Terminology Pages 1-2 Flashcards
Learn different bits of acting terminology
20
When you want to know where someone is, don’t say ‘Where’s Joe?’ That’s the mark of a rookie. You want a ‘20’ on Joe. An alternative is to get on the walkie and ask, ‘Does anyone have eyes on Joe?’
50-50
When you hear someone suggest a 50-50, it means a two-shot in which both actors share the screen equally. You can have a 50-50 head on or a profile 50-50. This term is used exclusively of an over, which is a shot over one actor’s shoulder to another, or a single. Singles can be clean (just one actor) or dirty (one actor with a bit of another in the frame).
Abby Singer
The second-to-last shot of the day. Apparently from an A.D named Abby Singer who routinely announced that a shot was the last of the day, only to learn that there was one more.
A.D
The Assistant Director. Directly responsible to the Director. This individual maintains optimum coordination among crew and actors in order to keep up the pace required by the shooting schedule and set by the Director. He’s the one who calls for quiet on set before giving the order to sound roll.
Added Scenes
Additional filming for which the actor is called back again after the picture.
Adjustment/Bump
A change in pay usually brought about by the addition of special business not contracted for in the original agreement.
Apple Box
Ubiquitous crates used for everything from door stops to seats to actor-heighteners. There are full apples, half apples and quarter apples. Ask to sit on a half-apple, and you’ll be looked upon as a veteran of the trade.
Atmos
An abbreviation of the term ‘atmosphere,’ meaning the extras.
Background Action
Direction meaning for any extras or atmosphere to start their action before the main action is started.
Back Stepping
A technique for hitting a mark for a clean entrance by stepping backward until out of the frame and then stepping back in the same amount of steps this hitting the mark without looking.
Best Boy
1st assistant electrician. Works directly with the gaffer and helps supervise the lighting crew.
Blimp
A covering put over the camera to cut down on camera noise so that it will not be picked up on the sound track.
Boom Operator
Operates the microphone boom (or fish pole). He also attaches the proper microphone to the actors.
Call
Exact time you are ‘called’ to report on set.
Call Sheet
Sheet given to cast and crew at the end of each day with the next day’s shooting schedule and your call time written in. Also tells you where you are to report, and what scenes are to be shot and in what order.
Boom Operator
Operates the microphone boom (or fish pole). He also attaches the proper microphone to the actors.
Call
Exact time you are ‘called’ to report to set.
Call Sheet
Sheet given to cast and crew at the end of each day with the next day’s shooting schedule and your call time written in. Also tells your where you are to report, and what scenes are to be shot and in what order.
Camera Left/Right
When an actor is facing the camera, camera left is the actors’ right, and camera right is the actors’ left.
Camera Operator
Operates the camera at all times required. Tells the second assistant cameraman when to slate a take.
Chalks/T’s/Tape
The chalk marks, rubber t-shaped markers or pieces of gaffer tape placed around your feet to show the exact position you are to hit for a shot.
Circle
Film is expensive to print, and it’s annoying to have to pour through endless dailies when you know there’s a particular take that was great. Directors tell the script supervisor to ‘circle that take,’ telling the editor which take the director wants printed. Happily, the un-circles takes are also developed and can be mined for hidden gold when your circled take turns out to be worthless in the cutting room.
Clean Entrance / Exit
Being all the way out of a shot and CLEAN walking into it, or exiting all the way out of a scene (out of frame).
Cheat Your Look
A direction meaning for an actor to angle his look a little to the left or right (or up or down) for better camera coverage of his face.
Coverage
Many different angles of the same scene.
Covering
An actor ‘covering’ another actor who is accidentally between the other actor and the camera lens.
Cowboy
Another common shot description, denoting a frame that runs from mid-thigh to the top of the head. Taken from Westerns, where the shot was commonly used.
Crafty
The typical nickname for the Craft Services, aka ‘the table with the fattening food on it.’ The locale for snacks and drinks. ‘Can you run by Crafty and get me a cookie?’
Critical Mark
The exact spot an actor must hit to be in focus for the camera.
Cut
The director yells ‘cut’ when a scene is complete or when he wants to stop it for some reason. The Cameraman and the Mixer can also cut a scene.
Crew
The technicians (camera, sound, lights, etc…not actors.)
Dailies/Rushes
Scenes that have just been shot and printed. Usually screened daily by the director, producers, editors, D.P., etc.
Dialogue Director
Works with actors on lines, line reading, etc.
Director
He is directly responsible to the producer for directing the cast and crew to obtain the best photographic and dramatic interpretation of the script. He blocks, directs, and rehearses all action of actors, extras and camera. He also supervises the first cut (editing) of the film.
Dissolve
When the script says ‘dissolve,’ the director will have you hold or stretch out the final moment or take. Later, in processing, technically there is enough so your face can disappear slowly.
Dolly
Either the moveable mount for the cameras, or, as a verb, the camera is ‘dollying’ when it is moving toward or away from you.
Double
Does Stunts, or shots that it is not necessary for the actor himself to actually do as long as it looks like he did. Your double is wardrobed and made up (and cast accordingly to size being near yours) to look like you.
Down Camera Eye
The actor’s eye which is closest to the camera.
D.P
Director of Photography. He is directly responsible to the Director and assists him in translating the screenplay into visual images. He also supervises all lighting.
Drift
An actor who ‘drifts’ from side to side and upsets the cameraman.
Drive To Pay
When you are asked to drive yourself to a location, you are paid in cash each day according to mileage and gas.
Dry Run
A rehearsal of a scene to be shot. This is mostly for camera, but also for performance.
Dubbing
Adding music and sound not recorded when shooting, or an actor sometimes ‘dubs’ lines into scenes where they didn’t exist or where another actor didn’t speak well enough.
Fill
Area lighting used to ‘fill in’ key lighting.
First
Slang for first assistant director. Also called First A.D.
First Team
This is called when a scene has been lit using the stand ins, and they are ready for the actors themselves to come in, replace the stand ins, and shoot the scene.
Fitting Charge
An extra payment when actors have to go to the studio or elsewhere for special wardrobe fittings.
