On set vocabulary

A

A' Camera, 'B' Camera, 'C' Camera

Terms for multiple camera setups.

ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording)

Recording dialogue after filming.

Action

This is the Principal Actors cue to start.

Assistant Director (1st)

Easily mistaken for the director since they are normally the person doing all the shouting and giving everyone their cues. They are the person in charge when you are on set. Listen very carefully to what they say.

Assistant Director (2nd)

Normally your first point of contact, but not always on the set as they are often at the Unit Base planning ahead. The 2nd AD is responsible for making sure all members of the Cast and Crew are in the right place at the right time. They liaise with the Agency about background requirements.

Assistant Director (3rd)

On set, the 3rd AD is the person who will be looking after you. He/she liaises with the 1st and will be the person giving you instructions on where you should go.

Assistant Director (Crowd)

On bigger productions there may be a separate AD to look after the Supporting Artistes.

B

B-roll

Shots used for cutaways.

BECTU

Union that represents Supporting Artistes. Stands for the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematographic and Theatre Union.

Background Action

This is your cue to start.

Backlot

Americanism. An open air part of the studio where sets can be constructed.

Best Boy

The first assistant electrician, assisting the Gaffer.

Blocking

The process of determining where people will stand and move in a scene.

Blonde

Type of light.

Bluescreen

Sometimes called Greenscreen or chroma-key. Filming takes place against a blue or green background. The background can then be replaced by a different location.

Body Cast

You may be asked to go to a body cast. A cast will be made of part of your body or even your whole body.

Boom

The pole that the boom operator holds attached to an overhead microphone.

Broken Lunch

Under the FAA agreement it is an additional payment if you are not given a meal break within a set time.

Buy out

On certain jobs you may be offered a Buy Out of rights, instead of repeat fees.

C

Call Sheet

A daily report normally produced by the 2nd AD. Given to the crew so they know what is being filmed that day.

Call Time

The time you must report to your given location. You must be on time.

Camera right and Camera left

Describes the view from the cameras point of view. If you are told to move camera left and you are facing the camera you would move to your right, and visa versa.

Casting Director

Responsible for casting the Actors.

Cheat

To adjust movements for camera angles.

Check the Gate

Checking a part of the camera to ensure no unwanted objects such as hairs have gone across the lens.

Chit/Voucher

The paperwork given to you when you arrive. You must get it signed before you leave to ensure you get paid.

Clapper Loader

The person who loads the film into the camera.

Clapperboard

Also called the slate. Used to mark each take by number and help the editor synchronize sound and vision.

Close Up

Shot of a person, the camera would be only on their head.

Confirmed Booking

This is a firm commitment to work on this day. Do not take another job on that day.

Continuity

A sequence filming over more than one day, or more than shot. It is therefore essential that nothing changes to upset the continuity of the scene.

Continuous Shot

An unbroken shot for an entire scene.

Continuous working day / night

A filming day or night where you will not be given a meal break, but a running buffet is provided while filming continues.

Copy That or Copy

Let the person speaking know that you have got the message and you have understood.

Costume Fitting

You may need to have a costume fitted before filming. You may also be asked to go to a wig or prosthetics fitting if they are going to change your appearance.

Craft Services

Tea, Coffee and water station

Crane Shot

The camera may pan up at great height. A crane is used to lift the camera into the air.

Crowd Base

On bigger calls this is where you will be asked to report.

Cut

This is your cue to stop. You will then often be asked to return to your first positions.

D

DOP

Director of Photography (or Cinematographer). Works with the Director supervising the Camera and lighting department to set up the shot. They are responsible for determining the look of the film, in terms of style, rather than just the process of recording it.

Dailies

Rushes or a crew member hired for a day.

Dining Bus

A place to eat, but could also be used as a Holding Area

Double

A person used when the Actor is not available. Usually from long distance or from behind, or for a part of the body such as hands and feet.

E

End Board

Slating the end of a shot with the clapperboard.

Equity

Union that represents Supporting Artistes.

Establisher Shot

A general view of any location or building.

Eye line

The direction you are required to look in shot.

Eyes on…

Spotting someone or something.

F

FAA

Film Artistes Association. Part of BECTU

Featured Artiste

Another name for an actor.

Final Checks

Hair and make-ups last chance to get everything right.

First Positions

Sometimes referred to as Number Ones. You will be given a starting position for each take of a scene.

Focus Puller

The person in charge of the lens on the camera.

From The Top

To start the scene from the beginning

G

Gaffer

Head electrician.

