Yeoboseyo film jammers! Have you ever walked onto a film set and heard some lingo
maybe you didn't know? Like "Hey Charlie fly that 1/2 apple in here Chicago stat!" That's actual film set lingo.
So hold on to your Berets, and let's learn film set 101.
So being on a film set can sometimes be like learning a new language between the equipment and the lingo.
Luckily, we've assembled a list of some of our top things to know on a film set to help you.
Beadboard clamp. This little guy is used to clamp beadboard and attach it to a stand. It goes by many names including
Onkybonk, Quacker, Duckbill or the old traditional beadboard holder or clamp
Moments away. To let the crew know that you are about to roll or start filming an assistant director
may sometimes say moments away this indicates to the actors and crew that the team is almost prepared for the next take and literally just
moments away from rolling. "Moments away folks, moments away!"
The martini shot. The martini shot is the last shot of the day, when everybody's going drinking!
So typically the assistant director calls this when the day is over and then you can go have a drink maybe if that's your thing
you know, maybe you have a little maple syrup.
10:1. If you need to use the bathroom, but don't want to explain or want to do it discreetly,
you can say "10:1" to your coworker. This lets them know that you'll be in the restroom if they need you.
This is good form on set in case someone's looking for you. 10-1.
Gotta pee.
Hold the work. If you're on set sometimes the crew may be working or breaking down equipment and it might make noise, so you could
hear the A.D. say "hold the work." This basically means be quiet so the team can record the next take
Hold the work!
Crossing. Crossing in front of the camera is generally bad form and it should be avoided as much as possible on set.
However,
when you can't avoid it calling out
"crossing" is a standard on-set courtesy
If you're going to cross in front of the camera before doing so you should always warn your camera operator
It's a courtesy to be -- crossing! and you want to just be -- crossing! It's just the -- crossing!
Striking. When turning on a light on set, you should always warn the crew and actors by calling out
"striking." This let's the crew know that the light is turning on and to avoid looking at it so they don't hurt their eyes
Let's turn on the 10k over there!
Striking! Striking!
Properly stricken.
Walk away.
Sometimes a crew member may adjust the light or camera and you may hear the DP say "walk away." What that means
is that the adjustment is good and to walk away so no further adjustments are made. Yeah a little to the left,
"Yeah yeah, okay back to the right. Uh-huh. Split the difference, looking good. I love it! Jimbo, walk away."
"Walking away!" Jimbo's a lady
Back to one.
After a take the director or the assistant
director may say "back to one." This means that they want the actors and crew to go back to their first mark
So another take can be recorded. So they might be like, "Hey Jimmy go back to one
We got to do another take I didn't like that whole hand gesture thing
alright, so it's not working for me. Everybody back to one
Flying in. When something is arriving
at set or on its way back to set it's common to say something is "flying in."
It's not actually flying, but it's on its way back.
So for example
The director asked for a prop and then the production assistant is heading back to set with the prop "Grenade launcher flying in," Grenade launcher's
flown in! Take this Jupiter!
Slate or clapper. A slate is used to sink cameras and sound together in post.
It's also used to give other information about the production like shooting format, day or night, and the director and
cinematographers names. In a pinch you can clap your hands if you forget a slate or don't have one.
This will make it easier to sync up multiple cameras,
or if you're recording sound on a separate system and syncing it up later in post.
Room tone!
Quiet! Room tone is a short recording, typically 10 to 30 seconds,
recorded by the sound mixer in a room to capture the natural tone of the room.
For example,
if there is an air-conditioning unit or some other type of unique tone in the room this room
tone will be used to help the editor smooth out the audio when cutting the scene.
Video village. Video village is the place on set where typically the director and
producers will view the footage on the monitors. On larger sets
this can be a whole tent full of monitors and gear, or on smaller sets
it can just be one monitor off to the side. "Hey! How's he gonna see the framing on the shot?"
"We got no monitors in video village Jimbo! Now frame up that ass cheek! Looking big."
"Big ass! Big ass!"
Gear. Here's a quick overview on some gear you may come across on set.
C-47s, basically clothes pins used to hold gel and other things in place on set. I like to clip them on my shirt.
Apple boxes. An apple box is a wooden box that comes in varying sizes and can be used to prop up or temporarily support gear.
Everything from furniture to light stands, and it can also provide temporary seats to crew members.
So when the Apple box is on its long and narrow side,
it's in the Chicago position. When it's propped up at its tallest,
that's called the New York position. And when the box lays flat on its widest side, it's in the LA position.
You may also need to make an actor appear taller sometimes, either because of their height or to adjust the composition of a particular shot.
Tom Cruise loves his Apple box cause he's short!
C-stand.
A C-stand is basically a large metal light stand with a grip arm that can be used to hold a variety of things like bounce cards,
Mics, lights, frames, etc
They're very versatile and they can be stacked for easy storage. Combo stand. Now a combo stand is more heavy-duty than a c-stand.
It's used for larger lights and gear, and it's often used on putting up frames or larger light fixtures outside in heavy wind.
Gaff tape, the duct tape of film sets.
It's not sticky like duct tape and it's very strong. Gaff tape can be used to tape down cables,
set marks, and a lot of other uses on set.
You want to be the coolest guy on set? Learn how to juggle gaff tape.
That's how I met my last three girlfriends. Check this out ladies!
Sandbags.
Dirt, shot bags.
These little bags are filled with sand or metal balls called shot and they're commonly used to hold your stands in place
so they don't get knocked over by crew members or in the wind.
Well, we hope these tips helped you learn some on-set lingo and maybe next time you're filming
You can tell that PA to go grab that Apple box Chicago-style so you can sit down your green M&Ms in video village.
Let us know in the comments if you have any other film set lingo we missed and please like and subscribe for new videos every Friday
This is Pacino doing video village. "Hey, hoo-hah can we get some video -- Can we get some monitors up in video village here?
It's a big ass! Ass--