ZERODUCTION connects the script, breakdown, schedule, blocking, and set tools in one desktop workspace. Your project data stays on your machine, and every department works from the same record.
Each area shares the same scenes, people, and places. Change a scene once and the schedule, call sheet, and shot list reflect it.
Script to breakdown
Write or import screenplay drafts, parse scene headings into a structured scene list, and attach characters, cast, locations, time of day, and notes to each scene instead of scattering them across documents.
Script writer · scenes · script sides · PDF markup
Stripboard and master calendar
Group scenes into shoot days with page counts, locations, cast, and day or night. The master calendar surfaces location lockouts, call sheets, delivery deadlines, and cross-project schedule clashes.
Shoot days · lockouts · clashes · deadlines
Studio task board
Move work through Backlog, In Progress, Review, and Done. Filter by production, team, department, priority, and date, with a progress bar that reflects the whole board.
Kanban · filters · due dates
Previs and storyboards
Place talent, props, walls, and cameras in 2D or 3D, drive shot cameras with real lenses, f-stops, and depth of field, then export stills, contact sheets, shot archives, and animatics.
2D / 3D previs · lenses · animatic export
Lighting diagrams
Draw photometric floor plans with fixtures, grip, and power, and keep a live gear list beside each setup so the department knows what to pull.
Photometrics · gear lists · setups
Crew, cast, and call sheets
Keep roles, department assignments, crew notices, and time tracking next to the schedule, and build call sheets from the people and places already planned.
Call sheets · crew notice · overtime
Locations and weather
Store access and safety notes per location and review seven-day forecasts while you prepare a shoot day, so risks show up before call time.
Access notes · seven-day forecast
Budget, VFX, and wrap
Track categories, estimates, actuals, and vendors. Follow VFX shots by stage and spend, log festival submissions and fees, and produce daily or whole-project wrap reports.
Budget tracker · VFX · festivals · reports
Local-first storage
Project packages, raw media, and caches live on volumes you choose. Snapshots run on a set cadence, with local backups you can verify and export for handoff.
Volume routing · snapshots · backup export
Architecture
Local first, with sync only when you want it.
Your device is the working source. The database, packages, media, and cache sit on storage you control, and optional account sync pulls encrypted project assets without replacing the local record.
Volume routing
Send project packages and raw media to the drives you choose. The database stays managed by the app so records are never split from their index.
Snapshots and backups
Automatic snapshots run on a cadence you set. Verify local backups, then export an archive for handoff or safekeeping.
Encrypted, account-scoped sync
Sync is optional and scoped to your account. Project assets are handled encrypted, and the device remains the working source.
Offline licensing
Activate with your account or import a signed certificate file, so a licensed machine does not need to be online to open the app.
Workflow
Decisions travel with the project.
The same record moves from first draft to wrap. Each stage reads what the previous one produced, so nothing is retyped between departments.
1
Develop
Write the script or import it, then turn scene headings into a structured scene list.
Script → scenes → elements2
Break down
Tag cast, crew needs, locations, and requirements to every scene in one record.
Elements → locations → needs3
Schedule
Order scenes into shoot days, check lockouts and clashes, and set the deliveries.
Stripboard → calendar → deadlines4
Design
Plan shots, blocking, lighting, and visual references before anyone is on set.
Shot lists → previs → lighting5
Shoot and wrap
Run slate, call sheets, and notes on set, then close out with reports and delivery.
Call sheet → slate → wrap report
Inside the app
Built for the work around each scene.
Real screens from the desktop app: the master calendar, the studio task board, and the Studio Tools catalog.
See the whole studio schedule
The master calendar combines shoot days, location lockouts, call sheets, deadlines, and clashes across every production, with the next delivery always in view.
Color-coded shoot days, deadlines, and milestones
Red-flagged dates when two productions share a location
Rental equipment and due dates summarized above the grid
ZERODUCTION / SCHEDULE
ZERODUCTION / STUDIO TASKS
Keep assignments moving
A four-column board tracks work across productions. Filter by team, department, priority, and date, and watch overall progress update as cards move to Done.
Tags for production, department, and personal work
Due dates and a board-wide progress bar
Add columns to match how your studio works
Open the right tool for the job
Studio Tools groups specialized engines by phase: on-set, media, editorial, visual development, plan, production, and workspace. Favorite the ones you use daily.
Lighting Diagram, Visual Creative Canvas, and Previs engines
Weather, Digital Slate, and 3D Virtual Blocking
Director’s Monitor for live-look review on Pro
ZERODUCTION / STUDIO TOOLS
Born on set
Made by filmmakers who run their own sets.
