Notes made by the AD while reading the script — flagging effects, animals, stunts, props per scene. Foundation for scheduling and budgeting.
The Assistant Director, during the first read-through of the screenplay, sits with pen and paper — or today, often with breakdown software — and systematically notes down what each individual scene requires. Breakdown notes are the practical foundation of any production. They capture not simply what is happening, but what needs to be organized: effects, animals, stunts, props, vehicles, extras, weather dependencies, lighting situations, location changes, costume changes per character. From these notes, the Production Schedule, prop lists, the VFX overview, and the shooting schedule are later created.
Practice shows: those who work superficially here pay for it later during shooting. An AD who overlooks in Scene 47 that the main character is carrying a dog creates problems later with animal training, insurance, and budget. Breakdown notes must be precise — not narrative, but categorized. Standard categories: Interior/Exterior, Day/Night, Cast (with entry into the Call Sheet), Special Effects (fire, water, explosions), VFX (green screen, CGI elements), Stunts, Vehicles, Animals, Props (special vs. standard), Costumes/Changes, Make-up (injuries, aging, special features), Sound Design Notes (music, special sounds), Duration/Pages.
On set itself, these notes are the reference for the AD and their team — who needs to be on set when, which prop must be clarified in advance, which area needs to be cleared for effects. During the transition to location scouting, producers and production designers use the breakdown notes to assess where shooting can take place and what needs to be organized on-site. In the edit, they help the editor understand why certain takes were cut or which post-production elements were planned.
Digital productions today use tools like StudioBinder or FilmMagic, where breakdown data is directly linked with call sheets, budget, and schedule. But the principle remains: careful, categorized, visible to all departments. A well-filled-out breakdown is the moment when the producer can for the first time realistically state what the production will cost and how long it will take.