SET TERMS

A.D.: Assistant Director (there will be 2^nd AD’s and 1^st AD’s)

BACKGROUND TALENT: Also known as extras

BACK TO ONE! – The verbal cue for performers to return to the mark where they started the scene.

BLOCKING REHEARSAL Rehearsing the physical movements used by actors in a scene so that the key players (sound, lighting, and art dept.) can see what the actors are doing in the scene in order to prepare to shoot it properly.

BOOM: An overhead microphone, usually mounted on an extended pole

Call sheet: Production term for daily listing of shooting schedule, scenes and cast involved.

CALL TIME: The time you are due on a set

CATERING: Provides prepared hot meals

CHECKING THE GATE! – A verbal command to check the lens on the camera; if the lens is OK the cast & crew will move on to the next scene or shot.

CHIEF ELECTRICIAN – Heads the electrician crew; also called the Gaffer.

CINEMATOGRAPHER – Director of Photography

COVERAGE – All camera shots other than the master shot; coverage might include two-shots and close-ups.

CRAFT SERVICES – On-set beverage and snack table. Different from the Caterer

CRANE SHOT – A camera shot raised over or above the set or the action.

DAY PLAYER: A performer hired on a day-to-day basis, rather than under a long-term contract.

DIRECTOR – The coordinator of all artistic and technical aspects of any production.

DOWNGRADE: Reduction of a performer’s on-camera role from principal to extra

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (D.P. or D.O.P) – Supervises all decisions regarding lighting, camera lenses, color and filters, camera angle set-ups, camera crew and film processing.

DOLLY – A piece of equipment that the camera sits on to allow mobility of the camera.

EXT. (Exterior): A scene shot outside

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Person responsible for funding the production.

FIRST A.D. – First Assistant Director; person responsible for the running of the set. Gives instructions to crew and talent, including calling for “first team,” “quiet,” “rehearsal,” and “take five.”

FIRST TEAM – The production term for the principal actors in a scene.

GAFFER – The Chief Electrician.

GRIPS – Members of the film crew who are responsible for moving set pieces, lighting equipment, dolly track and other physical movement of equipment.

HONEY WAGON – A towed vehicle containing one or more dressing rooms, as well as crew bathrooms.

INSERTS – Shots, usually close -ups of hands or close business, inserted into previously shot footage.

INT. (Interior) – A scene shot indoors.

“IN” TIME – The actual call time or start time; also, return time from a break.

(K) – the letter used next to a cast member’s name on the shooting schedule or call sheet to indicate that actor is a minor or “kid.”

LINE PRODUCER – The producer responsible for keeping the director on time and budget; generally the most visible producer actually on the set.

LONG SHOT (LS) – A camera shot which captures the performer’s full body.

LOOPING (also called ADR)- An in-studio technique used to fix dialogue already performed during principal photography by matching voice to picture.

MARK – The exact position(s) given to an actor on a set to insure that he/she is in the proper light and camera angle; generally marked on the ground with tape or chalk.

MARKER! – A verbal cue that the take has been identified on camera both verbally and with the slate board.

MASTER SHOT – A camera shot that includes the principal actors and relevant background activity; generally used as a reference shot to record the scene from beginning to end before shooting close-ups, over-the-shoulders, etc.

MEAL PENALTY: A set fee paid by the producer for failure to provide meals as set by the contract

MOS (Mit Out Sound/Motion Only Shot) – Any shot without dialogue or sound recording.

ND MEAL (NON DEDUCTABLE MEAL) – A 15 minute meal break provided to actors by the production company to bring actors in sync with crew break time. It must be completed within 2 hours of performers call time.

OUT OF FRAME – An actor outside the camera range.

“OUT” TIME – The actual time when you are released after you have changed out of wardrobe and make- up.

OVER-THE-SHOULDER – A shot over the shoulder of one actor, focusing entirely on the face and upper torso of the other actor in a scene; generally shot in pairs so both actors expressions can later be edited together.

P.A. – Production Assistant.

PER DIEM – Fee paid by producer on location shoots to compensate performer for expenditures for meals not provided by the producer.

PHOTO DOUBLE – An actor cast to perform on camera in place of another.

PICK UP – Starting a scene from a place other than the beginning.

PICTURE’S UP! – Warning that the sequence of cues to shoot a scene is about to begin.

PRINCIPAL – A performer with lines.

“PRINT!” – A call from the director at the end of a take that that particular take is good enough be printed.

PRODUCER: (or Line Producer) The person responsible for the day-to-day decision making on a production

PROPS – Any objects used by actors in a scene.

PSA – Public Service Announcement.

PUMPKIN – term used for the time that a minor must be wrapped by on set.

RESIDUAL – The fee paid to a performers for rebroadcast of a commercial, film or TV program

RIGHT-TO-WORK-STATES – Those states which do not honor certain union provisions.

ROLLING! – The verbal cue for the camera and audio to start rolling.

ROOM TONE – A sound recording (sometimes made upon completion of a scene) to record existing noise at the location. Also called “wild track”.

SCALE – Minimum payment for services under union contracts.

SCRIPT SUPERVISOR – The crew member assigned to record all changes or actions as the production proceeds.

SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Often two or three on a set, they handle checking in the talent, insuring proper paperwork is filed, distribute script revisions. Actors check in with the 2nd A.D. upon arrival on the set.

SECOND TEAM! – The verbal cue for the stand-ins to come to the set and be ready to stand in.

SIDES – Pages or scenes from a script that are being shot that day.

SLATE – A small chalkboard and clapper device, often electronic, used to mark and identify shots on film for editing.

SPEED! – A verbal cue that the audio tape is up to speed for recording.

STAND-INS – Extra Performers used as substitutes for featured players, for the purpose of setting lights and rehearsing camera moves; also known as the second team.

SW – A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting on that day and working on that day (“START WORK”).

SWF – A notation on a call sheet that an actor is starting, working, and finished on that day (“START WORK FINISH”).

TAKE – The clapboard indication of a shot “taken” or printed.

UPM – Unit Production Manager – Oversees the crews and is handles the scheduling and all the technical responsibilities of the production.

WALKAWAY – A meal break in which all cast and crew are on their own to get lunch.

WARDROBE – The clothing a performer wears on camera.

WARDROBE ALLOWANCE – A maintenance fee paid to on-camera talent for the use (and dry cleaning) of talent’s own clothing.

WEATHER PERMIT CALL – Due to weather conditions, the production company has the option to release an actor four hours after the call time (if the camera has not started to roll) with a reduced rate of pay for the day.

W/N – Will Notify. A notation on a call sheet that tells the actor that he/she will probably work that day but the specific time has not yet been decided.

WRAP – The completion of a day’s filming or of the entire production.