Quickstart: your first production

Once the firm is retained, here's the fastest path from an empty production to paper out for signature.

1. 1

   Create the production

   From Productions, choose New Production. Give it a name, jurisdiction, and shoot dates. This is a deliberate act — you only do it after the engagement is real.

2. 2

   Send the kickoff note

   BALA drafts a note to the producer with the intake address and portal link. Review it, adjust the message, and send. That's the signal for cast & crew to start flowing in.

3. 3

   Let intake build the roster

   As the producer emails details, the roster fills in automatically. You can also add people by hand with Add cast & crew.

4. 4

   Generate & send

   Use Generate & send to draft each agreement and send it for signature. A confirmation shows exactly what's going out and to whom before anything sends.

5. 5

   Watch readiness

   The production's clear-to-shoot meter tracks executed vs. outstanding vs. blocked against the shoot date. Your goal: fully clear before the first frame.

Want the guided version? Take the Fundamentals training.