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    A to Z Guide to Film Terms
    A to Z Guide to Film Terms
    A to Z Guide to Film Terms
    Ebook125 pages2 hours

    A to Z Guide to Film Terms

    By Tim Moshansky

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    About this ebook

    An insider's guide to the terms and phrases used by the people who make movies and tv shows. If you want to work in the "biz," or just enjoy movies and how they are made, then this book is for you.

    Initally released in 1995, the print edition has sold over 20,000 copies. Written by location scout Tim Moshansky, this book contains terms spoken on film sets by actual crews. A must for film buffs!

    Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in the movie industry? Do you watch the credits for a film and wonder what a grip or a gaffer is or what they do? Do you want to learn the behind-the-scenes lingo used by the cast and crew?

    With the A to Z Guide to Film Terms, you’re sure to be talking like Steven Spielberg in a hurry.

    Learn strange sounding terms and phrases such as:

    “Gaffer” (the person in charge of the lighting and electrics crew) “Honeywagons” (the washroom trailers)
    “Jack Lord” (50mm lens)
    “Magic Hour” (that golden time just before the sun sets)
    “Martini Shot” (the last shot of the day)

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTim Moshansky
    Release dateAug 17, 2011
    ISBN9780968070260
    A to Z Guide to Film Terms
    Author

    Tim Moshansky

    In 1995 I became a member of the Director’s Guild of Canada. This same year I also began work as a location scout. I have since scouted hundreds of locations for dozens of Feature Films, TV movies, TV series, TV commercials and other projects.Also in 1995 I self-published the A to Z Guide to Film Terms, a pocket sized film terms dictionary that has gone on to sell over 20,000 copies and is now in its 5th edition. The book has since become a standard in the industry, and is used by film schools and training facilities throughout North America.In 1999 I began acting training with David Jones, ongoing until 2001.In 2002 I received a scholarship from the DGC to attend the Part Time Director’s course at Vancouver Film School.I recently created and developed a half-hour TV series concept called the A to Z Film Guide, based on material from my book.I have given many seminars on “Location Scouting,” and “How To Get Into the Film Industry and Stay In,” at Capilano College in Vancouver and at the Victoria Motion Picture School.I am currently still working as a location scout for various TV and Feature Film productions in the Vancouver, BC area.

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      Book preview

      A to Z Guide to Film Terms - Tim Moshansky

      A to Z Guide to Film Terms

      5th edition

      By Tim Moshansky

      www.filmterms.com

      ***

      A to Z Guide to Film Terms, 5th edition

      by Tim Moshansky

      All content © Copyright 2011 by FIRST WAVE PUBLISHING

      Box 172, Lions Bay, BC

      V0N 2E0

      www.filmterms.com

      ISBN 978-0-9680702-4-6 (print edition)

      This book is published without the help of any government subsidies or loans.

      All photos by Tim Moshansky

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this booklet may be reproduced by any means

      without the written permission of First Wave Publishing.

      Published by First Wave Publishing at Smashwords

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      ***

      Table of Contents

      Foreword

      A - B

      C - D

      E - F

      G - H - I

      J - K - L

      M - N

      O - P - Q

      R - S

      T - U - V

      W - X - Y - Z

      Walkie-talkie talk

      Reviews

      ***

      Foreword

      I am happy to present to you the 5th edition of this guide. The start of a new decade seems to be the perfect time to release a new edition. Filmmaking evolves like a moving target, and new technologies and techniques are continually created to help tell a story in inventive and compelling ways.

      This guide is intended to be an overall film production reference for those seeking a career in the industry, and want to know the lingo of their craft. Filmmaking is the ultimate collaborative art and it is important to have an understanding of the tools and concepts involved so we are all speaking the same language.

      Or you may be someone who just enjoys watching the credits roll by and seeing how many diverse skills and talents are required to create a finished film.

      Either way, I hope you enjoy the book and carry it with you wherever you go. If you read it from cover to cover I guarantee you'll sound like you know what you're talking about when you find yourself on a film set, rubbing shoulders with the crew.

