Production

November 2020

film industry terminology

personnel terminology:

ACCOUNTANT – Also known as a Production Accountant; keeps track of all expenditures

Cameraman, loads film, follows focus, marks the spot where the actors stand, and keeps

the camera in proper working condition. In features and television, the normal camera

crew consists of five members.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AD) – Assists with the cast and works as intermediary between

the Director and the cast and crew. The First AD is in charge of the set and coordinating

all aspects of filming activities to keep the production on schedule. The First AD is always

on the set and is your most important contact on the set. The Second AD coordinates

movements of atmosphere or extras, is responsible for the call sheets and for making

sure that everything is in the right place at the right time.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER – A title variously given to the Producer’s deputy, the Production

Grip

BIT PLAYER – Actor having very small speaking parts or having merely pieces of business

(silent bits) in the film.

BOOM OPERATOR – The member of the sound crew who positions a microphone,

various cables and wires, and protecting them and the crew and public from injury or

damage.

CAMERA – See Director of Photography

CAMERA OPERATOR – The member of the crew who actually runs and maneuvers the

camera under the direction of the Director of Photography.

CARPENTER – Responsible for all wood construction such as sets, set pieces and special

effects construction on a production. Also called Prop Maker.

CASTING DIRECTOR – The person or company responsible for finding and hiring most of

the actors required to fill the parts in a script or storyboard.

CINEMATOGRAPHER – See Director of Photography.

CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR – Supervises the construction of sets in and out of the

studio.

COSTUME DESIGNER – The person who designs and oversees the production of

costumes, both period and contemporary.

CRAFTS SERVICES – People who handle the coffee and other beverages and snacks on

DIRECTOR – The person with the overall responsibility for all the creative aspects of the

control. In commercials, the Director must work within the framework of the storyboard

created by the advertising agency.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY – Also known as DP. Responsible for the operation of the

cameras and associated hardware, and is also responsible for their mechanical

condition. Selects the film stock for the picture, supervises the lighting of the scenes,

selects camera positions, and works with the Director. Makes exposure readings, focuses

the camera, composes the shot, and chooses any necessary filters. Oversees lab

processing of the film.

ENG CREW – (Electronic News Gathering). Small team, usually less than five people, with

a self-contained vehicle equipped with videotape, editing and broadcast capability.

Usually associated with daily news broadcasts.

EXTRA – A person who appears in filmed sequences but who speaks no lines nor does

anything that would qualify as a silent bit. Also called Atmosphere, these people are

directed by the Assistant Director.

FIREMAN – Also known as a Fire Safety Officer or Fire Safety Advisor. Required by many

government jurisdictions to supervise the safe operation of the set. Often required when

pyrotechnics are part of the shoot.

set or location and maintaining them. Deals with organic, not imitation, plants.

GRIP – Skilled laborer who assists the camera and lighting and art departments by

moving or lifting equipment pertaining to that department. Grips load and unload

equipment, build camera platforms, dig holes for camera placement, push the dolly and

move the set walls.

KEY GRIP – The head laborer who works with the Gaffer and the Director of Photography

line aspects of production. Responsible for the day-to-day elements of production.

however the Director and Production Designer will be involved in approving the location.

After approval, the Location Manager is responsible for securing all the necessary

permissions for the use of the location, including agreements with the property owner,

permits, police and fire, parking and a place for the catering. Also acts as liaison with

neighbors and is responsible for making sure the site is clean before the clean-up crew

leaves.

LOCATION SCOUT – Independent contractor hired by a company to photograph

MAKE-UP PERSON – Applies make-up to all on-camera talent. Also supervises and/or

MIXER – Chief sound person on the set who operates a console where sounds from

multiple channels are mixed at different volumes. Supervises the sound crew.

POLICE – Off-duty, retired or on-duty officers who assist with traffic control, movement of

vehicles, and, sometimes, security. Most governmental jurisdictions require the presence

of police officers to ensure the public’s safety and to enforce the permit.

PRODUCER – The person who develops the project from start to finish, including

financing. This person hires the Director, Writers, etc., and is involved with the distribution

of the film. The final authority on how funds are spent.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT – A person working for the production manager, handling a

variety of tasks. May be assigned to non-skilled tasks on the set such as preventing

PROPMASTER – The person responsible for all of the small objects used by actors or

placed as dressing on the set. Responsible for the care and use of firearms.

PUBLICIST – A free-lance or studio employee whose job it is to get out interesting

information to newspapers, magazines and news services about the film, as well as to

hold off unwanted media. Also known as a Unit Publicist, this person is a good contact if

you need production stills or want to interview any of the cast or crew.

PYROTECHNICIAN – Person licensed by the State of California and the U.S. Department of

RIGGER – Crewmember responsible for the construction of scaffolding (rigging) on a set,

SCRIPT SUPERVISOR – Responsible for making detailed notes on every take, including

dialogue, action, costumes, props, etc., to ensure these elements match between takes

and scenes.

SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Helps organize and move large numbers of extras in

crowd scenes. Takes direction from the First AD.

SECOND UNIT DIRECTOR – Directs sequences which do not involve the principal actors.

Scenes may include stunts, driving shots, inserts, or backgrounds, and often do not

SET DECORATOR – The person who arranges the furniture, places the props, hangs the

SET DRESSER – Technician working for the Set Decorator. Places furnishings, hangs

draperies and arranges objects used to dress the set. Keeps track of what goes where

as things are moved to accommodate the cameras.

