People
walking on the red carpet are aliens from another planets? They are also humans,
but lay people like us view them as mysterious and unfathomable existence in
our dreams. It is probably because they are the ones who make dreams on the
huge screen. This week, we are going to go over film-making terminology.
Action
Just
about everybody knows what this one means. This is what the director yells out
after the set is quieted and the events of the shot need to take place. It
signals the talent to start acting and for everyone else on the set to be
completely quiet except those doing roles that support the actor’s performance.
Best Boy
The
best boy is usually the gaffer’s main assistant, in charge of scheduling the
crew and equipment needed for each day’s work. Gender and age don’t make any
difference here - it’s a title from the old days that has stuck.
Call time
Call
time simply refers to the when film talent and film crew pros are to report to
the set of a film.
Check the Gate
When
a scene is shot through to the end and it is believed to be a good one and to
be kept, a crew member, usually the first assistant camera operator, will
remove the lens from the camera used to shoot the scene. Then he or she will
open the aperture so that they can see down to where the film is exposed.
The
first assistant camera op will then check for debris and such. If there a speck
of debris or dust, this means that everything that was filmed has been
compromised and is unusable. Such scenes will then need to be reshot.
However,
with the insurgence of high definition cameras, the term Check the Gate is
becoming a thing of the past. The reason is that high definition cameras are
very tightly sealed, thereby keeping their inner workings free from dust and
debris. There usually is no need to check the "gate" when shooting
with a digital camera.
Cheat
Cheat
or cheat-cut refers to a cut in the editing process that shows continuity from
shot to shot, when in reality the shots being edited together come from
different sources. Sometimes a shot is "borrowed" from one scene and
edited into another. This provides a flow to the scene giving the audience the
feeling of continuity.
The
second meaning of this word cheat is a blocking term one might hear on the set
when a person is facing a camera, a prop or another actor and is told to cheat
to the camera, prop or fellow actor. It means to orient a bit towards the
camera. Cheat to the chair or cheat to Sally might mean to face that prop or
person.
Coverage
This
term refers to the shooting of a particular scene from different angles. This
way, extra footage will be available during the editing process. When a variety
of angles are available, the scene can be edited in a way that will provide
depth and even vérité meaning or emotion to it.
Cut
This
is another common movie-making term that most people are familiar with. It
actually has several meanings. One is to stop the talent’s acting then is
followed by stopping the camera’s recording. It does not, however, always mean
that the scene was a good one and a keeper. Another meaning for Cut is to
change from one scene to another. And yet another way it is used is when
referring to the editing process, when scenes are cut in a way that will tell a
story.
Dailies
Dailies,
or "rushes," as they are also called, are the pictures and sound that
are shot each day which can be viewed by the director and film crew pros. This
allows for the opportunity to select the best takes. Dailies are usually viewed
before the next day’s shooting.
Dressing
A
set dressing is an object on the set that is not a prop. Film talent can talk
about and touch set dressings. A telephone can be a dressing. However, once an
actor uses the dressing in a scene, such as picking up the phone and talking on
it, the dressing then becomes a prop and shouldn’t be moved again.
From the Top
This
term refers to starting again from the very beginning. Sometimes a scene might
be re-shot from the last line or a mid-way point. From the top refers to
shooting a scene again, from the very beginning of the scene.
Gaffer
The
gaffer on a film crew is the head of the electrical unit. He or she is
responsible for overseeing the lighting plans on a film.
Hot Set
A
hot set refers to when crew members have completed preparing a set for the
filming of a scene. All furniture and props in the scene have been set into
place and the set should not be disturbed or altered in any way.
Martini Shot
This
is considered the last shot of the day - the next shot should be served in a
glass since it was a long day’s shoot!
Print
When
the director yells print after the shooting of a particular scene, this means
that the scene is good and it is to be kept. Another word for the term print is
"Hold."
Pickup
Pickup
shots may be shots that are pre-planned. They are shot after the main shooting
has ended. For example, a scene with principal actors is shot one day. Then the
next day is dedicated to shooting pickup shots, quick shots to fill in detail
for a scene. Closeups of props and cutaway shots can be pickups.
Striking
Striking
refers to removing an object from the set or scene, as in striking equipment
from the set at the end of a day or striking a lamp from a particular scene.
Talking the Talk
The
above terminology is so important when directing film talent and film crew pros
that it is taught in video production schools. Knowing your film crew roles is
just as important. Cinematography, like any other industry, has its own
language and it is important for directors to know how to speak it. Clear
communication in directing film talent and film crew pros can make the
difference between a good film and one that is spectacular.
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