Film Set Jargon

First things first....

Always Stay Alert On Set:

Keep your eyes peeled. There is a lot of heavy and dangerous equipment on a film set. It is your responsibility to ensure your own safety. And other peoples. Thank you.

Keep on the look out for cables, booms, lights, etc.

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COMMUNICATION: Proper use of film-set-jargon is essential for a well run film set.

• “Talent” refers to any of the actors or models on set.
• “Crew” refers to any production staff on set.
• "First” First Assistant Director (He is the boss on set)
• The "Second". 2nd AD. At base. In charge of actor movements. Transportation. Liason between set and base.
• “Grips” People who move lighting/grip equipment.
• "Sparks" (Electricians)
• Craft Services” any food or drink provided for talent and crew. Running buffet. An American term, used more frequently now in the UK and Europe.
• “Green Room” is the area given to the talent (and usually talent alone) to rest between shot set-ups.
• “Practicals” are light fixtures that are normally found in the location you are shooting. i.e. desk lamp in an office, standing lamp in a living room.
• “Striking” is removing something, a light, a box, a horse, an actor.
• “Closed Set” means there is nude filming going on. You are not allowed on a closed set unless you are key to that scene.
• “Crossing” said before ANYONE crosses in front of camera during a shot set up.
• "Flashing" is said when anyone is taking a photograph of someone.
• “Quiet on set” said, you MUST stop making noise. No talking, no cell phones (not even on vibrate), no walking around. Silent as a mouse.
• “Take” is a scene that has been or is being filmed.
• "A Veronica" Slang for take. Veronica Lake. Uk based. Love this Film-set-jargon
• "The bottle" The lens of the camera. "Don't look down the bottle."
• “Speed” means camera is rolling.
• “Print” is a term used by the director to specify which take is the best in a sequence.
• “Mark” is a blocking term that tells the actors where they need to land in order to be in focus for the camera, usually marked by an “x” on the floor in gaffer tape. Different colours for different characters.
• "Groucho's" The same thing. Groucho Marks. Gettit. You may also stand on a "sausage". A small roll of material useful for testing toe specificity in close ups. Easy to hit without seeing.
• “Cheat” is to falsify the actors move intentionally to best suit the camera.
• “Martini Shot” is the very last shot in production for that day.
• "Magic Hour" The moment when the light is at it's most magical, usually when it changes from daylight to dusk.
• “10-1" Means "I need a bathroom break."
• “Stinger” is an extension cord. US based.
• “C-47″ is the fancy term for a clothespin. US based film-set-jargon.
• "Second Unit" When a separate unit films some event. Often missed footage from the first unit. Sometimes horse riding shots, extraneous driving shots...etc.
• “B-roll” sometimes used for cutaways to add detail, emotion or tension to a scene.
• “ADR” means Automatic Dialogue Replacement and is the process of recording dialogue separately from the action of the scene, that will later sync up with the scene.
• “MOS” stands for Motion Omit Sound and just means silent filming.
• "Wrap" It's a wrap. End of filming. Comes from old studio term from silent films. Wind Reel And Print. All this Film-set-jargon goes back years does it not?
• Checks....Costume hair make up checks before shooting.
• End Board. Slating of scene at END of scene.
• Sound speed. Camera ready speed stable for shooting.
• "Turnover". Start the take. Camera turns over the motor.
• Wildtrack. A sound track without dialogue. Traffic or ambient sounds.
• Sticks. Camera legs. The frame they stand on.
• Edge Of Frame. The edge of the camera frame containing the performance. Useful to know...where the edge is.
• Apple Box . A wooden crate on which actors, DP's and cameras can be placed to alter height.
• Pagganinis. Stepped boxes to alter height. Known sometimes as"Pags"
• First Positions. Go to start of scene again.
• POV. Point of view. This camera shoots the scene from this point of view. Angle.
• Check the gate. Look to see if there is any scratch on film stock. Oddly still sometimes used even when shooting digital.
• Cut. End of a take.
• Coupe. Cut - in France.
• "Rollando". Turn over in Spain.
• "Motor" Same in Romania.
• Honey Wagon - a portable loo.
• Doing a banana. Move in a curve to allow the camera to see behind you (in the shape of a banana).
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