Early call before mandatory rest period has elapsed — requires additional compensation and union approval.
Technical Details
The minimum turnaround time is 11 hours between the end of shooting and the next call by default. In the case of a Forced Call, this is reduced to 9-10 hours. In Germany, the collective bargaining agreement for film and television professionals (TVA) regulates a maximum working day of 10 hours; exceeding this incurs surcharges of 25% for the 11th and 12th hour. A Forced Call requires the written consent of the person concerned and must be communicated at least 12 hours before the originally planned call. For lead actors, the additional costs can range from 2,000 to 15,000 Euros per day.
History & Development
The Forced Call established itself in Hollywood during the studio system era (1930-1960), when production studios exercised absolute control over their contract actors. In 1946, the Screen Actors Guild introduced the first protective regulations after cases of 20-hour shooting days became public. In Germany, the practice was only regulated by the TVA in 1978. In 1985, the regulations were tightened after an accident on the set of "Das Boot - Director's Cut," where fatigue was considered a contributing factor. Today, EU working time directives significantly limit its application.
Practical Application in Film
Forced Calls are mainly used due to weather dependency, location changes, or actor conflicts. In "Mission: Impossible - Fallout" (2018), Tom Cruise had to be available again within 8 hours after his motorcycle accident to shoot continuity scenes. Typically, they are used for pick-up shots or insert shots when the main shooting day is already completed. Production management calculates an additional 1.5-2 hours for makeup and costumes, as the crew has less time for preparation.
Comparison & Alternatives
In contrast to a Split Day (a divided shooting day with several hours of break), a Forced Call involves a shortened, continuous rest period. Double Shooting (simultaneous shooting by two units) often avoids Forced Calls through parallel recording. Modern productions increasingly rely on Virtual Production and Pre-Visualization to avoid such situations. In the USA, the practice differs due to less restrictive union rules – 6-hour turnarounds are possible there with additional compensation, while EU productions must adhere to at least 9 hours.