Introduction
General Production (India)
General Policies
Amazon Studios (“AS”) and its designees will have access to production areas and production offices pertaining to Amazon projects at any location during all pre-production, principal photography, and post-production periods.
- Calendars and schedules must be maintained to reflect the preparations, shooting, and post production plan as it is updated during the course of production.
- Any calendars and shooting schedules distributed to cast and/or crew must be simultaneously published to AS according to the Content Information & Management Policy.
- Templates can be found below.
Calendars must include the following:
- Start dates for each phase of production
- Key talent and crew start and wrap dates
- Period at each location
- Any show that requires the use of animals must comply with the guidelines set forth by the
Animal Welfare Board of India – (https://www.awbi.in/) - Proper permissions are to be sought from the Animal Welfare Board prior to the shoot. The permissions include the following two stages:
- Stage 1 - Pre-shooting permission: an application is to be made to the AWBI along with the
details about storyline, sequences where animals are proposed to be used. A complete
justification for using animals, relevance of using animal and a fitness certificate along with
ownership certificate is to be provided in order to obtain pre-shoot permission. It is
mandatory for the applicant to state time and place of the proposed shooting. - Stage 2 - No Objection Certificate: After obtaining the pre-shoot permission, the
producer/applicant has to adhere to the synopsis submitted to the AWBI. After the
completion of the shooting the producer has to send to AWBI two DVDs containing animal
sequences along with a fitness certificate. The two copies of DVDs must contain the audio
track for screening.
- Stage 1 - Pre-shooting permission: an application is to be made to the AWBI along with the
- Further under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983, Rule 21 (bb), a declaration is to be
made by the Producer that no cruelty is caused to any animals during the shooting of a film or TV series produced in India. - Content with animals generated in Post / VFX must meet the Content Standards policy.
- All production vehicles leased or owned must be registered and licensed for use in all locations where production requires.
- All production vehicles must be used in accordance with their registered or licensed use, including but not limited to maximum passenger occupancy and cargo type and weight.
- All drivers of production vehicles must be appropriately licensed for the vehicle and cargo and/or personnel they are transporting.
- All production drivers must adhere to traffic rules and regulations.
- In alignment with AS sustainability initiatives, every effort must be made to obtain electric, hybrid, alternative fuel, or fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Original Vehicle titles must be kept securely with the production office during principal photography or with the vehicle if required by local law.
- At wrap, the original vehicle title must be with the 3P auditor along with the bill of sale and seller contact information. All information and disposition (including storage location of the vehicle(s) if applicable) must be noted in the final wrap memo.
- Condensed form (e.g., one liner)
- Scene Numbers, if applicable
- Locations
- Sets, if applicable
- Talent ID Number
- Number of Extras/Audience Members, if applicable
- Interior/Exterior
- Day/Night
- Full Schedule
- All information from the Condensed one liner schedule
- Full Talent / Character Name
- Plus, all production requirements (e.g., Props, Costumes, rigging, special crew, special equipment, extras/audience breakdown, etc.)
Confirm with the AS Production Executive if this applies to the project.
The Production should maintain DOOD for all cast on the project. Day Out of Days (DOOD) is a horizontal timeline calendar detailing the work, hold, travel, and idle days during the shooting period of a production element (e.g., actors/talent, extras, special crew or equipment, locations, and or sets). It is primarily used to track cast schedules.
The DOOD must include the following:
- Element ID Number (e.g., character, talent, or set number)
- Element Name (e.g., character, talent, or set name)
- Date
- Day of the Week
- Shooting Day
- For each element (e.g., character, talent, or set), annotations across the timeline under each day denote the element’s status on that day:
- SW stands for “Start Work.” It denotes the element’s first day working on set.
- W stands for “Work.” Use this abbreviation whenever the element is working after start.
- WF stands for “Work Finish.” This is the element’s last day on the job.
- SWF stands for “Start-Work-Finish.” It’s when an element is only needed one day of the shoot.
- H stands for “Hold.” Use this when the element isn’t required but is still on call and paid for.
- I stands for “Idle.” This functions just like a Hold but is not paid.
