On Set Dictionary

From MediaStudies

'WATCH YOUR BACK' A warning said by anyone coming though or around the set with an object that could potentially hit someone

'86 IT' Something needs to be removed from the scene (i.e. a prop, a piece of set dressing)

'DEAL MEMO' A crew contract made with the Production Company that outlines salary, screen credit and kit rental fee

'10-4' An affirmative response. It usually follows a question such as 'Did you copy that?'

'10-1 (or 10-100)' If you’re in the bathroom, and somebody asks “what’s your 20?”, it is not suitable to say, “I am taking a leak in the can”. Say “I am 10-1"denoting that you’re in the restroom taking care of number 1.

'10-2 (or 10-200)' Same thing as ten one, yet this one denotes that you’re taking care of number 2.

'COPY' Confirmation that someone has heard a message over the walkie. Also used in the phrase 'Copy that'

'WALKIE' A walkie-talkie used by most crew on set to communicate with one another

'WALKIE CHECK' Indicates someone is checking to see their walkie-talkie is functioning. Respond with "Check good"

'WHAT IS YOUR 20?' Rather than saying "Where is ____?, ask what their 20 is, meaning their location. If someone asks for your 20, they are looking for you

'WINNIE' One of the large trailers or Winnebagos on set that can house a cast member, make- up and hair, wardrobe, the AD office or sometimes the production office

'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.

'THE MARTINI' The last shot of the day.

'APPLE BOX' Ubiquitous crates used for everything from door stops to seats to actor-heighteners. There are full apples, half apples and quarter apples.

'HONEYWAGON' The film trailer that contains the washrooms, AD office and other portable rooms

'LOCK IT UP' Called out by the 1st AD to indicate all noise, traffic, activity or action should be halted as shooting is about to begin. This is one of the main functions of a Set Production Assistant. On every shot there will be a number of lockup positions where the P.A. will stand making sure that all crew are aware of whether or not there is filming going on by echoing the call. The P.A. will then make sure nobody makes any sound that could be heard to either disrupt the sound quality, or the actors concentration.

'PICTURE IS UP/STAND BY FOR PICTURE' This is the final stage before the actually rolling of the camera and sound where Make-up and Costume will have the ability to get in final looks to make sure everything is ready.

'ROLL CAMERA' - Called by the 1st AD to start the camera rolling. Usually followed by 2nd A.D. and P.A.s shouting "Rolling."

'TURN OVER' Same as ROLL CAMERA

'SPEED (or SOUND SPEED)' Called by the Sound Mixer when the sound recorder is rolling and ready to record.

'CHECKING THE GATE' Called by the 1st AD to indicate the 1st Camera Assistant will be checking the camera casing for any debris that could spoil the shot. If the casing is clean, the 1st Camera Assistant responds with “THE GATE IS GOOD” and set-up begins on the next shot

'HOT SET' Refers to a set in progress where nothing should be touched

'DAILIES' The footage shot on any given day to be regularly reviewed by the Director, 1st Ad, DOP and Producers

'KILL THAT' Make it stop. Usually refers to a loud noise that is disrupting the set (i.e. “Kill the air conditioning”)

'WRAP' When shooting is done for the day

'GENERAL CREW CALL' The time at the beginning of the shoot day when most of the cast and crew are expected on set. Some cast and crew will have different calls dependent on when they are required.

'FIRST TEAM' The actors in the scene

'SECOND TEAM' The stand ins

'STAND IN' Most actors have a stand in, which is another actor who shares the features with the person whom he is standing in for. Such features include height, hair color, build. Their purpose is to imitate what the main actor will be doing for any given scene to aid the director and D.P. in pre-visualizing the scene for lighting and camera angles without bothering the main actor.

'REHEARSAL' The activity where the Director supervises actors in a practice run. Actors are usually in costume and have been through the hair and make-up process. Rehearsals generally precede shooting. Often private and 1st A.D. will shout, "Rehearsal's up!"

'BLOCKING' After the rehearsal, there is a blocking rehearsal where all crew on set usually observe in order to set up the scene properly

'ACTION' the Director’s signal that actors should begin performing

' TURNING AROUND' the camera will be shooting from the opposite angle

' CUT' The Director will yell this when he wants the camera, sound and action to stop

' COVERAGE' Refers to a variety of different shots filmed for a scene. They are used in the editing process to create pace and variety

M.O.S The scene does not require any sound to be recorded. It comes from the German expression “Mit out sound” which means "Without Sound"

'SPUDS, SPREADERS and PANCAKES' Different types of Grip equipment

'DOLLY' A platform with wheels that has a mount for the camera

'CRANE SHOT' Indicates a crane is being used to get an overhead or aerial shot of the scene

'CLAPPER' The device used to mark in and out points of a scene.

