tuotantokuvakäsikirjoituksen

Tuotantokuvakäsikirjoitus is a Finnish term that literally translates to “production photography script.” It refers to a detailed visual plan that a cinematographer or director of photography creates to guide the shooting of a film or television production. The document typically outlines camera angles, lens choices, lighting positions, movement plans, and sometimes framing and composition details for each scene or shot. It is used alongside the storyboard and the director’s script to ensure that the visual aesthetic envisaged by the creative team is translated into a practical schedule for the camera crew and lighting department.

The main components of a tuotantokuvakäsikirjoitus include a shot list—numbered entries that correspond to the sequence in the script—technical settings such as shutter speed, aperture and ISO, and annotations for special effects, motion graphics or camera rigs. In addition, it may contain notes on markers for focus pulls, the use of steadicams, dollys or cranes, and the intended use of natural versus artificial light. In some productions it also contains a visual glossary that connects lighting colors, screen tones and color grading schemes.

Historically the Finnish film industry adopted this practice in the 1970s, when television production became more sophisticated and the role of the director of photography gained recognition as a distinct artistic discipline. Since then, digital production tools such as Shotgun or Frame.io have been integrated into the process, allowing real-time collaboration between camera, lighting and post‑production teams. Despite the digital shift, the core purpose of the tuotantokuvakäsikirjoitus—to maintain consistency of visual storytelling—remains unchanged.