AD-Assistant Director. Member of the production department.

Art Director­-Responsible for the look of set pieces on the set.

Assistant Chief Lighting Technician-See: best boy electric

Back-A light set to add edge or separation from the actor and the background.

Ballasts-Portable transformer of electricity specific to certain lights.

Best Boy Electric-Gaffers right hand man. Responsible for manpower, equipment, and paperwork for the electrical department.

Breakers-Electrical safety device in a switch form.

C-Stand Arm-Metal arm with an adjustable clamp used to hold equipment in place during a film take.

CD 80-Brand of a dimmer board.

Call Sheet-Piece of paper containing individual call times, and location specific to each day of filming.

Call Time-When a member of the crew is expected to start working.

Camera Department-Department responsible for running the cameras used to make a motion picture.

Camera Operator-Member of Camera department who operates the camera. Often the DP.

Catering-Department responsible for breakfast, lunch or dinner for the crew on the set.

Chief lighting Technician (Gaffer)-Head of the electric department. The DP’s right hand man.

Condor-Crane with a basket used for aerial lighting.

Construction Crew-Department responsible for building sets.

Craft Service-On set position responsible for snacks and water for the crew throughout the day.

Day for Day-Day scene shot during the day.

Day Player-See: Extra Men

De-Rig-Removal of equipment from a location.

Diffusion Frame-Grip equipment used to diffuse a source of light.

Dimmer Board-Stationary piece of equipment used to control specific lights from one central location.

Director of Photography (DP)-Head of the camera department. In charge of the look of the film also know as the Cinematographer. BSC,ASC(British/American Society of Cinematographers).

Distro-Power distribution equipment.

Distribution Box-Portable box like piece of equipment used as a central point to distribute power to different areas of the set via cables and stingers.

DIT-Digital Imaging Tech. Member of the camera department responsible for relaying digital aspects of the captured image.

Electric Department-Department responsible for the running of electric power to the set.

Executive Producer-Individual who contributes money to the production of the film.

Extra Men-Additional crew members hired for one day only.

Extras-Actors used as background of a scene.

Fill-A light set in contrast with the key light.

Fire lane-A four foot perimeter inside the building, kept free of any equipment in case of an emergency.

Flag-Grip equipment used to shape a source of light.

Gel-Piece of material cut from a roll used to alter the visible color of a light.

Generator-Portable device that creates electricity.

HMI- A lamp containing a metallic gas medium(mercury-halide), used in motion pictures to mimic daylight.

High Definition-Digital film stock used to make a motion picture.

IATSE-Motion picture mechanics union.
International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees

Inky-Small 200 watt lamp.

Jockey Boxes-Storage areas located in the belly of the truck.
Juicers-Set lighting technicians.(SLT’s)

Key-Main source of light to light a scene. Also head of a department

Load In-Process of loading equipment from the rental house to the truck.

Locals-Geographical areas associated with a particular trade. 495(San Diego), 80(LA Grips), 728(LA Electrics), 600(Camera), 52(New York)

Monitors-Television or computer screens that carry an image of what is recorded by the camera operator.

Practical Lights-Everyday light fixtures that are seen on the screen.

Principal Actor-One of the main stars of a film unit.

PA-See:Set Production Assistant

Production Department-Department responsible for coordinating the budget with the process of shooting a script.

Props-Responsible for the placement of set pieces that an actor touches.

Punum-Yiddish word meaning face.

Rigging-Adding of equipment and cables to a location.

SLT-Member of the electrical department. Responsible for setting lights and running power to the set.

Set Dressing-Responsible for the placement of set pieces that an actor does not touch.

Set Production Assistant-Low level assistants to the production department. Operate on set or in the office performing various ‘gofer’ tasks.

Shot Bag-Small Sand bag used as a weight on stands.

Sides-Small booklet containing the script dialog and mini call sheet specific to each day.

Single-New York term for ‘Stinger’. A shot of just one actor.

Soco packs-Electrical cable with controllable power leads.

Soft Edge-A light set to add separation from the actor and the background

Stand-In-Person used in place of principal actor for dialog, blocking and lighting of a scene while the principal actor is in make up and wardrobe.

Stinger-Extension cord.

UPM-Overseas the daily production and preparation of the show.

Unit Production Manager-See:UPM

Union Days-Guaranteed hourly work days at an agreed upon IATSE rate specific to each local contact.

Union Gaffers-A gaffer that is in an IATSE local.

Universal Studios-Major motion picture studio in Los Angeles.

Wrap-End of allotted shooting time for day, week, location, actor etc.

10-100-Walkie Talkie code for Restroom break #1.

10-200-Walkie Talkie code for Restroom break #2.