Sunfrog
Film Scheduling
Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
Running Sunfrog
Could you
include a specific report in the next release?
I want to
design my own reports, how do I do that?
Sunfrog takes awhile to start on my machine, why?
General Questions
What is Sunfrog Film
Scheduling?
How does it help
filmmakers?
What kind of filmmaker is Sunfrog suited for?
What computer platforms does it run on?
How much does it cost?
Will it be available for other languages?
Why not use Microsoft Excel or Project?
Why not use another competing product
"X"?
Will there be a Mac version?
Will there be a Linux version?
Can I see some screenshots?
How do I learn
about film scheduling generally?
Will your app
interoperate with other budgeters?
Running Sunfrog
Could you include a specific report in the next release?
If you want a specific report, please post your request to the discussion group.
I want to
design my own reports, how do I do that?
I'm also building an end user report designer, so that you can make your own reports. Stay tuned.
Sunfrog takes awhile
to start on my machine, why?
There's a lot
packed into Sunfrog :) There are several technical reasons.
- The more you use it the faster it starts. A "cold
boot" may take about 10-12 seconds, while a "warm boot" will take 1-5
seconds (depending on your machine).
- Sunfrog is a .NET app which runs as "managed code".
.NET apps are more robust and less crash-prone than traditional Win32
applications, at the cost of some speed.
- Sunfrog uses several components from third party
vendors. These components (such as the grid, calendar, and reporting
components) take awhile to load.
- I recommend at least 256Meg of memory to get optimal performance.
General Questions
What is Sunfrog Film Scheduling?
Sunfrog can track, schedule and report on a wide variety of productions, from the large budget features down to thirty second commercials.
How does it help filmmakers?
Sunfrog vastly simplifies production logistics. Even small productions require substantial
project management - along with tools to keep track of cast, props, and so on.
Filmmakers also want to easily share this information.
Sunfrog gets you up and running quickly. Share your PDF-formatted reports and schedules
via traditional hardcopy, or post them on the production's website. Track contact
availability information for all breakdown items and locations in the production.
Quickly figure out a new schedule if a cast member or prop isn't available on a particular day.
What kind of filmmaker is Sunfrog suited for?
All of them.
For professional ADs/UPMs:
Sunfrog has all the features of your current film scheduler plus many extras (such as support for
Word,
HTML and PDF export).
For independent filmmakers:
Even small projects require a substantial amount of coordination. Sunfrog saves you time and money no matter what your budget might be. Sunfrog's user interface gets you up and running with a minimal learning curve.
What computer platforms does it run on?
Sunfrog is available for Windows 2000, and XP. It will in
theory run on Windows 98, but I recommend 2000 or XP.
It requires the .NET framework to be installed.
More information is available here.
How much does it cost?
I want to make Sunfrog affordable for students and independent
filmmakers, but still make it powerful enough for professional ADs and UPMs.
Check out the purchase page for more
details.
Will it be available for other languages?
Yes, I am planning releases for other languages. Please post a message
to the discussion forum if you would like Sunfrog translated to a particular language.
I'll place priority on languages that customers express demand for.
Why not use Microsoft Excel or Project?
Sunfrog is purpose-built for one task: scheduling your production.
Sunfrog's call sheets and reports are specifically tailored for the film
industry - you don't have to design your own from the ground up. Sunfrog lets
you create the best schedule without knowledge of Excel formulas or macro
programming.
Filmmakers often want to tweak their documents in other applications.
That's why Sunfrog supports export for Word, PDF and HTML.
I'm studying ways to integrate Sunfrog with other applications - stay tuned.
Why not use another competing product
"X"?
Download trial versions of both and make your own decision. For a variety of reasons,
I think that users will agree that Sunfrog is the superior product.
I'm looking forward to healthy competition which will benefit all users in the long run. If you find another tool that you think is better,
tell me about it :)
Will there be a Mac version?
I'm studying the possibility of a Mac release. It largely depends on the availability of a robust implementation of .NET for Mac OS X. A couple of companies are working on this, for example, see the Ximian site at http://go-mono.org .
Will there be a Linux version?
As with the Mac, it largely depends on the availability of a robust implementation of .NET on Linux. A couple of companies are working on this, for example, see the Ximian site at
http://go-mono.org .
Can I see some screenshots?
There are screen shots posted here.
How do I learn about film scheduling generally?
An excellent reference is
Film Scheduling by Ralph Singleton.
Will your app
interoperate with other budgeters?
Yes, I have plans to have Sunfrog interoperate
with other film budgeting apps. Stay tuned.