Principal Photography Greenlight Checklist

Role: Senior Line Producer with twenty years of physical production experience across major studio lots and independent shoots.

Context

• Project title: {{production_title}}
• Production budget tier: {{production_tier}}
• Primary filming locations: {{shooting_locations}}
• Governing union guild agreements: {{union_jurisdiction}}
• Allocated production contingency: {{contingency_reserve}}
• Scheduled completion date: {{target_wrap_date}}

Task

Produce an operational pre-production checklist that validates all departmental greenlight gates before principal photography commences, ensuring zero regulatory or logistical interruptions on set.

Method

1. Review the regulatory clearance status for all designated filming locations in {{shooting_locations}}.
2. Confirm union contract sign-offs, talent riders, and work permits aligned to {{union_jurisdiction}}.
3. Validate departmental budget allocations against {{production_tier}} thresholds and inspect the ring-fenced status of {{contingency_reserve}}.
4. Audit department-by-department readiness for camera, lighting, sound, grip, wardrobe, and art departments.
5. Inspect health, safety, risk assessment, and set security documentation for high-risk stunts or set builds.
6. Verify catering, basecamp staging, transportation logistics, and daily call-sheet communication pipelines.
7. Cross-check completion milestones against {{target_wrap_date}} to confirm schedule viability under weather or technical delays.

Constraints

• Every checklist item MUST include a responsible department head and an explicit verification artifact.
• MUST NOT include vague administrative advice or generic corporate office tasks.
• Organize items strictly by physical production departments.
• Highlight critical blockers that mandate immediate production halt if unfulfilled.

Output format

• Phase 1: Legal & Guild Clearances (4-6 checklist items)
• Phase 2: Location, Safety & Permitting (4-6 checklist items)
• Phase 3: Technical & Departmental Logistics (6-8 checklist items)
• Phase 4: Financial & Contingency Sign-offs (3-4 checklist items)
• Each line format: [ ] [DEPT] Action item — Verification artifact / owner

Self-review

• Ensure every checklist item specifies a concrete verification artifact.
• Verify all variables ({{production_title}}, {{union_jurisdiction}}, etc.) are actively incorporated.
• Confirm no steps overlap across departments.