Production Terms 2 Flashcards
Prop Table
The table backstage on which props are laid out, usually in a mapped out order.
Glow Tape
Glow-in-the-dark tape, placed in small pieces around set so the actors and crew will not bump into anything during a blackout.
Flat
A cloth-covered wooden frame, usually rectangular.
Back Drop
A large piece of canvas hung from a batten and painted to represent a particular scenic element. Aka Drop.
Borders
In scenery, material hung at the top of the set to hide fly system from audience. Aka Teaser. OR in lights, lighting instruments hung in battens over the stage area.
Scrim
Loosely-woven material used as a drop. When lit from the front, is opaque and when from behind is transparent. AKA Gauze and Bobbinet.
Cable
Electrical cord used in circuiting lighting instruments or other stage devices requiring electricity.
Cyclorama / Cyc:
A curved drop or wall used as a background to partially enclose the set. Often depicts the sky. Painted or lit.
Cyc Lights / Cyclorama
Power lighting instruments used to light the cyc with a smooth wash.
Dim
To decrease the intensity of a stage light.
Dimmer
Electrical apparatus used to control the intensity of the lighting instrument to which it is circuited. Found on lighting board.
Ellipsoidal
A type of lighting instrument that emits a hard-edged circle of light. Aka Leko.
Followspot
A hand-operated lighting instrument mounted on a swivel stand that emits a high intensity beam of light, used to follow an actor on stage.
Footlights
Striplights used for general lighting. May be permanent or mobile.
Fresnel (Fer-nel)
A type of lighting instrument that emits a soft-edged diffused light.
Gel
Transparent material used to color the lights.
Par (Can)
Parabolic Aluminum Reflector. Most popular light. Cylindrical.
Pre-set
The setting on stage that the audience sees before the play begins. Refers to lights, set and props.
Running Crew
Backstage group of people who perform all technical tasks during the show.
Gobo
A metal cutout used in an Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight that projects an image. Aka Template.
House Lights
Lights used to illuminate the area where the audience sits.
Lamp
Part of lighting instrument that emits the light. The “light bulb” of the instrument. Aka the bottle.
Lighting Tree
A vertical pipe that is placed on the side of a stage to hold lighting instruments. Aka Boom or Boomerang.
Spill
Extraneous light that can be cut off with a shutter.