ZEMA Studios builds ZERODUCTION from daily production work in Addis Ababa. Every tool exists because a shoot needed it.
From a two-person short to a multi-episode series, the same workspace scales by adding productions, teams, and tools.
Independent features
Carry a first feature from script to wrap with a lean crew. One record replaces the folder of spreadsheets, PDFs, and notes.
Script · breakdown · budget
Episodic and series work
Manage many episodes under one production, with shared locations, cast, and crew and a calendar that exposes clashes between episodes.
Stripboard · calendar · crew
Commercials and branded films
Move from treatment to shot list to call sheet in days, with lighting diagrams and gear lists the whole department can read.
Shot lists · lighting · call sheets
Music videos and shorts
Build a visual canvas of references, rough the camera moves in previs, and export storyboards for a quick sign-off.
Canvas · previs · storyboards
Film schools and workshops
Give every student crew the same structured workspace, from breakdown to blocking, with no cloud account needed to start.
Free edition · local-first
Post and delivery teams
Follow VFX shots by stage, log festival submissions and fees, select takes for editorial, and print wrap reports.
VFX tracker · festivals · reports
Systems compatibility
What runs where.
A clear view of supported platforms, storage behavior, and connectivity before you install.
Area
Specification
Status
Windows 10 / 11
Installer v1.6.0 (.exe). Free edition runs without a key; licensed build is not yet published.
Available
macOS
Installer is published here once the macOS build passes release checks.
In development
Linux
Installer is published here once the Linux build passes release checks.
In development
Storage
Project packages and raw media can be routed to volumes you choose. The database is managed by the app and is not redirected. Local cache size and preview caching are adjustable.
Included
Network
Core production workflows run offline. Account sign-in, license activation, and optional sync use the internet.
Included
Backups
Snapshots on a set cadence (default every 5 minutes, 20 retained), with local backup verification and export.
Included
Licensing
Online activation or an offline signed certificate. Personal Pro and Ultra licenses support up to two devices.
Key required
Camera input
Director’s Monitor reads a local camera signal for on-set viewing.
Pro
Media processing
Lab queues proxy jobs through local FFmpeg; Vault verifies checksums on offloads. Footage stays on your machines.
Engines
Downloads
Pick your platform.
Windows is available today. macOS and Linux installers appear here when their builds pass release checks.
Windows
Windows 10 / 11 · v1.6.0 · .exe
The current public build. Install it and use the Free edition without a license key, or activate a Pro or Ultra key in the app.
Bring scripts, schedules, crew, visual planning, and on-set tools into one local-first workspace. Tell us how your team works and what you want to bring together.
Built in Addis Ababa · Designed for production teams everywhere
WINDOWS APP
Free edition available now. Pro and Stack licensing is being prepared.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW / COMPLETE WORKFLOW
One production workspace, from script to wrap.
Explore every core area of ZERODUCTION in one place: project records, scripts, schedules, crew coordination, visual planning, Studio Tools, and the local-first systems underneath.
WORKSPACE 01 / PROJECTS & SCRIPT
Build the production record from the story up.
Give each production a home for its identity, script, scenes, people, places, and planning materials. Keep creative development connected to the records the crew will use later.
PROJECT HUB
Projects & dashboard
Track active and archived productions in a visual project gallery. Each project carries its type, format, logline, schedule, status, scene count, and planning details. The Home dashboard summarizes active projects, pending tasks, scene totals, and current progress, with direct shortcuts into common workspaces.
Create, import, and organize productions.
Open budget, stripboard, shot lists, call sheets, locations, and crew from the project context.
Review project activity and status without rebuilding summaries in separate files.
PROJECTS · DASHBOARD · ACTIVITY
One production record for the work across departments.
SCREENPLAY & BREAKDOWN
Turn script pages into scene records
Write and manage screenplay drafts, then organize the story into scenes that connect to production planning. The breakdown keeps characters, cast, locations, time of day, notes, and other scene requirements attached to the scene instead of scattered across documents.
Parse scene headings into a structured scene list.
Prepare script sides and view or annotate production PDFs.
Use mind maps and lookbooks to keep story structure and visual direction close to the script.
SCRIPT WRITER · SCENES · SCRIPT SIDES · PDF
Story material can stay linked to the production flow.
WORKSPACE 02 / SCHEDULE & CREW
Make the plan workable for the day.
Coordinate scenes, people, locations, tasks, and deadlines from pre-production through wrap. The schedule remains connected to the crew-facing information built from it.
