Home › Software

Software, apps & AI tools for film and TV crew

Compiled from the Software & AI lists on Departments role cards. Official sites only.

📅 Scheduling, budgeting & call sheets

• Movie Magic (Scheduling / Budgeting / Screenwriter)

  Industry-standard EP suite for stripboards, budgets and scripts.

  Art DepartmentAssistant DirectorsLightingProductionScript

• Scenechronize

  Script breakdown, scheduling and distribution (EP).

  Assistant DirectorsLightingProduction

• StudioBinder

  Production management: call sheets, shot lists and schedules.

  Art DepartmentAssistant DirectorsCostumeGreensLighting

• Yamdu

  Production management: breakdowns, scheduling and call sheets.

  Assistant DirectorsGreensLightingModel MakingProduction

📝 Script & breakdown

• Final Draft

  Industry-standard screenwriting software.

  Script

• PDF Expert

  PDF reader and annotation.

  Art DepartmentScript

• Scriptation

  Script annotation app that carries notes across revisions.

  Action VehiclesAssistant DirectorsCameraCostumeHair & Make-up

• ScriptE

  Script supervisor continuity software.

  Script

• WriterDuet

  Collaborative screenwriting.

  Script

🎞 Editing, post & review

• Adobe Premiere Pro

  Non-linear video editing.

  CameraEditing & PostGraphicsProductionScript

• Avid Media Composer

  Industry-standard editing for film and TV.

  Editing & PostGraphicsProductionScript

• Baselight

  FilmLight colour-grading system.

  Editing & Post

• ClearView Flex

  Low-latency remote review streaming.

  Editing & Post

• DaVinci Resolve

  Editing, colour grading, VFX and audio post in one app.

  CameraEditing & PostGraphics

• Evercast

  Real-time remote review sessions.

  Editing & Post

• Frame.io

  Cloud review and approval for dailies and cuts.

  Art DepartmentCameraEditing & PostGraphicsLighting

• PIX

  Secure dailies and media distribution for productions.

  CameraEditing & Post

• QuickTime

  Apple media player for quick playback checks.

  Camera

✨ VFX, 3D & motion

• 3DEqualizer

  Matchmove and camera tracking.

  VFX

• Adobe After Effects

  Motion graphics and compositing.

  GraphicsVFX

• Arnold

  Autodesk production renderer.

  VFX

• Autodesk Flame

  High-end finishing and VFX.

  VFX

• Autodesk Maya

  3D animation, modelling and rendering.

  Model MakingVFX

• Blender

  Free open-source 3D suite.

  Model MakingVFX

• Cinema 4D

  3D modelling and motion design.

  Graphics

• ftrack

  VFX and post production tracking.

  Editing & PostVFX

• PFTrack

  Matchmoving and camera tracking from The Pixel Farm.

  VFX

• Houdini

  Procedural 3D and FX simulation.

  VFX

• Karma

  Houdini render engine.

  VFX

• Mocha

  Planar tracking.

  VFX

• Nuke

  Foundry node-based compositing.

  Editing & PostVFX

• RenderMan

  Pixar production renderer.

  VFX

• ShotGrid (Flow Production Tracking) / RV

  Autodesk VFX production tracking and review.

  Editing & PostVFX

• Silhouette

  Roto and paint.

  VFX

• SynthEyes

  Camera tracking and matchmove.

  VFX

📡 LiDAR & 3D scanning

• 3d Scanner App

  Free iPhone/iPad LiDAR scanner; point clouds and meshes for recces and set measurements.

  Art DepartmentConstructionLocations

• Agisoft Metashape

  Pro desktop photogrammetry from photos and drone imagery.

  VFXLocationsArt Department

• CloudCompare

  Free open-source point-cloud and mesh viewer/editor for LiDAR data.

  VFXConstructionArt Department

• FARO SCENE

  Pro laser-scanner software for processing and registering FARO Focus scans.

  VFXConstruction

• KIRI Engine

  Phone photogrammetry, LiDAR and Gaussian-splat scanning with cloud processing.

  VFXPropsArt Department

• Leica Cyclone / BLK360

  Pro terrestrial laser scanner (BLK360) with Cyclone software for survey-grade set scans.

  VFXConstructionLocations

• Luma AI

  Phone NeRF / Gaussian-splat capture of locations and props; AI-based (check rights).

