Film slang
- Thread starter Smith
- Start date
Well, some people use 'Martini Shot' as the last shot of the film.
It is commly called a 'Window Shot' for the last shot of each day. Coming from the meaning of crew going to the window to recieve their pay.
It's used a lot less now.
There's almost a word for everything on set. You'll learn them as you go.
It is commly called a 'Window Shot' for the last shot of each day. Coming from the meaning of crew going to the window to recieve their pay.
It's used a lot less now.
There's almost a word for everything on set. You'll learn them as you go.
It doesn't say it, but the term C47 was brought about because that was it's catologe number.
"Fly in a full apple. New York it right here. Then Hollywood
that four-by double next to the cookie."
that four-by double next to the cookie."
How weird, I know some people in Shrewsbury.
Two out of four.
This is a classic command the key grip will bark at any
FNG. You would have failed and been laughed at for
the rest of the shoot.
I once saw a FNG actually head over to the craft
service table after being given that order.
But most pick up the slang fast and are humping with
the rest of the crew soon enough. Though the laughing
and ribbing doesn't stop...
Good to know.
Lmao.
I'm just the kind of idiot who would fall for something like this.
Brooksy's pretty close though.
First one is right, I *think* the second one is right. (Never heard "New York" as a verb, but can't think of an alternate - if anything "use it to stand on" would make sense in this instance).
Third one is close, but no walking. Generally hold it there manually without putting it on a stand (for speed).
Cookie == wooden cutout placed in front of light to generate a shadow pattern, light pools, whatever. They very in shape.
Crap! Haven't seen FNG as a grip title before either.
To "New York" an apple box is to stand it on end the tallest way.
To "California" it is to stand it on its side the longest way.
To "Texas" it is to lay it flat on its back.
David is right - to "hollywood" anything is to hold it by hand.
Very often it's faster to just grab a flag or a scrim or a slik or
a branchaloris and "hollywood" it than it is to set up a c-stand
and attach it.
A "Gary Coleman" is the small c-stand.
When doing a very short, slow dolly move it's called a Mickey
Rooney - because the dolly just does a little creep.
A "stinger" is a power cord. Never ask for an extesion cord. If y
ou say "extension cord" what are you talking about? You could
be talking about a 15amp edison extension, a 60a bates, a 100a
bates, a banded whip, a length of 2/0 or 4/0, a cam-lok extension,
a mole-pin extension... Maybe you're talking about BNC extension
or XLR...
FNG isn't just a grip term. Every new person in every department
is the fucking new guy.
To "California" it is to stand it on its side the longest way.
To "Texas" it is to lay it flat on its back.
David is right - to "hollywood" anything is to hold it by hand.
Very often it's faster to just grab a flag or a scrim or a slik or
a branchaloris and "hollywood" it than it is to set up a c-stand
and attach it.
A "Gary Coleman" is the small c-stand.
When doing a very short, slow dolly move it's called a Mickey
Rooney - because the dolly just does a little creep.
A "stinger" is a power cord. Never ask for an extesion cord. If y
ou say "extension cord" what are you talking about? You could
be talking about a 15amp edison extension, a 60a bates, a 100a
bates, a banded whip, a length of 2/0 or 4/0, a cam-lok extension,
a mole-pin extension... Maybe you're talking about BNC extension
or XLR...
FNG isn't just a grip term. Every new person in every department
is the fucking new guy.
They call a CLOTHESPIN, a C47. The reason?
If you bill a client $5 for a broken clothespin, they laugh at you, but $5 for a C47 Media Attachment Clip, and they pay it.
-=--=-=--=-=-=-=-=--=--=-=
STINGER = Extension cord.
We could go forever on this Thread 
Some common ones:
M.O.S (Minus Optical Signal)= With out sound
Arm = An arm used for a c-stand
Gobo = The knuckle that attaches the Arm to the c-stand
ADR (Automated Dialogue Recording) = Simply dubbing sound in, post location.
Barn Doors = 4 black doors 'leafs' that attach to a light for light control.
"Greek That" = Hidding or removing a label or name brand from an item.
Cheat = Moving an actor or object from its original position to make it seem more realist or framed better.
