FreeMe Timecard and Job Tracking App for Film Crew Members Explained

by Francesco AndreolaJune 10^th, 2024

At Cine Gear 2024, we caught up with 1st Camera Assistant Erica Chan to learn more about FreeMe, a mobile app she developed to simplify administrative work for film crew members. The app helps you manage timecards and invoices without having to deal with DIY Excel sheets.

Working on a film set is an exciting experience, but oftentimes requires stamina to survive very long working days. And, when it’s time to ask production for your hard-earned payment, you need to be ready to present a detailed report with the total amount of hours you worked on set and notes on any inconvenience you may have experienced, like overtime, for example.

Now, with 9+ years of experience in the film industry, Local 600 1st AC Erica Chan knows the hassle of manually clocking in hours in a spreadsheet editor after a long day on set, and sending reports to production. And that’s why she came up with a clever solution. So, let’s take a look at what the FreeMe app has to offer!

FreeMe app for film crew members – features

Aimed at professionals working in the film industry, FreeMe is an intuitive smartphone app that allows you to keep track of the amount of time you spend on set and easily fill out timecards or issue invoices directly on your phone without getting crazy with the math.

The app is packed with features that make it suitable for any type of gig, regardless of whether you’re working on a union or non-union set. For example, you can set different daily rates depending on the task (like prep, scouting, or shooting days), track hours, keep a record of overtime or meal penalties, and add mileage, kit, and reimbursement fees.

Once you’re done, you can export this data in a universally supported PDF file in the form of a timecard or invoice and share it with production. There’s also an option to convert real-time into tenths or quarters, which could otherwise be a tedious process. Finally, Erica said that she’s also thinking of implementing a tax analysis tool, so you have no surprises at the end of the year.

Price and availability

The iOS version of the FreeMe app for film crew professionals is now available to download from the App Store. An Android version of the app is coming soon. You can choose between a $6.99/month subscription or an annual $69.99 fee.

For more information, please visit FreeMe’s website here.

How do you currently keep track of the amount of time you spend on set? How do you manage invoicing? Do you think the FreeMe app can come in handy in this regard? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!