessible.
- Seamless Collaboration: Collaborate effortlessly with your team, regardless of location. Celtx helps keep everyone on the same page.
- Visualize Your Story: Bring your film to life before it’s shot! The storyboarding feature lets you visualize each scene and plan out your shot list.
- All-in-One Filmmaking Suite: Write and format professional screenplays, develop your story, manage pre-production tasks (budgeting, shot lists), and streamline daily activities.
Pricing
Celtx has three pricing options (with discounts for yearly payments):
Writer: $14.99/month (this option is only suitable for screenwriters, not filmmakers)
Writer Pro: $24.99/month (BEST OPTION)
Team: $59.95/month (for 5 members; +$10/month per member)
My Experience Using Celtx
After starting your free trial with Celtx, you can immediately start working on your first project.
There’s a toolbar on the left side with all of the key components to creating a successful film, like a storyboard, cast & crew sheet, budget, schedule, etc.
I really like that it has everything you need easily located in one space.
When you’re writing your script, you’ll find this toolbar on the page where you can leave comments, break down individual scenes, or create a shot list from specific scenes.
The breakdown and shot list tools are pretty cool because Celtx easily dissects your script, automatically filtering the heading, scenes, characters, props, etc. This takes out so much manual work that you would be doing without using production software.
When you’re ready to make the storyboard, there’s a ton of characters, props, locations, camera equipment, and other tools you can use to make your vision come to life on the page.
You can add a scene and camera description to give even more detail for the rest of your crew to follow.
The scheduling tool is my favorite to use because I know that creating these schedules from scratch tooks a lot of time for the AD!
This schedule automatically creates itself based on the script you write in Celtx. It gives you the time of day, how many pages of the script that scene is, which characters are in the scene, and more.
It’s also really customizable so you can easily adjust any settings that you need to.
You can add how long you think it’ll take to shoot that scene to the duration, and then it’ll add up all the duration times at the bottom so you have a rough estimate of how long it’ll take to shoot everything.
Every producer’s dream is an automated budget, so you can easily track how much the production has spent and which categories are over or under.
When you enter the cast and crew rates individually into the crew sheets, it automatically adds their rates into the budget for you.
I typically work on small crews and have a hand in creating all of these pre-production sheets, so having a tool like Celtx where it automatically links and updates everything together is such a time saver!
Bottom Line
Celtx is great for anyone who wants to collaborate with a team on their writing projects. You can share your work and give people special access to view, edit, or comment. You can also track changes made by each person so everyone is always on the same page.
2. Studio Binder
Overview
StudioBinder is designed specifically for film production management and has a wide range of features that can make your life easier.
It includes a storyboard creator to visualize your shots and a shot list feature to help you keep track of all the shots you need to get on set.
StudioBinder also integrates with popular video editing software, making it easy to put together your final project.
Top Benefits of StudioBinder:
- Streamlined Production Management: Manage everything in one place like storyboards, schedules, budgets, and other details.
- User-Friendly Program: It’s easy to learn and navigate.
- Efficient Scheduling: Create a clear and detailed shooting schedule that keeps your cast, crew, and workflow on track.
- Call Sheet Creation: Easily create professional call sheets for your cast and crew members.
- Seamless Integration: You can integrate StudioBinder with other popular filmmaking tools. This saves you time and minimizes disruptions during production.
- Exceptional Customer Support: StudioBinder’s customer support team is always available to answer any questions or troubleshoot any issues you have.
Pricing
StudioBinder has three pricing options (with discounts for paying yearly):
- Indie: $29/month (includes call sheets, shot lists & storyboards, and shooting schedules)
- Professional: $49/month (includes all previous tools plus script breakdowns and production calendar)
- Studio: $99/month (includes all previous tools plus collaboration tools and custom branding)
They also have a FREE plan with 1 project per account that lets you try out the basics.
My Experience Using StudioBinder
After you start your first project with StudioBinder, you can find all the tools collected in a vibrant layout on the project dashboard. This makes it easy to come back and find everything you need.
From here, you can access your screenplay, script breakdown, sides for the actors, storyboards, shot lists, calendars, call sheets, and more. I thought the coordinating colors were a nice touch!
You can start writing your script directly on StudioBinder, or you can import a screenplay for the entire project to work from.
Once you have the script locked, you can find an automatic breakdown of each scene as well as a rough draft for a schedule. You can edit and customize them to your liking.
In the ‘Visualize’ section, you can create a mood board, storyboard, and shot list.
The storyboard and shot list are automatically broken up by scenes according to your script. I did wish that StudioBinder would have added my storyboard scene descriptions to the same scenes on the shot list, but you had to manually copy and paste those over.
Also, in Celtx you were able to build storyboards directly in the platform using icons and characters, but in StudioBinder you had to upload an image for the storyboard. There was no ability to do it within the platform.
I did think this ‘Locations’ feature was a cool, unique tool that I hadn’t seen before. I love to run and gun on my shoots, which means there’s a lot of different locations.
