When you’re working a long-term stand-in job, you might be curious about the schedule your actor is working. There is actually a document that contains this information, though you may not typically be privy to it.

If you happen to see something referred to as the “DOOD,” you’re on the right track. Here’s what the “DOOD” is.

“DOOD”

“DOOD” stands for “Day out of Days.” It is a document charting the days each actor is working. One column will list the character’s name, and subsequent columns will represent each day of shooting. In each box that is not empty, there will be a letter or letter grouping corresponding to each character’s name.

These letters stand for different work statuses that you end up seeing on the callsheet when you stand in for a day on a project. Those letters include:

SW = “start work” = the day the actor starts working on a project

W = “work” = a day the actor is working on the project (but not the first or last day)

WF = “work finish” = the day the actor ends working on a project

SWF = “start work finish” = signifying a “day-player,” this combination implies the actor starts and finishes work on the project all on the same day

WD (occasionally SWD) = “work drop” (“start work drop”) = the day the actor stops working on a project for an extended period of time (e.g., a month)

PW (occasionally PWF) = “pick up work” (“pick up work finish”) = the day the actor starts working on a project after an extended hiatus (e.g., a month)

H = “hold” = the actor is not working on the project that day but is being paid to hold that day just in case of work

TR = “travel” = the actor is traveling to or from the project (and being paid for the travel)

FT = “fitting” = the actor is called in for a fitting, though will not be working on camera that day

Interpreting the DOOD

If you want to see how many days your actor is working (so that you may calculate how many days you are standing in), simply count the number of Ws you see for your actor. If you see SW, W, W, W, WF, you know your actor is working for five days. If you see SW, WD, then two weeks without a W, then PWF, then you know your actor is working for three days with a hiatus between the second and third days of work.

Film vs. Television

If you are working on a film, the DOOD is helpful for planning your stand-in work over an extended period of time (since films usually shoot for an extended period of time). If you are working in television, the work statuses apply only for the current episode, not the entire season. If your actor is a series regular and works for three days, more than likely your actor will return next week — that is, the date the actor is listed as WF means the actor is finished for the episode, not necessarily the entire series.

Getting Access to the DOOD

Usually casting has access to a DOOD, and some casting directors may outline to you the scheduled shoot days for your actor. Keep in mind that schedules and DOODs change, so a day your actor is listed as off or held may turn into a day the actor works, meaning you may stand in that day.

On set, if you’ve built a comfortable enough relationship with the background PA, the 2nd 2nd AD or the 2nd AD, you might inquire at some point if you could look at the DOOD so you have a better sense when your actor works. Occasionally, a copy of the DOOD will be in the location where the sides and callsheets are held, in which case you might look at it so you can inform yourself of the shoot days.

Do you have other insights about the DOOD? How do you use the information? Share your ideas below!