MASTER CALENDAR & STRIPBOARD
See the whole studio schedule
Arrange scenes into shooting days, then review the studio calendar for cross-project timing. The Master Calendar brings shooting days together with location lockouts, call sheets, delivery deadlines, and schedule clashes.
Group scenes by shoot day and review page count, location, cast, and day/night.
See upcoming deadlines and location holds before they collide with a planned day.
Carry scheduled people, places, and times into call-sheet preparation.
SHOOT DAYS · LOCKOUTS · CLASHES · CALL SHEETS
From scene order to a day the crew can work.
TASKS, CREW & LOCATIONS
Keep assignments and logistics moving
Studio Tasks tracks work across productions in Backlog, In Progress, Review, and Done. Filter tasks by production, team, department, priority, and date. Cast, crew, locations, equipment, access notes, and safety details remain close to the schedule.
Use shoot and shot checklists, continuity notes, crew notices, and time tracking.
Review seven-day location weather forecasts while preparing the shoot.
Track equipment availability, crew roles, and location logistics alongside assignments.
TASK BOARD · CAST & CREW · WEATHER · EQUIPMENT
Assignments and production requirements share context.
BUDGET, VFX & WRAP
Follow the work through delivery
Track budget categories, estimates, actual costs, vendors, and deadlines while keeping post-production and release follow-through visible.
Monitor VFX shots, stages, and spend.
Track festival submissions, fees, dates, and results.
Prepare exports, select takes, and produce daily or whole-project wrap reports.
BUDGET · VFX TRACKER · FESTIVALS · REPORTS
Production progress and follow-through in one workspace.
WORKSPACE 03 / CREATIVE PLANNING
Make visual decisions before the set is built.
Plan coverage and scene geography with references, shot records, lighting diagrams, and previs. Keep creative intent attached to the production materials that carry it onto set.
SHOT LISTS, STORYBOARDS & PREVIS
Explore coverage and blocking
Track planned, captured, and remaining shots with references and lens notes. Arrange actors, props, walls, and cameras in 2D or 3D, explore camera paths, then export storyboard frames and shot boards for review.
Plan shots and storyboards by scene and sequence.
Use camera lenses, f-stops, depth of field, LUTs, and framing tools in previs.
Export frame stills, contact sheets, shot archives, and animatics.
SHOT LISTS · 2D / 3D PREVIS · STORYBOARDS
Camera, talent, and scene geography in one visual plan.
LIGHTING & VISUAL DEVELOPMENT
Keep the look close to the plan
Build photometric floor plans with fixtures, grip, power, exposure, and gear lists. Use moodboards and an infinite canvas to gather notes, images, screenplay snippets, clips, and checklists around a visual idea.
Plan lighting setup by setup and keep equipment requirements visible.
Maintain shot references, frame guides, aspect-ratio previews, and lens calculations.
Store LUTs and color references with project materials.
LIGHTING DIAGRAMS · CANVAS · LENS & FRAME TOOLS
Visual plans made specific enough to discuss and revise.
WORKSPACE 04 / STUDIO TOOLS
Purpose-built tools for the work around each scene.
Open specialized workspaces for planning, on-set monitoring, media handling, visual development, and production integrations.
SPECIALIZED WORKSPACES
Studio Tools
Each tool has a defined job in the production workflow.
ON-SETPREMIUM
Director's Monitor
Monitor a local camera signal and review the live look with on-set viewing controls.
VISUAL DEVELOPMENTLIVE
Lighting Diagram
Build photometric floor plans with fixtures, grip, power, exposure, gear lists, and setup-by-setup lighting plans.
VISUAL DEVELOPMENTLIVE
Visual Creative Canvas
Arrange notes, images, script snippets, clips, and checklists on an infinite canvas, then link boards into the storytelling flow.
PLANLIVE
Weather
Review seven-day forecasts for production locations while preparing an upcoming shoot day.
ON-SETLIVE
Digital Slate
Control roll, scene, take, and timecode information in a digital clapperboard workflow.
VISUAL DEVELOPMENTLIVE
Previs & Storyboard
Plan sequences and shots with 2D/3D previs, real lenses, f-stops, depth of field, LUTs, storyboards, and animatic exports.
VISUAL DEVELOPMENTLIVE
Previs Engine
Place characters, props, and walls on a 3D stage; drive shot cameras with real lenses and export stills, shot ZIPs, contact sheets, or project JSON.
ON-SETLIVE
3D Virtual Blocking
Lay out a stage, move talent and cameras, plan camera paths, and keep versioned blocking snapshots with the scene.
ON-SETIN DEVELOPMENT
Blocking
Sketch rehearsal and stage-blocking diagrams to communicate performer movement and scene geography.