  VFXLocationsCamera

• Matterport

  Virtual-tour 3D capture (phone LiDAR or Pro cameras) for location recces and sharing.

  LocationsArt DepartmentProduction

• Polycam

  Phone LiDAR + photogrammetry scanning of sets, props and rooms; exports meshes and floor plans.

  VFXArt DepartmentConstructionLocations

• RealityScan desktop (formerly RealityCapture)

  Pro desktop photogrammetry + laser-scan alignment for full sets and locations.

  VFXLocations

• RealityScan Mobile (Epic)

  Free phone photogrammetry/LiDAR app from Epic for props and small set pieces.

  VFXPropsArt Department

• Record3D

  iPhone LiDAR depth/RGBD video recorder for volumetric and VFX reference.

  VFXCamera

• Scaniverse (Niantic)

  Free phone LiDAR / Gaussian-splat scanner for quick location and prop captures.

  VFXLocationsArt Department

• SiteScape (FARO)

  Phone LiDAR point-cloud capture of rooms and sets, now part of FARO / HoloBuilder.

  ConstructionArt DepartmentLocations

🎥 Camera, DIT & video assist

• FocusBug / CineRT

  Wireless focus-assist and lens-data system.

  Camera

• Hedge

  Fast, verified card offloads and backups.

  CameraVFX

• pCam / pCine

  Camera calculators: depth of field, FOV and lens data.

  Camera

• Pomfort Livegrade

  On-set live grading and LUT management.

  Camera

• Pomfort Silverstack

  DIT offload, backup and media management.

  CameraVFX

• QTAKE

  Video assist: on-set recording, playback and village feeds.

  CameraGraphics

• ShotPut Pro

  Verified offload software for camera cards.

  Camera

• YoYotta

  LTO archive and offload tools for media.

  Camera

🎧 Sound

• Ableton Live

  Music and playback DAW.

  Sound

• Descript

  Text-based audio/video editing and transcription.

  Sound

• Dolby

  Dolby professional audio and delivery tools.

  Editing & Post

• iZotope RX

  Audio repair and noise reduction.

  Editing & PostSound

• Lectrosonics

  Professional wireless mic systems and software.

  Sound

• MovieSlate

  Digital slate, shot log and timecode app.

  Sound

• Nuendo

  Steinberg DAW for post sound.

  Editing & Post

• Pro Tools

  Industry-standard DAW for sound editing and mixing.

  Editing & PostSound

• QLab

  Cue-based sound and video playback.

  Sound

• Sound Devices

  Field recorders and mixers for production sound.

  Sound

• WAV Wizard

  Gallery app for viewing and editing WAV metadata.

  Sound

• Wave Agent

  Sound Devices app for metadata and recorder control.

  Sound

• Zaxcom

  Wireless and recording systems for production sound.

  Sound

💡 Lighting

• ETC Eos

  Lighting console family; offline editor for programming cues.

  Lighting

• grandMA

  MA Lighting consoles and offline software for moving-light programming.

  Lighting

• Lightwright

  Lighting paperwork: tracks instruments, channels, dimmers and gel.

  Lighting

📐 Art, design & CAD

• Adobe Fonts

  Licensed font library (formerly Typekit).

  Graphics

• Adobe Illustrator

  Vector graphics for signage and graphics.

  Art DepartmentCostumeGraphicsModel Making

• Adobe InDesign

  Layout for printed graphics and documents.

  Art DepartmentGraphics

• Adobe Photoshop

  Image editing, paint-overs and graphics.

  Art DepartmentCostumeGraphicsHair & Make-upModel Making

• AutoCAD

  2D/3D CAD drafting.

  Art Department

• Bluebeam

  PDF mark-up for drawings and proofs.

  Art DepartmentConstructionGraphicsGreensModel Making

• CLO 3D

  3D garment and pattern design.

  Costume

• Figma

  Collaborative interface and graphic design.

  Graphics

• FontBase

  Font manager.

  Graphics

• Procreate

  iPad drawing app for sketches and charts.

  Art DepartmentCostumeHair & Make-up

• SketchUp

  Fast 3D modelling for set and prop design.

  Art DepartmentConstructionModel MakingProps

• Storyboard Pro

  Toon Boom storyboarding software.

  Art Department

• Vectorworks

  CAD and BIM for set design, drafting and lighting plots.