SPECIAL EFFECTS TECHNICIANS – Members of the production crew (or sometimes an

independent company) in charge of producing all the special effects on a production.

This includes elements (such as rain or snow), pyrotechnics, and working parts of a set.

STUNT COORDINATOR – Person who plans and supervises those who execute activities

involving an element of risk. Arranges for safety relating to stunts and choreographs the

STUNT PERSON – Member of the cast who performs dangerous, or potentially dangerous,

SWING GANG – A team of grips assigned to strike and clean up after filming.

TALENT – A term that covers all performers, including animals.

TEACHER – When employing minors, productions are required to have teachers who

hold a valid teaching credential from the State of California, and who are also

knowledgeable in California child labor law.

TECHNICAL ADVISOR – An expert hired to ensure that a certain aspect of the film is

authentic (e.g., a military advisor or Civil War historian).

command.

Continued...

other film terminology

ABOVE THE LINE – The “creative” members of the production team (such as Director,

Writer, Actor, Producer). The cost of their services appears on the top half of a budget

episode, commercial spot, or television movie is to be televised.

APPLE BOX – A small wood box, usually with handholds on the side, used to raise actors

or objects to the correct height for the shot.

AVAILABLE LIGHT – Filming using only naturally occurring light.

BACK LOT – Studio property that includes exterior sets, such as Western towns, New York

BARN DOORS – Hinged doors mounted on the front of a light that may be opened or

reduces mechanical noise and sometimes contains heating elements for use in cold

weather. Also called a Blimp.

locations, or when parking adjacent to the filming location is not possible. Base camp

can also be the site of activities not directly related to filming, e.g., it can serve as a

dressing area or be used for meal service.

BELOW THE LINE – The production staff and technical elements of a project, the cost of

which appears on the bottom half of the budget summary (top sheet), below a heavy

line which divides the page. These costs include non-talent personnel, equipment and

services.

BLACKOUT CLOTH – Heavy, densely woven cloth used to cover windows and doors to

BLIMP – The soundproof casing around a motion picture camera. See Barney.

BOOM MIKE – A microphone with a long extendible arm, enabling the operator to

position the microphone and move it silently around the set following the actors.

BOX RENTAL – A fee or allowance paid to crewmembers for providing their own

equipment or some other item to be used for the production.

BREAKDOWN – The process of taking a script or storyboard and detailing each

significant element. This allows for the arrangements and scheduling of the various

scenes and the order in which they are to be shot.

BREAKAWAY – A set, hand prop, or other item (such as a bottle or chair) constructed to

break in a specific way on cue.

CAMERA CAR – A pickup truck specifically rigged to carry camera equipment and crew.

Used to film moving vehicle shots. Also called an Insert Car.

POST-PRODUCTION – The period of time in a schedule from the first days of cutting until

the delivery of a finished print. Activities include cutting, scoring, sound effects, and

special visual effects.

PREP DAY – Work day preceding filming. Can include set construction or dressing, or

PRE-PRODUCTION – All activity prior to the first day of filming. This generally includes

script rewriting, set design, budgeting, major casting, and selection of principal

locations.

PRINT – Order given when a take is satisfactory. Also, the positive film.

PROCESS SHOT – Used primarily for moving automobile or train shots, the previously

filmed background of the shot is projected through a transparent screen, while the

actors sit in a specially designed vehicle (where the front, sides or back can be

PRODUCTION – Generic term for all types of film, television, commercial and other

PROPS – Moveable objects on the set normally handled by actors. Also called properties.

pyrotechnic material must be handled by a Pyrotechnics Technician licensed by the

State of California. These materials include propane fire rings, bullet hits and sparking

devices.

RAMP – When used on location, describes a structure that allows a moving object (such

as a car) to pass above another object or simply to fly through the air.

REPORT TO – A call that requires the crewmembers to report directly to a location rather

RIGGING – Scaffolding for lights.

RITTER – Also known as a Wind Machine. Looks like a small airplane propeller. Can be

gas or electric powered.

RUN BYS – Shots where a moving vehicle passes a stationary camera position. Also

called Drive Bys.

RUNNING SHOT – Shot where a moving camera films a moving vehicle.

results of the scouting trips become factors in creative and financial aspects of the

SLOW MOTION – Whenever film is shot at a greater frames per second rate than the rate

at which it will be projected, it slows down the motion.

SOUND CART – The wheeled cabinet on which sound recording equipment is placed to

SOUND EFFECTS – Portion of a soundtrack containing sounds other than music or

SPECIAL EFFECTS – A term describing any unusual effect to create an illusion on film.

and intricate optical effects.

SPEED – A cue given when camera and recorder have reached their proper operation.

The signal that the Director can now say “Action.” Also refers to the sensitivity of the film

stock to light.

SQUIB – See Bullet Hit.

STICKS – A term for a camera tripod.

footage which can be incorporated into a new production.

Sketches represent the key situations in the scene.

to each stop of the camera and/or recording. Each shot may be repeated in several

takes until a satisfactory result is achieved.

TECH SCOUT – Also called Technical Scout. Visit to an identified location by a group

including all department heads. This will include the Director, Director of Photography,

First AD, Location Manager, Transportation Coordinator, along with technicians and

TRIPOD – An adjustable, three-legged stand, to which the camera is attached. Also

WETDOWNS – Wetting of pavement for filming. Often requested for car commercials.

Also used to match rain sequences.

WILD TRACK – Sound recording not tied to picture, such as composite sound effects with

filming day.

appear relatively small.