This tool makes it easy to sync your locations with the breakdowns, schedules, and call sheets so it’s easier to keep everything organized. On a run-and-gun set or a big shoot with many locations, this could really come in handy!
Bottom Line
Overall, StudioBinder is a great film production management software for independent filmmakers who want to keep all of their workflow documents organized in one place, or any small production companies and teams want to really keep track of their locations.
3. Dramatify
Overview
With Dramatify, you can easily manage your production from start to finish and complete your project on time and on budget.
From storyboarding to managing cast and crew to scheduling and budgeting, Dramatify has all the features you need to produce a professional-quality film. And best of all, it’s easy to use, so you’ll be up and running in no time.
Top Features
- Seamless Collaboration: Easily invite team members, assign roles, and track progress. This lets everyone stay on the same page for an efficient process.
- Enhanced Moviemaking Experience: Going beyond basic production management, Dramatify has unique features like location scouting to help you find ideal shooting locations, and script revision tools for on-the-go adjustments.
Pricing
Dramatify has five pricing options. All are 25% cheaper if you pay yearly.
Fiction Starter: From $42/month (best for basic drama & branded content pre-production)
Fiction Standard: From $90/month (best for drama productions)
Non-Fiction Starter: From $87/month (best for multi-camera live & studio productions)
Professional: From $180/month (best for all types of productions)
Enterprise: Custom (best for broadcasters & large production companies)
Bottom Line
If you’re producing a movie professionally, Dramatify is a great option – if you don’t mind paying their prices (note that you need to pay for a minimum of three seats for each level of their pricing). I’d still go with Celtx for most productions, though – as it has many of the same features for film production and is quite a bit cheaper.
4. Gorilla Software Scheduling
Overview
Gorilla Software Scheduling is a simple-to-use production management software and covers all the bases of a good scheduling program, from managing cast and crew to keeping track of locations, equipment, and props. It even has a handy tutorial to get you started.
The real strength of Gorilla Software Scheduling is its ability to handle complex productions with multiple crews and shooting locations. This makes it best for feature films, TV shows, and commercials.
This software’s main drawback is that it’s only available offline – depending on your needs, this might be a deal-breaker for you.
Top Features
- Streamlined Project Management: Track tasks, crew, and equipment efficiently, making sure everyone and everything is accounted for throughout your production.
- Effortless Scheduling: Easily create and manage production calendars with Gorilla Software Scheduling’s scheduling interface. Visualize your workflow, identify potential conflicts, and keep your entire team on the same page.
- Budget Control and Transparency: Use the extensive budgeting tools to keep track of costs and have real-time insights into the project’s financial status.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Detailed reporting features analyze data to find areas for improvement and optimize your workflow for future projects.
Pricing
- Billed Monthly: $49 one-time set-up fee and then $20/month (or get the Gorilla Scheduling & Budgeting combo pack for $30/month)
- Billed Quarterly: $29 one-time set-up fee and then $60 every 3 months
- Billed Annually: $240/year (or $360/year for the combo pack – This is the best deal for sure!)
Bottom Line
Gorilla Software Scheduling is one of the best production management tools for filmmakers who need a comprehensive and customizable scheduling solution.
It has a variety of features that let you create schedules that meet your specific needs – you can either choose from multiple pre-made templates or create your own custom template.
Gorilla Software Scheduling is only available offline, which may be a drawback for some filmmakers as that makes it harder to share real-time updates with a team.
5. Yamdu
Overview
Yamdu is a production management software packed with features that streamline your production process and make your workflows more efficient. You can use Yamdu to manage cast and crew schedules, keep track of your shots and locations, and organize your footage.
You can also collaborate with other team members, share files and media, and track feedback and reviews. And because Yamdu is cloud-based, you can access it from anywhere in the world.
Top Features
- Effortlessly Intuitive: User-friendly interface makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of your experience.
- Movie Production Powerhouse: From storyboarding and scriptwriting to budgeting and scheduling, Yamdu gives you the tools to streamline your entire production process.
- Seamless Collaboration: Built-in tools for effortless teamwork, allowing everyone on your team to contribute, share ideas, and stay on the same page throughout the project lifecycle.
- Budget-Friendly Filmmaking: Yamdu has flexible pricing plans for any budget. Get the functionalities you need at a cost that works for you, making professional filmmaking accessible for anyone.
Pricing
Sign up for Yamdu Core at $265/month, which includes 20 users and 25GB of storage.
If you need more customizable options, contact their team to set up a plan that fits your needs.
Bottom Line
Yamdu is a fantastic film project management platform for people who want to streamline their film production process with a cloud-based production manager – however, it is super expensive!
I think it’s way to expensive for most filmmakers – a software program like Celtx or Studiobinder is more than enough for most people!
Overall Message
I think most filmmakers and teams will be well served with either Celtx or Studiobinder for film production management.
These tools will help you and your crew stay organized, on time, and on budget during hectic days on set.
You can learn more about the different software options out there by taking an online filmmaking course.
Are you looking to make your own film? Check out these great articles!
Studio Indie Films vs True Indie Films: Is There A Difference?
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