Production Terminology Flashcards
Average budget of a major studio motion picture (production and marketing) in 2007
$70.1 million to produce, $35.9 million to market. Total of $106.6 million per picture.
Cold Open
The technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown. Content of cold open does not necessarily relate to overall plot.
What is “Production Fringe”?
Fringe rates refer to the employer’s share of payroll taxes which include social security (FICA), state unemployment insurance (SUI) and federal unemployment insurance (FUI); property damage and public liability insurance; workers’ compensation insurance; and where applicable, vacation and holiday pay and contributions to pension and welfare funds.
Generally, the fringe rate is determined as a percentage of the employee’s gross wages and paid directly to the appropriate
tax agency, insurance carrier and guild or union trust fund.
What is an AICP Bid Form?
A standardized bid form for commercial production used by every production co, agency and many clients.
What does it mean to “break story” on a screenplay?
Breaking story basically means figuring out the screenplay’s blueprint — mapping out a story and coming up with a logically and dramatically consistent beginning, middle, and end, and the major checkpoints therein.
What is an “over”?
Stands for “over the shoulder”. When shooting 2 person dialogue, a camera will often position “over the shoulder” or one actor to shoot the face of the other.
What is a “single”?
A “single” is a shot with only one person in frame, usually shot while capturing dialogue between 2 or more actors.
What does “last looks” mean?
Usually announced by the AD, it means it’s time for final touchups by the makeup artists.
What is a “serialized” tv show?
“Serials” rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. They typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series.
Eg’s: Walking Dead, Mad Men.
What is an “episodic” tv show?
Stand-alone episodes of a tv show.
Eg’s: Community, 30 Rock.
