Documentation

User guide.

Everything you need to know about using Allusio, from your first scene to your final shooting day.

Overview

How Allusio works

Allusio organises your entire production around the scene - the core unit that connects script to screen. Every other section flows from that.

Scene-centric

Scenes are the hub. Characters, shots, locations, and design elements all connect back to individual scenes.

Real vs fictional

Characters are scripted roles. People are real-world crew and actors. They're separate so breakdowns stay clean.

Sets auto-generated

When you add scenes, Allusio automatically creates Sets from your slug lines. Then you attach real locations to them.

Schedule & export

Build shooting days with timed events and export clean PDF call sheets for the team.

💡

Allusio is built for a single production at a time. Each production has its own scenes, people, schedule, and design elements - nothing bleeds between productions.

Setup workflow

Where to start

Follow this order when setting up a new production. Each step builds on the last.

01

Add your people

Go to People and add your cast and crew. Actors and crew live here as real-world contacts - names, roles, contact details, and headshots.

02

Create characters

Go to Characters and add your scripted roles - characters, featured extras, and extras. Assign a Cast ID to each, then cast real actors from People against them.

03

Break down the script

Go to Scenes and add each scene. Allusio builds the slug line from your INT./EXT., set name, and time of day. Assign characters and page counts as you go.

04

Scout locations

Go to Sets & Locations. Sets are auto-generated from your scenes. Add location candidates to each set, then mark one as chosen when confirmed.

05

Add shots and design

Break each scene into camera setups in Shots, and track props, vehicles, and set dressing in Production Design. Assign design elements directly to scenes.

06

Build the schedule

Go to Schedules, create shooting days, and add timed events - scenes, breaks, and unit moves. Export a PDF for the team when you're ready.

Section · 01

Dashboard

Your production overview. Four stat cards show your total users, scenes, actors, and crew at a glance - each one is a shortcut to the relevant section.

To-do list A shared task list for the production. Add tasks with Enter, check them off as they're done. Tasks persist across sessions.
Production info Shows the production title, type, and creation date. Click the settings link to rename or configure the production.
Section · 02

Scenes

The foundation of everything. Each scene has a slug line, a synopsis, a page count, and connections to characters, shots, locations, and design elements.

Scenes + Add scene
1
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
The confrontation.
EXT
2
INT. OFFICE - DAY
Evidence discovered.
INT
3
EXT. ALLEY - DUSK
The escape sequence.
EXT
Scene number Can be numeric (1, 2, 3) or alphanumeric (2A, 14B). Allusio sorts them correctly - 2A always comes after 2 and before 3.
INT / EXT / I/E Interior, exterior, or a split INT./EXT. (e.g. a car driving through a tunnel). Choose from the segmented control.
Set name The scripted location name - e.g. DETECTIVE'S OFFICE, ROOFTOP. Type a new name or select an existing one. This drives the Sets section automatically.
Time of day Choose from standard options: DAY, NIGHT, DAWN, DUSK, GOLDEN HOUR, CONTINUOUS, LATER, and more.
Pages Enter in eighths - 0.125 = ⅛ page, 0.5 = ½ page. Allusio displays these as proper fractions (½, ¾, etc.) and totals them automatically.
Synopsis A one-liner describing what happens in the scene. Shown in the scene list and in schedules.
✓

Click a scene row to open the scene detail page. From there you can assign characters, view linked shots and design elements, see location info, and add production notes.

Scene detail tabs

Location Shows the set this scene belongs to, how many scenes share it, total pages, and any linked filming locations. Click "manage" to go to Sets.
Design Assign props, set dressing, vehicles, and animals from your production design pool. Use the picker to add elements; click × to remove them.
Shots Shows all shots logged for this scene. Click "all shots →" to go to the full Shots page.
Notes Free-form notes field - continuity flags, script notes, special requirements. Saved automatically when you click Save changes.
Section · 03

Shots

Break each scene into individual camera setups. Shots are displayed in a grid, grouped by scene, with storyboard thumbnails when uploaded.

Shot number Alphanumeric - 1, 2A, 2B. Allusio sorts correctly within each scene group.
Shot size
ECU CU MCU MS WS EWS
Extreme Close-Up through Extreme Wide Shot. Select one per shot.
Shot angle Multi-select: Eye Level, Dutch, Low, High, OTS, Bird's Eye, POV.
Shot movement Multi-select: Static, Pan, Tilt, Dolly, Truck, Pedestal, Roll, Follow.
Storyboard Upload an image (JPG, PNG, WEBP) or drag and drop. Stored per production and shown as a card thumbnail.
Equipment details Free text - camera body, lens, additional gear for this setup.
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You can also view shots from within a scene detail page. The Shots tab shows all setups for that specific scene. Click "all shots →" to jump to the full Shots page.

Section · 04

Characters

Scripted roles - the fictional side of your cast. Separated into three types so your breakdowns stay clean.

