From Movie Magic to Cinapse: Why It's Time to Upgrade Your Scheduling Software
As film and television professionals, it is crucial for assistant directors (ADs), unit production managers (UPMs), and producers to have reliable and efficient scheduling software to help manage our increasingly complex production ecosystem. With the growing prevalence of crossboarded shoots (filming multiple episodes or films concurrently), virtual production, tandem and second units, we are in dire need of film and TV scheduling software that works how AD teams work. While single-user scheduling software like Movie Magic Scheduling may have worked in the past, it is beyond time for ADs, UPMs, and producers to consider transitioning to a multi-user, cloud-based scheduling software like Cinapse.
One of the primary benefits of Cinapse Scheduling is its ability to allow multiple users to access and edit the schedule simultaneously, depending on their permission and access level. In the fast-paced world of film and television production, it is often necessary for multiple ADs to make updates and changes to the schedule in real-time. With a single-user software, this is a time-consuming and inefficient process, as it requires the schedule to be passed back and forth between the ADs for updates. But with Cinapse, multiple users can access and edit the schedule at the same time, allowing for a more seamless and efficient collaboration process.
Cinapse works both online (cloud-based) and offline (saving the changes locally in the browser) which allows users to access their schedules from anywhere with or without an internet connection. Offline mode is an invaluable feature for those working in areas with unreliable or non-existent internet connectivity .
In addition to its real-time collaboration and cloud-based platform, Cinapse offers a range of features and tools specifically designed for film and television production. These include a real-time set updates thread per unit, statistical breakdowns of how time is spent each day on each unit, and a comprehensive background actor management feature that is already approved by SAG-AFTRA and can be used on union and non-union productions alike. This makes Cinapse a comprehensive and all-in-one solution for film and television ADs, UPMs, and producers, rather than having to rely on multiple tools and software to manage different aspects of physical production.
One of the most common concerns about transitioning to a new scheduling software is that ADs think the learning curve is too steep, because they’ve been using Movie Magic for their entire career. Fortunately, Cinapse offers extensive documentation and support resources to help users get up to speed quickly. Better yet, the software has a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation, making it easy for ADs to find what they need and get started quickly. Additionally, we frequently release updates and new features to improve the user experience and stay current with industry needs. We are obsessed with customer feedback and satisfaction and have spent hundreds of hours speaking with working ADs, UPMs, and producers from all parts of the industry to build Cinapse Scheduling to meet your needs.
Another potential concern for some users may be the cost of transitioning to a new scheduling software. While it is true that Cinapse does come with a subscription fee, the benefits and features it offers can more than justify this cost. The real-time collaboration capabilities, cloud-based platform, and range of production-specific features make Cinapse an excellent choice for ADs, UPMs, and producers looking to streamline their scheduling processes and improve their efficiency. In the long run, the time and money saved by using Cinapse can more than make up for the initial investment.
Transitioning from single-user scheduling software to a multi-user, cloud-based platform like Cinapse can greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of scheduling for film and television professionals. Its real-time collaboration capabilities, cloud-based platform, and range of production-specific features make it an excellent choice for ADs, UPMs, and producers looking to streamline their scheduling processes. While there may be some initial learning and investment required, the benefits and cost savings that Cinapse offers make it a worthwhile consideration for any film and television professional.
Cinapse Scheduling is currently in a private beta with hundreds of DGA and DGC Assistant Directors and Production Managers, and we look forward to launching the product later in 2023.
