What Cadrage Studio Is and Why It Matters
Cadrage Studio is a cross-platform pre-production software suite for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that connects scripts, shot lists, camera diagrams, mood boards, and locations in one synced workspace, giving filmmakers a single, mobile-first hub for planning their projects instead of juggling multiple disconnected tools. Built by the team behind the Cadrage director’s viewfinder app, which CineD reports is used by more than 100,000 filmmakers, the new suite carries that on-set framing experience upstream into creative prep. The core idea is connection: every asset is tied to the script and the scenes it belongs to, rather than sitting in isolated folders or apps. For independent filmmakers and small teams under pressure, that means fewer lost notes, fewer conflicting versions, and a clearer path from script to screen on the devices they already bring to set.
Script-Driven Workflows for Mobile Video Planning
Cadrage Studio puts the script at the center of mobile video planning. You import a script and the app automatically detects scenes and characters, then lets you attach shot lists, diagrams, locations, and mood boards to each scene. When new pages arrive, the links hold: scenes stay connected, and omitted scenes are archived instead of deleted, preserving earlier ideas for later reference. For directors and producers working out of coffee shops, trains, or rehearsal rooms, this means a storyboarding app that mirrors a traditional desktop workflow without locking you to a desk. Shot lists are customizable, so teams can match their usual columns and naming schemes while still benefiting from cross-platform synchronization. Because everything lives natively on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, you can review story beats, adjust coverage, or flag pickups from whichever device is closest, then see those changes reflected everywhere.
Camera Diagrams, LiDAR Floor Plans and Location Management
Beyond notes and lists, Cadrage Studio pushes blocking and locations into the same pre-production software. A camera diagrams module lets you build overhead plans to scale, placing cameras, actors, lights, and set pieces. On LiDAR-capable iPhone and iPad models, you can scan rooms on a location scout and turn those 3D captures into floor plans that tie directly to scenes and specific shots. Reference photos, notes, and even mood board images can be attached to each location, giving small crews a visual record of spaces without separate apps. This matters for iPad video production workflows, where a tablet often doubles as both scouting camera and planning device. By linking diagrams and locations straight to the shot list, the app encourages teams to think through coverage and logistics earlier, while they still have time to adjust blocking or re-scout.
Privacy-First Design and Cross-Platform Sync
In an era where many filmmaker tools add generative features, Cadrage Studio takes the opposite approach. The company states that project materials, especially scripts, are among the most sensitive parts of a production, so all data stays on the user’s devices and private iCloud account. Cadrage GmbH does not store project files on its own servers and explicitly says that data is never used for AI training or sent to third-party AI providers. iCloud sync keeps projects consistent between iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and teams can export structured scene PDFs tailored to each department. The app can also run fully offline as a native application on both platforms, which is useful on remote shoots or secure stages. For independent filmmakers, that balance of cloud convenience and local control removes a major concern around sharing scripts inside pre-production software.
Early Access, Pricing Plans, and Who It’s For
Cadrage Studio is currently in early access via TestFlight on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and is free to use during this period. Final pricing has not yet been announced, but Cadrage GmbH has confirmed that the App Store version will follow a subscription model once it reaches general release. For now, that gives independent filmmakers and small production teams a window to test whether a single connected workspace can replace their usual mix of shared folders, PDFs, and siloed apps. Because it is built by the established director’s viewfinder team rather than a generic productivity vendor, the suite reflects a director- and cinematographer-first perspective. For crews already relying on phones and tablets for mobile video planning, Cadrage Studio aims to turn those devices into a genuine pre-production hub, rather than a backup to desktop software.
