Technical Terms Glossary
While you are on the film or television production set you will be given instructions on where to stand or on any actions you are to perform. You might hear some or all of the following phrases.
Action
This is the command to everyone in the scene to start acting or for the beginning of the action sequence.
Atmosphere (Atmos)
Used to describe the act of recording the background or ambient noise in a scene. For instance, in a pub scene, the sound recordist would make a recording of just the background chatter. This is one of the rare times a Supporting Artist is encouraged to speak but please make sure you are not talking about the filming - remember they want you to be heard in the final programme or film.
Background Action
The command for Supporting Artists to begin acting.
Banana
A Director telling you to Banana means they want you to walk in a curve, so that the camera can see the area and more importantly the actors behind you.
Call Back for Continuity
For a variety of reasons, the same scene may be filmed over a number of days. If this happens, the Director may want the same Supporting Artists to return to repeat the same actions they did during the first filming. If you are told this is going to happen, make sure you do not change your hairstyle between the filming days and wear the same clothes to the subsequent filming days.
Call Time
This is the time you are expected to arrive at the filming unit location. We recommend you arrive a little before the due time and we insist you NEVER turn up after the required time.
Check In
Once at the unit base you are expected to check in with the Second (2nd AD) or Third Assistant Director (3rd AD) to let them know you have arrived. Remember - if you do not check-in you may be paid for that days work.
Checks
Checks are the inspection (and correction if needed) made to make-up and hair before each "take". These are done to ensure continuity of each scene. Always be patient with the staff - they are doing their job.
Cut
This is the signal for the action or acting to stop in that scene. The scene or shot may have to be repeated until the Director is entirely happy with it.
First Positions
This is the position you have been told to take up at the beginning of the shot. Whenever the Director shouts "First Positions" you should return to this spot.
From the Top
Begin the shot or scene again.
Hair in the Gate
The film has come loose. The filming will be stopped until this problem is fixed.
Hitting your Mark
Camera focus is all important and "the mark" is the focus point. Hitting your mark means that you will be focus.
Hold the Red
Red lights are used to signal filming is taking place. Holding the red indicates that filming is continuing and to go for another "take".
Honey Wagon
Film crew speak for the toilets.
Keep Running
Mistakes happen. Often Director's will shout "keep running" meaning that the camera should keep filming because the scene will be immediately re-run and filmed.
Leading Eye
This is the eye that is nearest to the camera. During close-ups, the camera operator will focus on the Leading Eye to ensure that the focus is clear.
Marks
The floor is often marked with tape, showing you where to stand. If you are told to walk to a specific mark, it may be to ensure that your are in focus or to allow a specific action to take place. Always follow the instructions of the Director, about marks to the letter, and make sure you do not look down at them during filming.
Pick Up
Pick Up shots are the small shots played during a scene to show specific characters or actions or to emphasise character reactions.
Reset
See "First Positions" above.
Rest
This signals a break in the filming - either to sort out a technical problem or to change the scene - and you should return to the waiting area until you are needed again.
Reverse Angle/Reverse Shot
This is a shot that shows what's going on in the other direction. In scenes depicting a conversation, where two people are facing each other, the one character may have his back to the camera so that the other faces it. The Reverse Angle would be used to show the face of the first person and the back of the second.
Rolling/Turning
Means that the film is rolling in the camera.
Save the Red
This means that the Director is happy with the take and filming has stopped.
Split the Difference
If you are standing on the left side of the shot and the director asks you to move to the right and then tells you to "split the difference" it means you should move to a spot halfway between where you started and where you are now.
Tracking Shot
This is the action of moving a camera along a path parallel to the path of the object being filmed (e.g. in a chase scene).
Turnover
This is a command to the camera crew to start the cameras running. It means they are about to start filming the scene - so be ready!
Turning Around/Moving Around
This term means the camera is going to be facing in another direction, revealing all that has so far not been seen.
Wild Track
See Atmosphere
Wrap
This means that filming is finished for the day and it's time to go home.