What does SW (Start Work) mean?
SW (Start Work) is a work status code used on call sheets and production reports to indicate the first day an actor begins filming on a project. SW marks the official start of an actor’s engagement with the production — the day the clock begins on their contract, their guaranteed days, and any applicable holding fees. On a call sheet, seeing SW next to an actor’s name means it is their first day on set for that production. Related work status codes include W (Work), WF (Work Finish), and SWF (Start Work Finish).
Example:The call sheet listed the guest star’s status as SW, indicating it was her first day on the production — triggering the start of her contracted guarantee period and notifying the payroll department to begin processing her deal.
Example: When the child actor arrived on set for the first time, his status was marked SW on the daily production report, officially starting his work engagement and beginning the studio teacher’s tracking of his permitted daily hours.
Did you know?
Work status codes like SW appear on every professional call sheet and production report in the industry. For child actors specifically, the SW date is important because it establishes the start of the production’s legal obligation to provide a studio teacher and comply with all minor labor law requirements from day one.
You can also find “SW (Start Work)” and related terms in this category: Acting Jobs and Auditions.
