Read the script once to get an understanding of the script's themes, plot and characters.
Break your script into eighths, meaning you will use your ruler and break each page into eight equal sections. This will be used to measure the length of a scene. See Resources for an example.
Make notes of who and what the script needs for production. Use your colored pencils and designate a color to each element. The elements include: speaking parts; silent bits (characters with no lines but who performs actions); atmosphere (objects that make up a location, but aren't used as props as well as extras that don't perform actions); special effects; sound effects and music; vehicles and animals; props; wardrobes; special hair and makeup and special equipment (like a crane or a fog machine). Also, note which scenes are shot outdoors and indoors as well as the time of day.
Take all of the information that was noted in the last step and transfer it to a breakdown sheet. A breakdown sheet is a sheet made for each scene that has a sections for each element to be listed. This organizes what is needed for each scene.
Use the breakdown sheets to design a schedule. Try to make the schedule as easy as possible. Keep scenes that shoot at the same location on the same days, regardless of when it occurs in the script, and be mindful of what time of day the scene needs to be shot.