Characters Featured Extras Extras
Cast ID A reference number - typically from your script (e.g. 1, 2, 3 or letters). Used to sort and identify characters. Shown as #1, #2 next to the name.
Character name The role name as written in the script - e.g. DETECTIVE MORSE, SARAH, THE STRANGER. Auto-uppercased to match screenplay convention.
Cast Link one or more actors from People. Multiple actors can be cast against one role (for doubles, multiple episodes, etc.).
Notes Character description, arc notes, costume notes, or anything the team needs to know about this role.
✓

Characters are assigned to scenes from inside the scene detail page - not here. This page is purely for managing the roster. The Cast IDs appear alongside character names when you're assigning them to scenes.

Section · 05

People

The real-world directory - everyone working on the production. Split into Actors and Crew.

Actors First name, last name, agent, email, mobile, date of birth, headshot. Click a row to open their full profile page.
Crew First name, last name, department, role/job title, email, mobile, headshot. Departments include Camera, Art, Sound, Wardrobe, Lighting, Grip, Hair & Makeup, VFX, Post-Production, and Other.
Headshots Upload a JPG, PNG, or WEBP - drag and drop or click the circle. Stored per production in the headshots bucket.
💡

Actors added here become available to cast against characters in the Characters section. Crew members are used for team management but don't currently connect to characters or scenes - that's intentional. The fictional/real split is by design.

Section · 06

Sets & Locations

Sets are the scripted locations from your slug lines - auto-generated when you add scenes. Locations are the real-world filming spots you attach to them.

Sets Created automatically from scene set names. Each set shows how many scenes use it, the total page count, and which location has been confirmed. Click to expand.
Location candidates Add multiple location options to a set - scouted spots you're considering. Include the address and scout notes for each.
Chosen location Click the circle next to a location to mark it as the confirmed filming spot. It shows as "Active" on the scene detail page and turns green on the set card.
Set notes Click the notes area inside an expanded set to add free-form notes - access notes, parking, contact details for the location owner, etc.
⚠

Locations are shared across sets. If you edit a location's name or address, the change applies everywhere that location is used. Unlinking a location from a set doesn't delete it - it stays in the pool.

Section · 07

Production Design

Track every physical element that needs to appear on screen. Assign elements to specific scenes for easy tracking.

Props Set Dressing Vehicles Animals
Name The item name - e.g. "Vintage rotary phone", "1967 Ford Mustang", "Police German Shepherd".
Description Additional detail - condition, colour, source, special requirements.
Image Upload a reference photo or hero shot. Shown as a thumbnail on the element card and in the scene picker.
Sourced Toggle this on when the item has been acquired. Shows a green "Sourced" badge on the card.
Scene assignment Elements are assigned to scenes from within the scene detail page (Design tab), not from here. This page is for managing the full element list.
Section · 08

Contracts

Track agreements with cast and crew through their lifecycle - from draft through to signed.

Status tracking Move contracts through stages: Draft → Sent → In Review → Signed. Each stage is visible at a glance.
Signing links Generate a unique signing link for each contract. Share it directly with the signatory - they don't need an Allusio account.
Section · 09

Schedules

Build shooting days with timed events. Each day gets a date, a label, and a list of events in order. Export a clean PDF for the team.

Day 1 - Monday 2 June
Scene 3 - EXT. ALLEY - DUSK
The escape sequence.
07:00
Morning tea
15 min
10:30
Scene 1 - EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
The confrontation.
10:45
Unit move to INT. OFFICE
30 min travel
13:00
Shooting days Create a day with a date and a label (e.g. "Day 1 - Unit A"). Days are listed chronologically.
Scene events Attach a scene to a timed slot. Allusio pulls in the scene's synopsis, INT/EXT, and character list automatically.
Breaks Add Lunch, Morning Tea, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Rest, or Other breaks with a duration.
Unit moves Log travel between locations - shown as amber events on the schedule so the team can plan around them.
PDF export Export any shooting day to a formatted PDF - ready to send to cast and crew. Includes all events, times, and scene details.
✓

You can add the same scene to multiple shooting days - useful for scenes that span multiple units or shoot dates. Each instance is independent on the schedule.

Tips

Tips & tricks

Page fractions Enter pages as decimals using eighths. 0.125 = ⅛, 0.25 = ¼, 0.5 = ½, 0.875 = ⅞. Allusio renders these as proper fractions everywhere.
Scene search The search bar on the Scenes page searches across scene number, set name, synopsis, character names, and time of day. Type any of those to filter.
Unsaved changes On scene detail pages, if you edit the cast list or notes without saving, Allusio will warn you before you navigate away.
Scene order Scenes sort numerically, then alphabetically for the letter suffix - so 2, 2A, 2B, 3 is always correct, regardless of the order you added them.
New locations When adding a location to a set, you can search existing locations from your production pool, or create a brand new one on the spot.
Design element images Images on design elements show as thumbnails in both the Production Design page and the scene-level element picker. Great for quick visual reference on set.