Here's the blog post translated into American English with a light-hearted and familiar tone, making it engaging and easy to digest.

10 Tips to Avoid Delays on Set

Time is money, and nowhere is that more true than on a film set. Delays can spiral out of control, eating up budget, testing everyone’s patience, and pushing wrap time into the realm of “let’s just sleep here.” But fear not! With some simple (yet often overlooked) tricks, you can keep your shoot running smoothly.

Some of this might sound obvious, but hey—sometimes it’s just nice to have it confirmed! Let’s dive in.

1. Get Everyone on Set—On Time

Nothing slows down a shoot faster than waiting for people to show up. Make sure everyone knows exactly where to park and where to go after that. Many crew members may have never been to this location before, so don’t leave them wandering aimlessly like lost extras. Signage with arrows is your best friend! A well-marked set means less confusion and a quicker start to the day.

2. A Call Sheet That Actually Helps

Ah, the call sheet. A simple document that can either save the day or be a complete waste of time. We’ve all seen those call sheets made out of routine rather than real thought. A good call sheet should answer most questions so the First AD doesn’t have to waste precious morning meeting time repeating things that could’ve just been read. Bonus tip: Use the morning meeting to briefly preview tomorrow’s shoot—keeping people mentally prepped means fewer surprises.

3. Prep the Set Before Cameras Roll

Seems obvious, right? But double-check EVERYTHING. Is the art department done? Has everything fragile been protected? The worst thing that can happen is realizing—just as you’re about to shoot—that something isn’t ready. Once the cameras start rolling, the budget starts burning. Standing around is NOT an option.

4. Gear Up and Have a Backup Plan

Nothing kills momentum faster than missing or broken gear. Test everything the day before and make sure all batteries are charged. But let’s be real—equipment WILL fail at some point.

Plan ahead:

• If you’re shooting in the middle of nowhere, keep a PA in the city on standby in case you need emergency gear.
• Sending someone from set takes twice as long.
• Relying on couriers? Well, that’s a gamble.

5. Hair, Makeup, and Wardrobe—No Waiting Around

Waiting for actors to finish hair, makeup, or wardrobe can feel like watching paint dry—except paint usually dries on schedule. Set up separate stations for each process and schedule actors accordingly so no one is stuck waiting. Oh, and make sure props are prepped and in the right place.

6. No Unnecessary Debates on Set

There’s a time and place for creative discussions. That time is before the shoot. We’ve all been there—standing around while people debate lighting choices or camera angles. Lock those decisions in during prep. Once on set, the priority should be execution, not endless deliberation.

7. Keep the Walkies Charged and the Team in Sync

Good communication = fewer delays. Walkie-talkies exist for a reason—use them! The First AD should be running the set like an air traffic controller, making sure everyone knows what’s happening next.

And one more thing: bring extra batteries. Powering down in the middle of a shoot because you’re out of juice? That’s amateur hour. If you’re on a long or high-energy shoot, stock up on fully charged spares.

8. “That Was Perfect! Let’s Do One More…”

How many times have you heard a director say that?