Independent production can be tough when the tools you need to tell your story are a little bit pricey and sometimes out of reach. Here’s a list of software, screenplay templates, storyboard sheets and production forms for your use. Feel free to download these forms for use on your project. Most are  in MS Word format. If you do not own Microsoft Word, you can check the software list below for free open source alternatives.

Screenplay Templates

• Joke & Biagio’s Pages Screenplay Template
• Scriptmaker – An easy to use script formatting template for MS Word.
• Simply Screenplay - A more feature rich MS Word template.

Storyboard Sheets

• Storyboard Overhead
• Storyboard Shots
• Storyboard Standard

• Storyboard Wide

Production forms

• Acknowledgement of Safety Guidelines
• Budget Estimate
• Budget
• Call Sheet 1
• Call Sheet 2
• Cast Info List
• Cast Information Sheet
• Casting Assessment
• Casting Sign In

• Catering Deal Memo
• Catering Schedule
• Continuity Notes
• Credits
• Crew Info Sheet
• Crowd Release Notice
• Daily Raw Stock Camera
• Daily Production Report
• Deal Memo
• Deferred Payment
• Distribution Log
• Emergency Information
• Equipment Rental Log
• Insurance Claim Automobile
• Insurance Claim Theft
• Insurance Claim
• Likeness and Usage Agreement

• Line Production Schedule
• Location Agreement
• Location Information
• Location List
• Paperwork Distribution Log
• Personal Release
• Petty Cash Accounting
• Petty Cash Individual
• Production Meeting
• SAG Daily Contract
• SAG Production Time Report
• Screenwriting Collaboration
• Script Agreement
• Script Breakdown

• Script Sup Daily Editors Log
• Script Sup Daily Log
• Script Sup Daily Wrap Reports
• Script Sup Notes
• Shot Breakdown
• Use of Name
• VTR Log Sheet

• Walkie Sign Out
• Weekly Safety Meetings

Stock Footage & Images

• Explosions, fire and smoke from Detonation Films
• Stock.Xchange – Free stock photogrpahy
• Stock Footage for Free
• Archive.org – Royalty free and public domain footage

Free & Open Source Software

• Celtx – Open sourcescreenplay formatting software.
• Open Office – Open source alternative to Microsoft Office.
• Neo Office – Open Office for Mac OS X.
• Lightworks – Open source video editing.
• Blender 3D – Open source 3D modeling & animation package.
• Ramen – Open source node based compositor.
• Jahshaka – Open Source real time video editing & effects.
• NVU – Open source web site editor.
• GIMP – Open source graphics & image manipulation program.
• Cinepaint – Open source compositing & effects program.
• PDFLab – A handy PDF tool.