A Connected Pre-Production Suite from a Familiar Name
Cadrage Studio is a pre-production planning software suite for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that connects scripts, shot lists, camera diagrams, mood boards, and locations in a single, scene-based workspace so directors and cinematographers can plan shots and story beats before production begins. Built by Cadrage GmbH, the team behind the long‑running Director’s Viewfinder app used by more than 100,000 filmmakers, this new video production suite targets the messy reality of prep: scattered PDFs, email attachments, and single‑purpose apps. Instead of treating each element as a separate file, Cadrage Studio links them to specific scenes that stay in sync across revisions. During its early access phase, available via TestFlight, the app is free to use while the company refines features and workflow. A subscription model is planned for the full App Store release, but pricing details will be announced closer to general availability.
Script-Driven Shot Planning and Scene Management
At the center of Cadrage Studio is script‑driven organization designed to support detailed shot planning. Filmmakers import a script and the app automatically detects scenes and characters, then attaches shot lists, camera diagrams, mood boards, and locations directly to those scenes. When new script pages arrive, the connections persist: existing prep follows the updated scene numbers, while omitted scenes are archived instead of deleted, preserving earlier creative work. Shot lists are fully customizable, so users can keep standard columns or define their own structure to match existing director tools and workflows. For directors and cinematographers who have spent late nights relinking shots after draft changes, this automation removes repetitive admin and keeps attention on visual storytelling. According to CineD, Cadrage Studio extends Cadrage’s focus “from framing individual shots to accompanying the entire creative pre-production workflow,” turning the app into a broader planning environment.
Camera Diagrams, LiDAR Floor Plans, and Location Management
Beyond lists and text, Cadrage Studio introduces visual tools that tie directly into each scene. A camera diagrams module lets filmmakers block out overhead layouts to scale, placing cameras, actors, lights, and set pieces inside a virtual floor plan. On LiDAR‑equipped iPhone and iPad models, location scouts can capture 3D room scans and turn them into floor plans, or import existing USDZ files from other apps. These diagrams can then be linked to individual shots in a list, so every frame has a clear spatial reference. The same workspace holds reference photos and notes for each location, keeping creative and logistical data side by side. This approach moves shot planning from a patchwork of drawings and separate apps into one connected system that lives across iOS and macOS, helping independent productions approach the kind of detailed pre-visualization seen on larger sets.
Mood Boards, Collaboration, and a Privacy-First Design
Cadrage Studio also aims to centralize visual references without pushing them to external servers. Mood boards support images, video, and links, each of which can be associated with specific scenes and exported as clean PDFs to maintain a consistent visual language across directors, cinematographers, agencies, and clients. Sync and collaboration rely on iCloud, so projects can move between iPhone, iPad, and Mac or be shared with teammates while still working offline when needed. Crucially, Cadrage GmbH states that project data, including scripts, remains on the user’s devices and private iCloud storage, is not uploaded to company servers, and is not used for AI training or sent to third‑party AI providers. In a field where many new director tools are adding generative features, this privacy‑by‑design stance positions Cadrage Studio as a secure option for sensitive pre-production planning software.
Early Access and the Gap in Pre-Production Tools
With Cadrage Studio entering early access, the developers are testing whether one connected app can replace the patchwork of spreadsheets, shared folders, and messaging threads that dominate many productions. The suite has already been used on several feature films and commercials during a closed beta, signaling that it is built with professional workflows in mind while remaining accessible to independent filmmakers. Because it runs as a native application on both iOS and macOS and keeps data local, it may appeal to teams wary of browser‑based tools or cloud lock‑in. The app requires the latest operating systems on Apple hardware, which will exclude some older devices, but in return offers tight integration with system features like LiDAR scanning and iCloud sync. For directors hungry for integrated director tools and a more coherent video production suite, Cadrage Studio’s early access period is an opportunity to shape its evolution.