- T stands for “Travel.” It means the element is traveling.
- R stands for “Rehearsal.” Use this when the element is called to rehearse but not shoot.
- WD stands for “Work-Drop.” Use this on the element’s last day before an unpaid hiatus.
- PW stands for “Pickup-Work.” Use this when an element comes back from a hiatus of one day.
- PWF stands for “Pickup-Work-Finish.” Use this when it’s the element’s first and last on the job.
- SR stands for “Start-Rehearsal.” Use this when the element is rehearsing, and it’s their first day.
- Changes to the calendar and/or shooting schedule that may cause a budget change or delay any deliverables must be approved by AS Production or Post Production Executive.
Global Production Deliverables
Please confirm the list below with the AS Production Executive. Final versions should be marked as such when uploaded on the AS-approved platform.
- Contact Lists
- Final Crew Contact List
- Final Vendor Contact List
- Final Cast Confidential & Non-Confidential List
- Actor One Sheet
- Department Continuity Reports
- Lined Script (different from the Script Supervisor script sent to Post)
- Fully Collated Shooting Script
- Call Sheets
- Production Reports
- One-Line Schedule
- Final Production Calendar
- AWBI or other use of Animal Documentation
- Location Database
- Final Credits
- Sustainability
- Sustainability PEAR & PEACH Report
- Sustainability Metrics
- Uploaded to Airtable via this form.
- The form should be completed by production, and the same form should be completed by post production
- Physical Production Assets
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Asset inventory for all assets purchased by production.
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All assets above the threshold of 500$/ INR 40000/- will be tracked with a separate inventory log capturing details of resale, reuse, recycle or disbursement.
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Box Inventories
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Reports for all donations, sales and recycling
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- A Crew Contact List & Vendor Contact List are required to be updated throughout the production. This should include all employees & key contractors, and vendors hired on the project.
- Crew and vendor contact lists must comply with local privacy and data controllership regulations. The minimum information that must be provided to AS is the name, role and/or service provided, and location.
- Contact Lists must include all who worked on the project, regardless of the duration.
Contact Lists must be shared with the AS Distribution List as part of the final deliverables via the AS-approved platform.
Courtesy templates are found here.
The Crew Contact List must include the following:
- First and Last Name
- Phone Number, including country code (if applicable)
- Email (personal email, not originals access)
- Position as listed in crew deal memo or contract
The Vendor Contact List must include the following:
- Company Name
- First and Last Name of contact
- Phone Number, including country code
- Business Address
- Services offered (e.g., Catering Company) as outlined in the contract
All One Line schedules should be prepared in Movie Magic Scheduling or another pre-approved format.
Please make sure travel days, holidays, turnaround days, 2nd or Special Unit work, and days off are clearly noted. The schedule should also include limitations of cast availability, number of work days per week, tentative locations and stages, etc.
Production Reports
- Daily Production Reports are required for all filming days.
- The Daily Production Report must be delivered to the AS Distribution List, production management, and accounting by noon (or production lunch break) local time of the following day via the AS-approved platform All Production Reports must be published to the AS-approved platform daily.
- All revised Production Reports must include the revision number, date, according to the Document Revision Policy.
- All revised Production Reports must include the revision number, date, and if used, the color format according to the Document Revision Policy.
- Each unit must be issued a separate Production Report (i.e., Main unit, 2nd unit, 3rd unit, Splinter, VFX unit, etc.)
- Production Reports must include all information related to the progress of production vis-a-vis the schedule, the daily cost, added unplanned costs (whether insurable or not), and document health and safety management and/or events:
- Call Sheet scheduled filming details and completed coverage, scenes, and/or pages covered.
- Code Name of the Project and Prod Co.
- Show Code of the Project.
- Inventory of media used for recording and remaining (media drives, or if applicable, film and sound stock).
- Any change or addition of working personnel.
- Day’s schedule: Pre-Call/Company Report/Camera Call/Camera Wrap/Last person to Depart times as applicable.
- Start and finish time of meals and time of any non-deductible meal served if meal penalties are payable.
