Dailies Review Process

Dailies, also called "rushes" in some regions, are the raw footage from a day of shooting, typically with basic processing applied. In the film era, this meant developing the film negative overnight and screening prints the next day. In modern digital production, dailies are transcoded from camera raw files into a viewable format, often with a basic color correction LUT applied.

The dailies review serves multiple purposes. It allows the director to evaluate performances and determine whether any scenes need to be reshot while the set is still available. The cinematographer checks focus, exposure, framing, and camera movement. The producer assesses whether the schedule is being met and whether the footage aligns with the creative brief.

For the editorial team, dailies are the first opportunity to see what they will be working with. Early access to dailies allows the editor to begin making selects, assembling scenes, and identifying potential challenges. This head start on post-production is especially valuable on projects with tight delivery timelines.

The dailies workflow begins with data management on set. At the end of each shooting day, camera cards are offloaded, backed up, and verified. A DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) or data manager handles this process, creating checksum-verified copies and organizing files according to the project naming convention.

Dailies transcoding converts camera-native files into a format suitable for review. This typically involves applying a LUT, embedding timecode and clip metadata, adding burned-in timecode windows, and encoding to a format that plays reliably for all reviewers. The output format depends on the review workflow: high-quality ProRes for in-person screenings, or streaming-ready H.264 for remote review.

Distribution of dailies to the review team should be efficient and secure. For on-site productions, dailies may be available on a shared server or screened in a dedicated room. For remote review, uploading to a secure streaming platform like RecReview allows stakeholders to review on their own schedule with the ability to leave timecoded notes and selects markers directly on the footage.

Whether in person or remote, an effective dailies review follows a structured approach. Begin by reviewing each scene in shooting order or script order, depending on team preference. For each take, note the performances, technical quality, and any issues that need attention. Keep notes organized by scene, shot, and take for easy reference later.

Encourage specific, documented feedback. Instead of general impressions, note specific takes that are preferred, specific moments that stand out (both positively and negatively), and specific technical issues that need addressing. This documentation becomes the basis for the editor selects and informs reshooting decisions.

Circle the preferred takes (traditionally called "circled takes" or "selects") and communicate these choices clearly to the editorial team. This is one of the most valuable outputs of the dailies review: it tells the editor which takes the director prefers, dramatically reducing the time spent sifting through hours of footage to find the best performances.

Time pressure is the most common challenge. After a long shooting day, the team is tired and the temptation is to skip or rush the dailies review. Resist this temptation. A missed technical issue, like a soft focus pull or an audio problem, might mean reshooting the scene at much greater cost than the time spent reviewing dailies properly.

Color accuracy in dailies can be misleading. The LUT applied to dailies is an approximation of the final look, not the finished grade. Communicate this clearly to stakeholders who may not understand the difference. Otherwise, you risk feedback about color at a stage where color has not been finalized, or approval of a look that will change significantly in color grading.

With remote teams, coordinating dailies review across time zones requires thoughtful scheduling. One approach is to make dailies available on a streaming platform and allow asynchronous review with a hard deadline for feedback. Another is to schedule a live session at a time that works for key decision-makers. The right approach depends on your team structure and the urgency of daily shooting decisions.