The Script Supervisor is a member of the film crew who oversees the continuity and important information that happens during the recording of each and every take. Typically, the Script Supervisor sits next to the monitor and near the Director during production and acts like the eyes and ears for the editor, making notes of everything that happens during a scene.
On the Creative side, the Script Supervisor takes detailed notes on:
The takes that the Director says are the best performances
This note is also called Circle Takes or Print Takes
When dialogue is improvised and, therefore, different than the original script
Actors' Continuity
For example, taking note if their hair is pushed behind their ear or if they grabbed a cup with their right or left hand
Continuity of other items like the actors' wardrobe/hair/makeup, set dressings, or props on set.
On the Technical side, for each take the Script Supervisor keeps track of:
The information on the film slate
The camera roll the camera department is on
The sound roll the sound production is on
The type of shot coverage and size being recorded
The run time of a take from the call of Action to Cut
Information about a take if different than usual, such as a take that is not good or a take that is a Series (SER.)
The production paperwork that the Script Supervisor provides to Post-Production, at a minimum, includes the Lined Script and Facing Pages. This paperwork includes many shorthand abbreviations as to save space on the documents and be more efficient when writing notes. Find a full list of common standard production paperwork abbreviations here.
Check out the video below that features Martin Scorsese’s long-time script supervisor Martha Pinson as she shows how to create continuity in a movie.