      Quiet on the set. Stand by for picture. Lock it up. We're rolling! Scene 5, take 1, A and B camera, mark. Speed! And…action!

      Tim Moshansky

      Vancouver, BC, Canada, 2011

      A

      A/B Roll Using two video or film sources running at the same time to create editing effects such as dissolves and wipes.

      Abby Singer Shot The second last shot of the day. This term supposedly comes from the 1st A.D. of the same name who would always say, this is the last shot, when it really wasn’t. See also window shot.

      Above-the-line Production costs that involve the principal creative elements, such as the writer, director, producer and lead performers. See also below the line.

      Academy Award That highly coveted honour that is bestowed upon filmmakers and actors, as voted on every year by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Also called an Oscar.

      Academy Leader Eight-second countdown at the beginning of films standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

      Ace One thousand watt (1k) light.

      AC Assistant camera. There are usually 3 assistants for each camera crew: 1st AC is also known as the focus puller, 2nd AC is the clapper/loader and the 3rd AC does other tasks including putting down camera and actor marks, getting lenses and other accessories together and doing runs to the truck.

      A.C.E. American Cinematic Editors.

      A.C.F.C. Association of Canadian Film Craftspeople.

      Action Command for the actors or technicians to begin their performance.

      Action Prop Any property or device constructed to perform an action or movement or which has any animated function. The giant squid in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is an action prop. Also called an animated prop.

      A.C.T.R.A. Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Actors.

      Actual Music See source music.

      Actual Sound Sound that is heard by the characters in a film.

      Adaptation An artistic work that has been transferred from one medium to another, and that preserves the artistic integrity of that work. These can include a movie made from a book or a stage play made into a movie and so on. Some of the greatest films of all time have been adaptations, including Gone with the Wind and The Godfather.

      A.D. See assistant director.

      A.D. Box Small room in the honeywagon trailer for use by the assistant directors, particularly the 3rd A.D., when on location to do paperwork, faxes to the office, etc.

      The Assistant Directors' Box

      Ad Lib When an actor or director improvises a scene or dialogue that is not in the script.

      A.D.R. Automated Dialogue Replacement. The process of re-recording dialogue in a studio to replace or improve the sound quality. See also looping.

      Aerial Shot A shot that is taken from above the ground with the help of a helicopter, blimp or plane.

      AFTRA American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

      Agent A person that represents an actor or performer in exchange for a percentage of the actor’s wage or a flat fee. An agent typically negotiates the most money for their client because then they tend to make more.

      Air Ram A charged air device that is often used for throwing a stuntman through the air at the same time as an explosion. The air ram is usually placed underneath a platform that an actor or stuntman steps or runs onto, and then is triggered to go off at the appropriate time.

      A.K.S. Camera and sound term for a box that contains all kinds of s**t, or all kinds of stuff.

      Alan Smithee When a director wants his or her name removed from the final credits of a production, usually because of a conflict with the producer or because the show is really awful, the name Alan Smithee is used in place of the director’s real name.

      Ambient Noise On a sound recording, noise often gets picked up other than the desired dialogue and sound. When recording on location, a mixer may record several seconds of ambient noise that reflects the character of the room or space, which is used in the editing process to create a more natural soundscape. Also called room tone.

      AMPAS Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the group responsible for giving out the Oscars every spring.

      Animatronics The area of special effects that deals with puppets of bears, dogs, aliens and humans that are animated with remote controlled servo motors.

      Angel Investor Someone who invests money into the making of a film, but who is not involved with the actual film production process and has no creative control.

      Answer Print First print of a finished film which is printed with the correct timing for each shot. Also the first print that has picture and sound combined.

      Aperture The size of the hole that lets light into a lens, controlled by the iris.

      Apollo A moving camera platform that is like a tulip crane mounted on the back of a truck. The truck can use electric power to move silently during a shot.

      Apple Box Small rectangular box used by grips to elevate stands and other work gear. Sizes include full apple, half apple and quarter apple.

      Apple Box

      Aquarium The control booth or mixing room in a recording studio, named for its large window that looks into the recording room. Also called a fishbowl.

      Arri Shortened trade name for

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