- Actual Report to and Wrap Times of all personnel paid on an hourly basis.
- Mileage, if drive to allowances, is payable.
- Any accidents and illnesses must be reported describing what occurred on the day.
- Description must not include the name of the individual.
- If an employee was required to leave work early, return home, or required medical attention.
- Indicate any employee who returned to work and left early on a previous day due to an accident or illness.
- Any loss or damages incurred, suspected or confirmed.
- Any event which has or may cause a delay to the production schedule.
- Call Sheets are required for all location scouts, rehearsals, group travel days, and filming days.
- Individual travelers must be indicated on the day’s call sheet and/or issued a travel/movement order. (Travel/movement orders may stand in for call sheets on days call sheets are otherwise not required).
- Call sheets must be shared with the cast, crew, and the AS Distribution List the work day prior to the shoot via the AS-approved platform and watermarked with each recipient’s name. All call sheets must be published to the AS-approved platform daily.
- All call sheets must be approved by the Unit Production Manager (UPM)/Line Producer prior to distribution to the crew.
- Each unit must be issued a separate call sheet (i.e., Main unit, 2nd unit, 3rd unit, Splinter, VFX unit, etc.).
- In addition to the specifics related to crew and scenes called, the below information must be included on the Call Sheet:
- Calendar Date
- Shoot Day
- Code Name of the Project and Prod Co
- Key above-the-line talent - Writers, Producers, and Directors
- All personnel reporting to work, whether on set, off set, or working remotely
- It is recommended for cast members to be referred to by role, number, and/or pseudonym.
- Work Start Time (e.g., call time, departure time)
- Contact Numbers for Production, local emergency services, Anonymous Production Hotline
- Nearest Hospital
- Locations where filming will occur
- Weather Forecast (if relevant)
Introduction (India)
Welcome to working with Amazon MGM Studios- Prime Video India!
Please refer to the Glossary for commonly used terms and abbreviations in this manual. The Prod Co is responsible for sharing the policies and standards laid out in this document with the relevant producer(s), cast, crew, contractors, and other third parties to ensure compliance.
Compliance
Failure to comply with the provisions in this Production Manual by any production personnel, employees, contractors, or vendors may be a cause for termination or other remedies under the relevant contract.
Disclaimer
Nothing in this policy should be considered legal advice and the Prod Co should always confirm compliance with all applicable laws with its own legal counsel.
Requests for exceptions to any current policies must be submitted in writing to the PV Executive in the relevant department for review and approval. No exceptions are granted until approval is provided in writing.
Internal Contacts (India)
Amazon MGM Studios India Contacts
Amazon Team | Contact |
Business Affairs (BA) | ba-in-originals@amazon.com |
Content Standards | padmaake@amazon.com |
Legal | inog-legal@amazon.com |
Creative | Please ask your Creative Executive |
Production | in-og-prod@amazon.com |
Production Finance | in-og-prodfin@amazon.com |
Post Production | in-og-postprod@amazon.com |
Music | studiosmusic-in@amazon.com |
VFX | chetan.deshmukh@amazonstudios.com |
X-ray | salonii@amazon.com |
Sustainability | amazon-india-sustainability@amazon.com |
Security | shoahmd@amazon.com |
Soft Prep and Kick Off Meetings (India)
(Please note that some of these meetings may be clubbed in the interest of time.)
The following meetings should take place, to ensure success and alignment with key departments.
Both the assigned Prime Video (“PV”) Production Executive and PV Creative Executive should be included in all meetings.
- Development kick off meeting is the first meeting, and is owned by Business Affairs- and is attended by Production, Creative, Legal, BA and Music teams to discuss development of the project and key timelines. A P
- Pre- Production Kick Off Meeting: Introductory meeting post green light of a project, conducted by the Production Executives- with all necessary teams, to take production company through Amazon PV processes. Cadence is set for bi-weekly, and weekly update meetings between both parties.
- Production Finance Kick off Meeting: The PV Finance Executive and PV Production Executive to discuss accounting requirements, mandates and protocol for all finance matters relating to the Production.
