About This Project

Lindis Pass – Transport Management

Overview

Lindis Pass is a transport management solution designed to meet the unique logistical challenges faced by the film industry. Initially developed for the transport department during the filming of “The Lord of the Rings” series, Lindis Pass was created to streamline the coordination and management of freelance drivers (swing drivers) across New Zealand. Inspired by one of the country’s most scenic routes, Lindis Pass is both a tribute to New Zealand’s landscapes and a cutting-edge tool for improving transport efficiency in film productions.

The Challenge

As production ramped up, the Transport Department faced the daunting task of managing a large number of swing drivers and casting drivers, each with different contract requirements, licenses, and responsibilities. With filming locations spread across the North and South Islands of New Zealand, the complexity of coordinating logistics increased dramatically. Ensuring that the right drivers were available in the right locations, with the correct qualifications, was vital to keeping the production on schedule, while maintaining clear communication with ADs.

The Request

After the success of the Rainforest solution in the Extras Department, the production team requested a similar approach for the Transport Department. The challenge was to create a system that could handle the unique needs of swing drivers, casting drivers, and their communication with the ADs, automate the timecard process, and categorize drivers by their qualifications and work regions.

The Solution: Lindis Pass

• Personalized Contract Management: Drivers are categorized by their qualifications and responsibilities, ensuring that each driver is assigned to the appropriate contract based on their specific licenses and experience.
• Timecard Calculation: The system automatically calculates each driver’s timecard based on their hours worked, ensuring accurate and timely payments.
• Location-Based Driver Organization: Drivers are organized by region, ensuring the availability of transport personnel in different parts of the country.
• Centralized Information: Key details such as driving licenses and responsibilities are stored in a centralized system, allowing quick access to critical information.
• Automated Scheduling and Communication: Transport coordinators can create and send driver schedules with a single click, triggering email notifications and generating PDFs, improving communication with ADs and casting departments.

Efficiency and Complete Digitization

• Digitized Contracts: All contracts for swing drivers and casting drivers were digitized, signed electronically, and organized in compliance with Amazon’s guidelines, fully eliminating the need for paper.
• Financial Reporting: The system generates detailed financial reports on a daily and weekly basis, breaking down costs by unit (Main Unit, Second Unit) and providing clear visibility into the production’s transport budget.
• Expense Management: Lindis Pass manages unique expense categories such as split shifts, per diem, and accommodation, ensuring that all financial aspects are handled accurately.
• Improved Communication: With its built-in email trigger and scheduling system, Lindis Pass enhances communication across the transport department, casting drivers, and ADs, ensuring everyone is aligned.

Future Expansions

• Vehicle Database: A detailed vehicle database will be integrated, including information on rental contracts, suppliers, and vehicle condition, with photos for damage tracking.
• Driver and Vehicle Integration: This feature will link drivers with specific vehicles, allowing the system to maintain a detailed history of both drivers and vehicles.
• Full Logs and Fuel Management: Comprehensive logs for tracking mileage and fuel costs will be implemented, providing a detailed view of operational expenses.
• Quick Document Access: All important documents will be easily accessible, saving time and streamlining workflow.

Design and Identity

The name Lindis Pass is a nod to one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking roads, located between Cromwell and Omarama. The aesthetic of the solution reflects this inspiration, with a palette of earthy tones symbolizing roads and journeys. This design choice reinforces the idea of movement, logistics, and efficient coordination across vast landscapes.

Conclusion

Lindis Pass exemplifies how innovation and technology can revolutionize traditional processes in film production. By digitizing and automating key transport operations, Lindis Pass provides a more efficient, organized, and sustainable approach to managing transport logistics. From swing drivers to casting drivers, and seamless communication with ADs, Lindis Pass ensures a fully integrated transport solution for the entire production team.

Watch the Demo

Explore the full capabilities of Lindis Pass with our upcoming video demonstration, where we show how this solution can streamline your transport management process. Stay tuned!