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Production2 min read

LESSON 113

Data wrangling and backup on set

Never format a card that is not copied.

IN THIS LESSON

  1. The risk
  2. How professionals do it
  3. The 3-2-1 rule
  4. Practice: a simple card routine

The risk

On a digital shoot, the camera cards are the film negative. If a card is lost, damaged or formatted before it is copied, that day's work is gone, and with it the money spent on cast, crew and locations. Data handling on set is therefore treated as a job of its own, not an afterthought. Larger productions have a digital imaging technician and a digital loader, also called a data wrangler or data management technician, who copy, check and secure everything the cameras record.

How professionals do it

The DIT makes sure the original camera data and metadata are backed up at least twice a day, and uses checksum verification to prove the copies match the originals bit for bit. Data may also go onto LTO tape, which is hardier than electronic drives and suits long-term archives. A further copy travels to post-production on a transfer drive with reports on the content. The material must stay accessible and reviewable, with the metadata of every clip visible. The DIT also secures the sound recorder's files.

The 3-2-1 rule

A widely used backup principle is the 3-2-1 rule: keep at least three copies of the data, on two different types of storage, with one copy kept offsite, which can include cloud storage. Different media fail for different reasons: a hard drive can suffer a head crash, while a solid-state drive has no moving parts but fails in other ways. An offsite copy protects against fire, theft, floods and earthquakes. Experts also suggest keeping at least one backup disconnected when not in use, so malware cannot reach it.

Practice: a simple card routine

This is working practice. Number every card and drive. When a card comes off the camera, tape it red and lock it. Copy it to two separate drives using software that verifies with checksums, not by dragging folders. Check a few clips play. Only then tape it green and hand it back for formatting, in the camera, never on the computer. Keep a log of card, time, clips and drives. Send one drive home with a different person at the end of the day.

Try it today

  1. 01Label two drives A and B and a card 001.
  2. 02Copy the card to both drives with a checksum-verifying tool.
  3. 03Open three clips from each drive to check they play.
  4. 04Write a one-line log entry: card, time, drives, checked by.
  5. 05Only then format the card in the camera.