Gel

Something that covers a light to create different effects.

Green Room

Holding area for the main cast.

Grips

Crew members involved in building platforms, laying tracks or helping out blacking out for night shoots.

H

Hair and Make up ready

To arrive with your hair and make up done ready to go as per instruction

Hold the Red

Another take is about to happen.

Holding Area

Similar to Crowd Base, a place where a group of you will be waiting before being called onto set.

Honey Wagon

The toilet.

Hot Set

A set that should not be touched.

I

Insert

Close-Ups of importance. e.g. a hand picking up a gun.

K

Kill

To turn something off.

L

Line-Up

Check by Costume and Hair & Make-Up teams before filming.

Location

Not filming at a studio? Filming will take place here.

Lock Off

Blocking an area during filming.

Long Shot

Full length shot with some of the background.

Look-alike Double

An artiste who is used because they have a strong physical resemblance to an Actor.

M

Main Unit & Second Unit

Main crew and a separate crew for secondary shots

Mark

Indicating where actors need to stand for camera focus.

Mark it

Clapper Loader marking the start of a take.

Master Shot

Wide shot that covers the main action throughout.

Mid Shot

Shot of the top half of the body.

Monitor

Screens displaying previous takes.

Multi-episodic

An additional payment paid under some Equity agreements if more than one episode of a production are recorded in one day.

N

Nightshoot

Filming through the night. No set hours but could start as early as 4pm and finish as late as 7am.

P

Pan

The camera moves from left to right, or right to left.

Pencilled Booking

A provisional booking, yet to be confirmed. Sometimes you may be given a heavy pencil. This is more likely to happen but still not confirmed.

Pick Up

A small part of a scene which has been missed or needs to be reshot that the crew will go back to complete.

Principals / Talent

Lead actors.

Print It

Marking a take as good and ready for editing.

Production Office

The headquarters behind the set, usually headed by the Production Manager.

Prop

Any object you may be given in addition to your costume that is movable, such as a sword or rifle.

Prosthetic

An artificial body part, applied in the make-up dept.

R

Reccies

Scouting a filming location before the shoot.

Red Light and Bell

A red light and bell will be sounded (usually in a studio) before filming is about to happen. Also, Save the Red, marked by two bells, means filming has stopped.

Redhead

Another type of light.

Rehearsal

This is when you rehearse a scene before filming.

Repeat Fee

Featured artistes sometimes receive a fee every time something is shown.

Reset

Moving the camera to a different position.

Reverse Shot

A 180-degree angle from the last position of the camera.

Rolling/Roll Camera

See Turning Over/Turning.

Runner or PA

Can be instructed do anything at all to support the ADs and Production Office. From collecting people to and from the set to taking lunch orders or picking up faxes.

Rushes

A first look at what has been filmed on a given day.

S

Second Unit

A completely separate crew, filming different scenes to the Main Unit, often Insert or Pick-Up shots.

Set

Where filming is taking place.

Set-Up

The camera configuration for a shot.

Shift Call

Not a full days work. Only used under the FAA agreement it is a maximum of four hours work.

Sides

The call sheet and script for the day -condensed.

Signed Off

You have your chit/Voucher signed by an AD and you are free to leave

Soundstage

At the studios an enclosed space where the set is constructed.

Spark

Another name for electrician.

Special FX

Special effects can be anything used in shot such as fire, wind, rain or snow.

Speed

The Camera has reached its required speed.

Split Day

A shifted day in hours. For example a mid morning start and a late evening finish. Pay is still a standard day.

Squib

An explosive charge to create the effect of a bullet or small explosion.

Stand By

This is a warning that filming is about to commence.

Stand In

A person used in place of an Actor to set up initial lighting and camera. Usually of a similar height age and skin tone to the Actor.

Steadicam

A harness that allows the camera to be attached to a camera operator. This reduces or eliminates the unsteadiness of the motion by the operator.

Strike

Removing something from the set.

T

Take

Filming of a particular sequence. This will be repeated until the director is happy.

Tilt

The camera moves either up or down.

Tracking Shot or Dolly

The camera moves smoothly forwards or backwards by running on tracks.

Turn Around

Cues the crew to prepare for a Reverse Shot.

Turning Over/Turning

This means the camera is about to roll.

U

Unit Base

This is where the production team will base itself on any given day when on location.

W

Walk On

A step up from a supporting artiste, someone the viewer is more likely to identify as an individual, who may have a few words to say.

Wild Track

A recording of atmospheric sound.

Wrap

This indicates the end of the filming day.