- Production Legal meeting: Meet with PV legal to discuss legal requirements and the process of working with PV Legal. PV Legal may invite Outside Counsel to the meeting.
- Health & Safety/Asset management/Sustainability meeting: Meet with the PV approved 3P vendor, along with production, to review requirements and suggestions for all these initiatives on the project.
- Production Security meeting: Meet with PV protective services executive to discuss content security- as well as but not limited to high risk locations.
- Marketing & PR meeting: Meet with PV Marketing and PV PR to confirm promotional dates key talent may be needed and preliminary planning for behind-the-scenes photography.
- X-Ray: meeting: Meet with PV X-Ray Executive to discuss X-Ray capabilities and experience planned and beneficial for the title. During this meeting, the PV X-Ray Executive will highlight various assets such as cast list, bonus videos, bonus photos, timecoded trivia, music details etc. that need to be curated for the title and requirements from Production Company in order to ensure a holistic customer experience.
- Post Production meeting: Meet with PV Post team to discuss Post Milestone Calendar, vendor selection, media workflow capture through delivery.
- Music meeting: Meet with PV Music to discuss music requirements and initiate planning.
- VFX meeting: Meet with PV VFX team to discuss requirements and initiate planning.
- Production Kick off Meeting: Final summary meeting, no more than 14-21 days before shoot start. All pending queries must be resolved here, by all departments, and any escalations needed to be highlighted here. All teams must participate, as this then leads to shoot.
Production - Recce/ Scouting
Production company must inform PV Production Executive before expenditure on project commences. For scout trips to assist detail budgeting, the same must be done from the development budget.
- The proper insurance for the location and employees is in place. - TBD
- Agreement for all individuals being engaged and rendering service for the scout are in place. - TBD
Non-Local Pre - Production Checklist
If Production is considering scouting and/or shooting in an international location, or any location outside of resident city, (e.g., India Local Original filming in the US, Mumbai prod co shooting in Chennai) then lead time must be allowed for PV Legal, Production, Protective Services, and other teams to complete assessments of the production plan, and for production to adapt as necessary to requirements identified.
Results from the PV assessments may necessitate additional budget for security, resources, and insurance coverage and may result in savings from rebate or other incentive programs.
Security and insurance plans for such filming must be vetted and approved by PV Production, prior to locking any proposed filming locations.
Checklist for approval to start non-local filming
Local Line Producer
- Vet all companies to be engaged, including non-local production services companies
- Review and plan for rebate, if applicable
- Review and plan for GST
- Set up local bank account
Legal Set Up
- Fully execute production standard terms and conditions (STC) with the production company
- Review of all downstream agreements, contracts and trackers with PV Production
Insurance
- Review insurance requirements - for production, liability and E&O
Protective Services
- Review content security requirements and establish production security protocols
Checklist for Approval to Start Production
Items on the checklists below must be submitted by the Prod Co for approval by PV personnel as detailed.
India Checklist:
- Screenplay – PV Creative Executive
- Shooting Schedule – PV Production Executive
- Locked Budget & Critical Assumptions – PV Production & Finance Executives.
- Budget must be submitted in the format provided by the PV executive. Excel sheets must include the top sheet and detail reports as shown in format. The critical assumptions must include breakdowns of schedule,ATL fees and associated costs, crew rates, local and other hires, locations.
- Breakdown of VFX Budget - PV VFX Executive
- rebate plan if foreign or rebate providing state
- Cash Flow – PV Production Executive and PV Finance Executive
- Asset management- plan to disclose all assets about $500
- Production Insurance package – Prod Co must discuss insurance provider instructed by PV
- Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance Package – Prod Co must get details of the same from PV production executive
- Introduction to third party auditor by Finance Exec
- Executed Editor contracts - PV Post Executive
- PMC to be submitted to PV Post Exec
- Content Delivery Workflow Plan - PV Post Executive
- Dailies Distribution List - PV Post Executive
- Media Transfer Platform User List - AS Post Executive
- Post Production Contact Sheet - PV Post Executive
- Elected Softwares List including names and titles of administrators - PV Post Executive