Directing is such a long, tedious, drawn out affair filled with multiple responsibilities it’s a miracle I ever finish a project!  Fortunately, being a geek, I use technology and geekery to get me through, here’s a some productivity tools that I use on a constant basis.

1. Laptop – You need one.  Period.  Whether you’re at home or on the go, you’ll need access to a computer.  If you can swing it, get a 3G USB internet stick from your local telcom provider and you’ll always be connected.
2. Mobile phone with a data plan – People need to get a hold of you, always.  Get one with a data plan as well when you need to do something quick online, it’s a bit more convenient than taking out your laptop.
3. Write Room – One of the best word processors out there is Write Room.  Not because it has any fancy features, but because it clears away all the distractions and lets you get down to writing.  Alternatively, you can make Google Docs look like Write Room with this script.
4. Google Docs / Zoho – Speaking of which, Google Docs is what I use for general word processing and creating spreadsheets.  The benefit is that by writing everything online, I’ll always have access to it.  There’s even limited functionality on mobile devices.  Zoho is it’s major competitor although I haven’t used it enough to compare the two.  For local office programs, I’m a big fan of Open Office which is completely free.
5. Large shoulder bag – You’ve got lots of stuff to lug around, get a big bag!  I’ve actually experimented with carrying around an extremely thin backpack which is great when you don’t have much you need to carry.
6. iCal / Google Calendar – Calendar needs.  Again, I use Google calendar but anything you can access from multiple places works just as well.
7. Binder – I actually have several binders, but a good quality director’s binder is a must!  Depending on the project, I use a 1″ or 2″ binder and I use a 3″ to keep all the notes of completed projects.
8. Digital Camera – Something that can take both video and stills comes in handy, especially during preproduction.
9. Graph Paper – I never use lined or blank paper, I always use graph paper.  Why?  It’s because it’s the most versatile paper you can use.  You have horizontal lines if you want to write notes and the grid helps you draw quick floorplans or even roughly accurate storyboards (draw a box that’s 8 by 4 and that roughly equals a 16:9 frame ratio).
10. Pocket notebook and pen – By far the most important tool in your arsenal.  Nothing compares to a notebook in your pocket for when inspiration hits or for listing my to-do’s.  It requires no batteries, you don’t have to worry about it crashing and you can quickly sketch in it.  I always carry around my Moleskine notebook and pocket pen, it’s the most  important thing on me.

What are your favourite tools to help out on set and off?