  Art DepartmentLighting

🛠 Fabrication & 3D print

• Arduino

  Microcontroller tools for animatronics and gags.

  Model Making

• ChiTuBox

  Resin 3D-print slicer.

  Model Making

• Fusion 360

  Autodesk CAD/CAM for mechanical design and CNC.

  Model Making

• MeshLab

  Open-source mesh cleanup.

  Model Making

• Netfabb

  3D-print preparation and mesh repair.

  Model Making

• PrusaSlicer

  3D-print slicer.

  Model Making

• Rhino

  3D CAD for hard-surface and fabrication.

  Art DepartmentModel Making

• SolidWorks

  Mechanical CAD for frames, rigs and sheet metal.

  Model Making

• UltiMaker Cura

  3D-print slicer.

  Model Making

• ZBrush

  Digital sculpting for props, prosthetics and masters.

  Model Making

🖼 Reference & moodboards

• Milanote

  Visual boards for moodboards and planning.

  Art DepartmentGraphicsGreensModel Making

• Pinterest

  Visual inspiration boards.

  Art Department

• PureRef

  Lightweight reference-board app for collecting images.

  Art DepartmentConstructionCostumeGraphicsGreens

• ShotDeck

  Searchable library of film stills for look and reference boards.

  CameraCostumeHair & Make-upLighting

🗺 Maps & locations

• Citymapper

  Public-transport journey planner.

  Production

• Google Earth

  3D globe and imagery for recces.

  Locations

• Google Maps

  Maps, directions and offline maps.

  LocationsProductionTransport

• OS Maps

  Ordnance Survey maps for rural locations.

  Locations

• Parkopedia

  Parking finder.

  Locations

• Waze

  Live-traffic navigation.

  Transport

• what3words

  3-word addresses for unit bases and pins.

  LocationsTransport

🗂 Office, files & comms

• Adobe Acrobat

  Create, edit and sign PDFs.

  Graphics

• Airtable

  Spreadsheet-database hybrid for tracking.

  Production

• Dropbox

  Cloud file sharing.

  Model Making

• Gmail

  Email.

  Props

• Google Drive

  Cloud file storage and sharing.

  Action VehiclesArt DepartmentConstructionGraphicsLocations

• Google Sheets

  Shared cloud spreadsheets for schedules, budgets and lists.

  Action VehiclesArt DepartmentCameraCostumeGreens

• Google Workspace

  Google email, docs and drive for productions.

  ProductionScript

• Microsoft 365

  Office apps, email and storage.

  Production

• Microsoft Excel

  Spreadsheets for budgets, inventories, logs and schedules.

  Action VehiclesArt DepartmentAssistant DirectorsCameraConstruction

• Notion

  Docs and databases for bibles, scouts and checklists.

  Art DepartmentCameraConstructionEditing & PostGraphics

• OneNote

  Digital notebook for rig and technical notes.

  Lighting

• Outlook

  Email and calendar.

  Props

• Shared Drive (Google)

  Team shared drives for production paperwork.

  CostumeGraphicsPropsSound

• WhatsApp

  Messaging. Follow production protocols.

  Assistant DirectorsGreensProduction

💷 Payroll, onboarding & accounts

• CrewStart (Sargent-Disc)

  UK crew onboarding and payroll.

  Production

• QuickBooks

  Bookkeeping and invoicing.

  Production

• Team Engine

  UK crew onboarding, timesheets and payroll.

  Production

• Wrapbook

  Production payroll and onboarding.

  Production

• Xero

  Cloud accounting for freelancers and companies.

  Production

🤖 AI tools

• Adobe Firefly

  Adobe generative AI for mock-ups. Check clearance.

  Art DepartmentGraphics

• ChatGPT

  General AI assistant for drafts, checklists and research. Always verify.

  Action VehiclesArt DepartmentAssistant DirectorsCameraConstruction

• ChatPRD

  AI docs-writing tool.

  Production

• Claude

  AI assistant for drafting and notes. Always verify on set.

  Lighting

• Midjourney

  AI image generator for early concepts only. Check rights.

  Art DepartmentGraphics

• Otter

  AI meeting transcription. Check compliance.

  Production

• Whisper

  OpenAI speech-to-text transcription. Check compliance.

  Editing & PostProduction