Hustle, bustle — and sometimes, muscle. That's show biz. Scripts to be written, gear to be hauled, stars to be prodded and preened. And at E! Entertainment, the latest tool for bringing it all together is FileMaker Pro — the award–winning database software application from FileMaker Inc.!

Business Challenge

When you're watching your favorite TV program, you probably never stop and think about the work that goes on behind the scenes. Nevertheless, the show you're seeing is very much the sum of its individual parts. Each segment is assembled, routined, edited, reviewed — and finally locked into place as part of the complete presentation. Whether it's a studio production like the popular 'Talk Soup,' or a live remote such as the annual broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, what's on your screen is the result of a complex assembly process. And in partnership with FileMaker developer Pilot Peppler of PilotWare Systems, E! has come up with an application that streamlines that production process. It's called Script Tracking And Rundown System — 'STARS' — and uses two FileMaker databases, one dedicated to 'Talk Soup,' and the other devoted to live events programming. All told, the STARS application contains several thousand records, a number which changes constantly as the different programs are produced and aired

Successful Solution

'Writers can use FileMaker in building a script,' explains E! Project Manager Maxine Henry. 'Each segment of the show — interviews, film clips, bits and teases — everything that goes into the finished program can be broken down into a single FileMaker record, complete with the exact running time and everything the production team needs to know.' Rather than working it all out on paper — or endlessly spinning through reels of tape — E!'s production teams can handle the most complex part of assembling a show without leaving FileMaker. And, if changes are required, right up to air time, it's a cinch to go back into FileMaker and make those revisions.

FileMaker also fills another important behind–the–scenes role at E! Entertainment. A lot of production equipment comes and goes over the course of a typical day, as teams head out to tape segments for various shows — and FileMaker Pro ensures that a careful record is kept for each item used. Cameras, microphones, mixing boards, cables — all the tools of the trade, all in one place. 'Our Electronic Field Production team was having to do all this tracking work by hand, ' recalls Maxine, 'and it was very time consuming. We might have five or six vans a day heading out for shoots, and a very small crew taking care of the paperwork. We needed a way for teams to be able to check equipment in and out quickly — as well as a way to keep track of inventory and maintenance. All that can be done easily in FileMaker!' Over 1,500 records ensure that Asset Tracker keeps close track on valuable assets!

All the information is right there on the screen — navigation is so easy! It's a very easy system to learn, and even easier to make changes, scaling the application to fit the needs of every department.

— Maxine Henry, Project Manager, E! Entertainment