A crew member holds up a clapperboard in the rain beside market stalls on a location shoot.

Play · Flashcards

Know the words before your first day.

Twelve cards from our glossary, dealt at random each time.

Abby / Abby Singer: The second-to-last shot of the day.
Action: Cue for performance to begin (called by the director, or by the 1st AD on their behalf).
ADR: Dialogue re-recorded in a studio after the shoot (post).
APOC: Assistant production coordinator (production).
Apple box: Wooden box for raising people or kit (grip).
Assembly: First cut in script order (post).
Atmos: Atmosphere, meaning room tone (sound) or haze (SFX).
Back to one / first positions: Reset to the start of the take.
Background / SAs: Supporting artists ("extras").
Barn doors: Hinged flaps that shape a lamp's beam (lighting).
Base: Short for unit base.
Best boy: The gaffer's second (lighting), or the key grip's second (best boy grip).
Blocking: Working out actor and camera moves.
Boom: Pole microphone (sound).
Box rental: Fee for your own kit or tools, kept separate from labour.
Breakaway: Prop made to break safely (SFX/art).
Breakdown: Script analysis by department, or ageing a costume or prop.
Call sheet: The next day's plan, issued each evening.
Call time: The time you start work, not the time you leave home.
Camera report: Log of takes and settings (camera).
Cart: Camera or sound trolley.
Chargehand: Working supervisor of a crew section (lighting, props, construction).
Cheat: Move something slightly for the frame.
Checking the gate / checking the take: Confirming the take is technically good.
Clean plate: The shot without actors (VFX).
Clearances: Permission for brands, artwork and music on screen.
Comp: Compositing (VFX).
Company move: Moving the whole unit during the day.
Conform: Rebuilding the edit at full quality (post).
Continuity: Keeping details consistent between shots; also the script supervisor's job.
Cost report: Weekly spend against budget (production).
Coverage: The set of shots that cover a scene.
Crossing: Warning that you are walking through frame or light.
Crowd: Large background call; also the crowd ADs, costume and HMU teams.
Cut: Stop the take.
CWD: Continuous working day, with no sit-down lunch and a shorter day.
Dailies: Extra crew hired by the day; also the US word for rushes.
Deal memo: Written terms agreed before you start.
De-rig: Taking a rig or set of lamps down.
Desk: Lighting control console.
Distro: Power distribution (lighting).
DIT: Digital imaging technician (camera).
Dolly: Wheeled camera platform (grip).
DoP: Director of photography.
Double: Stand-in performer for action (stunts).
DPR: Daily progress report.
Dressing: Set dressing (art).
Dub / mix: Final sound mix (post).
EDL: Edit decision list (post).
Eyeline: Where an actor looks.
Facilities ("facs"): Trailers, catering, toilets.
First positions: Where the take starts.
Fitting: Costume try-on (costume).
Flag: Black panel that cuts light (lighting/grip).
Flat: Set wall panel (construction).
Floor: The shooting area; also floor crew.
Floor runner: AD-department runner on set.
Foley: Performed sound effects (post).
Gaffer: Head of the electrical department.
Gel: Coloured filter for lamps.
Going again: Another take.
Grade: Colour correction (post); also a job grade.
Hand prop: Prop an actor handles.
Hero (prop/costume): The close-up version.
HMU: Hair and make-up.
HOD: Head of department.
Honeywagon: Toilet trailer.
Hot set: Set in use or mid-scene; don't touch.
Key: The senior person in a team (key grip, key PA, key 2nd).
Last looks: Final HMU and costume check before a take.
Lay track: Put down dolly track (grip).
Lined script: Script marked with tramlines (script).
Location agreement: Contract with the owner (locations).
Lock it up / lock-off: Stop movement and noise; hold the public.
Low loader: Trailer that carries a car for driving shots.
Mag / card: Recording medium (camera).
Magic hour: Brief low, warm light at dawn or dusk.
Marks: Actor or camera positions taped on the floor.
Martini: The last shot of the day.
Matchmove: Recreating camera movement digitally (VFX).
M&E: Music and effects track (post).
MMP: Major Motion Picture (the Pact/Bectu film agreement).
Movement order: Directions to locations and base.
Moving on: The setup is done.
Multiples: Identical copies of a costume or prop.
ND: Neutral density filter (camera).
Pencil: Provisional hold on dates.
Petty cash / float: Cash advance to reconcile.
Pick-up: Restarting a take part-way.
Picture lock: No more picture changes (post).
Plate: Live-action footage for VFX.
Practical: Lamp visible in shot.
Pre-call: Call earlier than unit call.
Pre-light / pre-rig: Lighting or rigging before the unit arrives.
Prep: Preparation days or weeks; also camera prep at the rental house.
Property master: Head of the props department.
Pyro: Pyrotechnics (SFX).
RAMS: Risk assessment and method statement.
Recce: Visit to assess a location (tech recce: the HODs' visit).
Rehearsal: Run-through before shooting.
Reinstatement: Returning a location to its original state.
Rigging: Fixing equipment to structures.
Room tone: Recorded silence of a space (sound).
Roto: Tracing shapes frame by frame (VFX).
Run of show: Engaged for the whole production.
Rushes: The day's footage.
Second unit: Smaller unit shooting action, inserts or scenery.
Sides: Small copies of the day's script pages.
Slate: Clapperboard; also the setup number.
Speed: Sound recording is running.
Splinter unit: Small extra unit running alongside the main unit.
Standby: Crew stationed on the floor during shooting; also "ready".
Stems: Separate final mix tracks (post).
Story day: The in-story day a scene takes place.
Strike: Clear a set or remove an item.
SWD: Standard working day (with lunch).
Tail slate / end board: Slate at the end of a take.
Timecode: Clock data that syncs picture and sound.
Tramlines: Lines on the script showing coverage.
Turnaround: Rest between wrap and next call (11 hours under the Pact/Bectu TV terms).
Turning around: Re-pointing camera to the reverse angle.
Turnover: Start rolling (floor); hand off a locked cut (post/VFX).
Unit base: Trucks, trailers and catering away from set.
Unit call: Start time for the whole unit.
Video village: Monitor area for the director and clients.
Wet-down: Soaking a street for night shine (SFX).
Wild track / wild line: Sound or dialogue recorded without picture.
Wild wall: Removable set wall.
Wrap: End of the day or production; "wrapped on" means a person is released.

Know the words before your first day.

Watch: the words in use