'FLYING IN' This is an exaggerated term used when talking about somebody or something going somewhere. i.e. “John is flying into set” or “the call sheet is flying in”.

'EXTRA/BACKGROUND' Both mean any individual who does not have a speaking role in the film who is participating in a scene. This includes people in the distance at a mall, or they can even have direct contact with a speaking actor.

'KEYING THE MIC'Keying the mic: You key the mic every time you use it to talk. Every once and a while somebody will be accidentally keying the microphone without knowing about it, and this could go on for five minutes before they are found and made aware. This consequently will lead to some pretty entertaining eavesdropping from time to time.

'GRACE' Lunch is taken very seriously on a set given all the union regulations and hungry crew. The common rule of thumb is lunch is served six hours after the general crew call. Every once and a while, grace is called before lunch. It is basically production, i.e. the Director and the A.D.’s asking for an extra eleven minutes of filming before lunch. All the crew must agree on it and if it takes them longer than eleven minutes to wrap things up for lunch, penalties will begin to be incurred in the form of overtime money to the crew.

'ECHO THE CALL' The act of repeating the Assistant Director’s commands from the walkie. The First Assistant Director will say such things as “rolling”, “cut”, “pictures up”, “that’s a wrap”, and it is the Production Assistants duty to repeat these by yelling them out where their lockup position is.

'GO TO 2' Most of the crew are wired into a walkie system. Channel 1 is the main line. Everyone generally stays tuned to that one (certain departments just stay tuned to their own channel to avoid the chatter on 1). When you need to speak to someone, you ask for them on 1. When they respond, the caller will often say “go to 2”, meaning “let’s not busy up channel 1 with our conversation that no one else will want to hear, so go to 2 and we’ll talk semi-privately”.

'GOING AGAIN' When the director wants another take right away, the AD will announce “going again” to the crew to avoid any disruptions.

'LAST LOOKS' The AD’s warning to hair, wardrobe and makeup that they’ve got dwindling seconds to beautify the actors before the cameras start to roll.

'JOE PROPS' Some crews have people with the same name. Rather than have confusion, when you are calling for Joe, the department is used as the last name. (i.e. Jim Crafty, Sue Hair, etc.)

'VIDEO VILLAGE' On every set there’s a small encampment where you’ll find set chairs positioned around monitors pulling in video feeds from the cameras. This is where the Director, DP, Script Supervisor and Producers sit.

'“DOES ANYONE HAVE EYES ON _____”' Said when you or somebody is looking for someone that is not on a walkie, often the actors outside taking a smoke break.

'CRAFTY' The nickname for Craft Services, or, “the place with the snacks and drinks on it.” Beware fattening food!

'TRANSPO' Transportation. The guys that will drive all the Cube trucks, Passenger Vans, and any other vehicle that needs to be on set. Often found sitting outside smoking, or at Crafty.

'CUBE TRUCKS' A large truck with a lift gate, usually anywhere from 5 to 15 ton and higher. The different departments will usually have there own cube trucks to put there stuff in.

'PASS VAN' Or “Passenger Van,” is used to travel people to and from set. Typically, if you shoot on location, you park at the crew parking, which is located usually within several miles of set. The Pass Vans will then drive you to set.

'"GO FOR_____"' When someone is looking for you, they will typically say for example, “Jon for Frank.” And you would reply “Go for Frank.” It’s acknowledging that you heard them.

'STAND BY' If someone is looking for you on walkie, and at the same time you’re busy with something else, you would just say “Stand by” to let them know you’ll be right with them.

'THE PO' Or, The Production Office, usually a trailer or office on set where you’ll find the Production Manager, time cards, W-2, and any other important paper work needed on set.

'ON A BELL' This is the term used when the production uses a bell, often accompanied by a red light, to signal the beginning of a take. Usually the bell rings just before the cast and crew is asked to settle and the cameras are ordered to roll. The red light illuminates when the filming is about to begin or is in progress and is turned off between takes or setups. Never enter a set where the red light is lit.

'OUT TIME' The actual time one has been released from set.

'SIDES' A physically smaller size set of script pages that actors and filmmakers can easily carry around with them on the set. The Sides only include the pages that will be filmed that day. Actors use the pages to read and rehearse their scenes as the crew sets up the shot.