Minimum rest period between the end of one shoot day and the start of the next — typically 12 hours. Protects crew from fatigue and is governed by union agreements.
Technical Details
The 12-hour rule begins from the moment of "wrap" (end of shooting) and ends with the first call of the following day. Overtime automatically reduces the available working time of the next day: if a shooting day ends at 10:00 PM, shooting can resume no earlier than 10:00 AM. Failure to observe the turnaround time incurs surcharges of 25% to 100%. From Saturday to Sunday, the turnaround time is extended to 35 hours (weekend rest). For international co-productions, the stricter national regulations apply.
History & Development
The first turnaround time regulations originated in 1919 after the Hollywood strikes, when 16-hour shooting days were standard. Germany introduced the 12-hour rule in 1952, initially only for lead actors. In 1974, the first TVFF extended the regulation to all film professionals. The EU Working Time Directive of 1993 tightened the regulations, leading to today's strict enforcement. Modern productions have used digital call sheet software since the 2000s for automatic calculation of turnaround times.
Practical Application in Film
On "Das Boot" (1981), the 6-month submarine shooting schedule led to the establishment of special turnaround regulations for studio sets. "Cloud Atlas" (2012) coordinated three international crews with different turnaround time regulations through staggered shooting schedules. Night shoots require special planning: after a night shift from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, shooting can only resume at 6:00 PM the following day. Split crews enable continuous work but double personnel costs. Location changes between different time zones further complicate the calculation.
Comparison & Alternatives
The "French hours" (continuous shooting without a lunch break, but an earlier wrap) shorten the total working time and maximize turnaround time. "Golden Time" (overtime starting from the 10th hour) differs from turnaround by immediate wage surcharges instead of time displacement. In the USA, the DGA (Directors Guild) 8-hour turnaround rule applies, in Great Britain 11 hours according to the BECTU collective agreement. Six-day weeks require 54-hour weekend rest, five-day weeks only 35 hours.