Directors NoteBook Software has released Directors NoteBook 1.0, a tool designed specifically for TV commercial directors and director/cameramen. The application, which runs on Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.x, functions as a digital “project notebook” for organizing information needed during preproduction, production, and post-production.
It organizes such data as storyboard images, efx plate images, location and set photos, casting specs, and shot specific details such as action, camera direction, lenses and frame rates, screen time, blocking, and scripts. Directors Notebook also handles such info as agency and client contact info. Users can search and sort all shot specific details in a variety of ways, and take advantage of data entry shortcuts. You can also use Directors Notebook to send e-mail directly to clients and line producers and sync the info with a Palm OS handheld.
Directors can print from over 20 different customizable printouts, and reports from shooting boards to shot lists. Users can present an on-screen “slide show” of the the boards, similar to presentations created in applications such as PowerPoint and Apple’s Keynote.
Directors NoteBook requires FileMaker Pro 5.0 or greater. The price is US$250 for a single user and $1,000 for a production company license. A demo is available for download; it’s fully functional except that printing has been disabled.