Queue local FFmpeg proxy jobs using production codec profiles without sending source footage to a cloud service.
VERBATIM / TEXT-BASED EDITOR
Import SRT or WebVTT transcripts, search dialogue, assemble text-driven rough cuts, and export EDL or FCPXML.
SPLITREEL / REVISION COMPARE
Compare screenplay revisions with AST-aware diffs and surface changes that affect linked breakdown records.
STAGEHAND / VIRTUAL BLOCKING
Arrange floor-plan entities with drag-and-snap controls, camera fields of view, and versioned snapshots.
WORKBENCH / EXTENSIONS
Manage optional integrations from signed manifests in isolated frames, without leaving the production workspace.
STORY DEVELOPMENT / LOOKBOOK & MIND MAP
Collect visual references in a director's lookbook and map story structure with a locally rendered mind map.
CAMERA / LENS, FRAME & COLOR
Check field of view from focal length, sensor, and aspect ratio; preview frame guides and keep LUTs and color references with the project.
RUN OF SHOW / NOTES, SELECTS & COMMS
Keep production notes, circle takes for editorial, track hours and overtime, and coordinate quick crew messages and notices.
PROJECT GRAPH / EXPORT & SHARE
Inspect links among productions, scenes, people, places, and tools; export or print project materials and prepare backups for handoff.
PRODUCTION RECORDS / EQUIPMENT & ACCESS
Keep gear availability, location access and safety notes, cast and crew roles, and department assignments beside the schedule.
POST & FOLLOW-THROUGH / FESTIVALS & WRAP
Track festival submissions, fees and deadlines, VFX stages and spend, and daily or whole-project wrap reports.
WHAT’S NEW / RECENT DEVELOPMENT
New work, grounded in the production workflow.
These are recent additions in the source project. They describe ongoing product development and may not all be included in the currently downloadable Windows installer.
NOV 07, 2026 RECENT
Lookbook asset management
Lookbook media now has dedicated asset handling and background serialization, helping visual references stay organized and keeping heavier save work off the main interaction path.
LOOKBOOK · MEDIA ASSETS · BACKGROUND SAVES
OCT 29, 2026 SYNC
Encrypted workspace pull sync
Workspace sync work adds encrypted project-asset handling and account-scoped pull synchronization, with local production records remaining the working source on the device.
ENCRYPTED ASSETS · ACCOUNT-SCOPED SYNC
OCT 29, 2026 PERFORMANCE
Faster screenplay editing
Recent script-editor performance work targets bottlenecks in the writing and revision workflow, keeping larger screenplay projects responsive.
SCREENPLAY · EDITOR PERFORMANCE
ⓘ Development notes are not a promise that every item is already in the public installer. The Downloads page identifies the currently published build.
DEVELOPMENT / ZEMA STUDIOS
Born in Addis. Built for the world.
ZEMA Studios is a filmmaking-led production studio based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
FILM · EDIT · ELEVATE
Craft is the first promise.
ZEMA Studios brings together filmmakers, editors, camera operators, designers, and producers to create cinematic work audiences remember. The studio works across commercials, branded films, documentaries, music videos, and social content.
From brief and treatment through production, edit, color, sound, and campaign delivery, each decision is shaped around the story and the audience. Based in Addis Ababa, ZEMA works with brands across East Africa and beyond.
CRAFT FIRSTAUTHENTIC STORYTELLINGHONEST PROOF
WHY BUILD ZERODUCTION
ZERODUCTION brings that production experience into a local-first workspace: fewer disconnected documents, clearer handoffs, and a plan that can travel from the script to the set.
FREE OR LICENSED
Start free. Unlock more as needed.
Download the Free app without a license key, or choose a licensed edition. Pro and Ultra keys activate through the account licensing system; Ultra is the customer-facing name for the Stack entitlement.
01NO LICENSE KEY
Free
Download the Free app and use its free production workspace without purchasing an activation key.
ZERODUCTION is local-first. Core production data is stored on your device; cloud sync is optional. Your data remains separate from your license status.
How do I activate a purchased license?+
Use the license key and activation instructions delivered for your purchase, then sign in to the matching ZERODUCTION account in the desktop app. A license can be activated on the number of devices shown for that edition.
Can I use the app offline?+
Core production workflows are designed to work locally. Account, license, and optional sync features may need an internet connection.
Which platforms are available?+
The current downloadable build is for Windows 10 and 11. macOS and Linux availability will be announced when supported installers are ready.
Need help with a purchase?+
Contact zemastudios.et@gmail.com and include your Paddle receipt number. Never send your password or payment card details.