CTO/CTB = Color temp oranage/color temp Blue, these are color temp gels
Sticks = Another name for a tripod
baby legs = a small tripod
candle stick = an extention used on a c-stand
dirt = aka a sand bag
Speed = aka Rolling, used for camera and sound
Pictures up = The production is rolling, usually followed by "quiet on set"
1st house = used to describe your speaking roll actors.
2nd House = extras
Keys = Key department heads
LAst looks = Final looks for the keys to make sure everythign is set for the shot.
Last man = The last non production person to get there food is 'last man' and will be called by a production member when lunch starts and when your 'back in'
Back in = back to work
Hot set = When a set is not currently in use, but will be, its a 'hot set', meaning it should not be touched for continuity purposes.
Jesus, theres too damn many.
Some common ones:
M.O.S (Minus Optical Signal)= With out sound
Arm = An arm used for a c-stand
Gobo = The knuckle that attaches the Arm to the c-stand
ADR (Automated Dialogue Recording) = Simply dubbing sound in, post location.
Barn Doors = 4 black doors 'leafs' that attach to a light for light control.
"Greek That" = Hidding or removing a label or name brand from an item.
Cheat = Moving an actor or object from its original position to make it seem more realist or framed better.
CTO/CTB = Color temp oranage/color temp Blue, these are color temp gels
Sticks = Another name for a tripod
baby legs = a small tripod
candle stick = an extention used on a c-stand
dirt = aka a sand bag
Speed = aka Rolling, used for camera and sound
Pictures up = The production is rolling, usually followed by "quiet on set"
1st house = used to describe your speaking roll actors.
2nd House = extras
Keys = Key department heads
LAst looks = Final looks for the keys to make sure everythign is set for the shot.
Last man = The last non production person to get there food is 'last man' and will be called by a production member when lunch starts and when your 'back in'
Back in = back to work
Hot set = When a set is not currently in use, but will be, its a 'hot set', meaning it should not be touched for continuity purposes.
Jesus, theres too damn many.
Funny stuff.
STICKS - tripod
COWBOY - a shot from the mid-thigh up
TWOTEES - make sure her breasts are in the shot.
FLOP - my first film
STRIKE THE BLONDE - apparently does not mean "punch the girl with the light hair".
LAST LOOKS - You'll be shooting in about 1/2 hour.
MOS - Can't find the sound guys.
PICTURE'S UP - You'll be hearing the off-set 2nd 2nds yelling this at people until you're half-way through the take.
GRACE - Not only can I not pay you your going rate, but now I'm going to ask to postpone lunch.
YOU'RE FIRED - I can't believe you put unleaded gasoline in the diesel generator. For a second time!!
COWBOY - a shot from the mid-thigh up
TWOTEES - make sure her breasts are in the shot.
FLOP - my first film
STRIKE THE BLONDE - apparently does not mean "punch the girl with the light hair".
LAST LOOKS - You'll be shooting in about 1/2 hour.
MOS - Can't find the sound guys.
PICTURE'S UP - You'll be hearing the off-set 2nd 2nds yelling this at people until you're half-way through the take.
GRACE - Not only can I not pay you your going rate, but now I'm going to ask to postpone lunch.
YOU'RE FIRED - I can't believe you put unleaded gasoline in the diesel generator. For a second time!!
Whilst it is true that MOS means without sound, the words that created that acronym have been lost in Germany for over 80 years.
It was once thought to mean "Mit ohne Sprechen", or "Mit out sound" in English.
Also film cameras used to be (and some models still are) very noisy, so when they needed a shot without sound, it was "motor only shot", thus MOS.
and so many variations, but the exact meaning is not exact for M.O.S. and how that relates to "picture no sound".
The meaning is not lost....being 3rd generation i do know what it means, but if i tell you, you would never believe me. so its a well kept secret. But i can tell you that no one has gotten that one right.
But here is another one for ya:
Bobby Royal
oh, and no call an extension a stinger...its called an extension Stinger had been used in the non-union low budge world, i have heard it there, but never on a union set for reasons. but we do use ZIP Cord to make low amp extensions for small lights, haha