# CineLog

> CineLog is a film pre-production application for directors, ADs, DPs, and production teams. It unifies the script editor, shot list, storyboards, cast & crew management, and call sheets into a single collaborative tool that works on macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. The architecture is offline-capable: the client operates from a local database and reconciles with the server in the background, so the app stays usable on set in places without reliable network.

## About

- **What it is**: A film production management platform — script breakdown, shot list, storyboards, cast & crew, call sheets, real-time collaboration.
- **Who it's for**: Working directors, 1st ADs, DPs, producers, script supervisors, and the crews around them. From small productions to mid-size narrative, commercial, and documentary work.
- **What's distinctive**: Built by a working director and a software architect together. Local-first feel (server is still source of truth; the client just doesn't wait on it). Whole-crew invitations are included in the subscription — no per-seat charges for crew members.
- **Platforms**: native macOS, Windows, iOS, Android. No web app.
- **Pricing model**: Subscription. The owner of a project pays; collaborators they invite (cast, crew, ADs, DPs, department heads) join at no additional cost. See https://cinelog.com/pricing/

## Core capabilities

- **Script Editor**: Imports FDX, Fountain, PDF, RTF, and plain text. Real-time Fountain syntax detection while typing. PDF export with international fallback fonts (Cyrillic, CJK, Arabic, Hebrew, Devanagari, Thai).
- **Shot List**: Generated from the imported script via an explicit algorithm (no AI). Coverage shots are interleaved through scenes intelligently. Multi-device drag-and-drop reordering using fractional indexing.
- **Storyboards**: Linear and grid views. PreVis image uploads. Drag-and-drop reordering. PDF export with configurable columns per page.
- **Cast & Crew**: Three-tier hierarchy (Group → Department → Role) with hundreds of canonical industry-standard roles. Vacant Slots for planning roles before they're filled. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) with three priority tiers.
- **Call Sheets**: Live schedule engine (cascading times, overnight schedules supported). Smart pre-population from previous days (locations, crew, talent, call times). Weather forecast integration. Email blast with real-time delivery tracking and one-tap recipient confirmations.
- **Real-time sync (CineSync)**: Outbox pattern with REST for client-to-server transactions and WebSocket for server-to-client broadcasts. Conflict resolution and ACL enforcement at the server boundary.
- **Offline operation**: The client keeps a local copy of project state plus an outbox of pending transactions. The UI reads both layers together — confirmed state + pending — so changes are visible immediately, even without network. The server remains the source of truth and reconciles when the connection returns.

## Architecture (high level)

- Server is the source of truth. Client has long autonomous offline time.
- Outbox pattern for optimistic UI: pending transactions live in the local DB; canonical project tables update only after server confirmation.
- WebSocket for real-time inbound updates; REST endpoints feed a server-side transaction queue for outbound operations.

## Founders

- **Olexiy Kryvych** — Ukrainian-born film director, writer, and actor based in Austin, TX. Works across narrative film, commercials, branded documentaries, and music videos.
- **Ivan Shcherbina** — Ukrainian-born software architect and free-time DP based in Austin, TX. Designed and built the CineLog stack.

## URLs

- Marketing site: https://cinelog.com
- Pricing: https://cinelog.com/pricing/
- Developer/founder journal: https://cinelog.com/journal/
- Documentation: https://docs.cinelog.com
- Public roadmap: https://roadmap.cinelog.com
- Contact: https://cinelog.com/contact-us/

## Journal (development story, in order)

1. https://cinelog.com/journal/how-cinelog-began/ — How CineLog Began — A Founder Story
2. https://cinelog.com/journal/why-screenplay-parsers-are-hard/ — Why Parsing a Screenplay Is Harder Than It Looks
3. https://cinelog.com/journal/script-to-shot-list-automation/ — From Script to Shot List Without Starting From Zero
4. https://cinelog.com/journal/the-foundation-layer/ — Workspaces, Projects, and Passwordless Auth: The Foundation Layer
5. https://cinelog.com/journal/realtime-sync-evolution/ — Three Versions of CineSync: How Real-Time Sync Actually Got Built
6. https://cinelog.com/journal/cross-platform-polish/ — Making a Film Production App Feel Right on Every Device
7. https://cinelog.com/journal/going-offline-first/ — Going Offline-First Was the Hardest Architectural Decision We Made
8. https://cinelog.com/journal/production-platform-pivot/ — When a Shot Planner Becomes a Production Management Platform
9. https://cinelog.com/journal/call-sheets-that-work-on-set/ — Designing Call Sheets That Actually Work On Set

## Licensing

CineLog is a commercial product. Content on the marketing site and journal is copyrighted by CineLog LLC.