This “dictionary” of sorts is far from cumulative and in no part definitive as crews in different regions have their own set of terms.
It is, however, what I know to be common and can help you speak like a pro on set.
General Production Slang
Abby Singer – Second-to-last shot of the day. Named for a crew member who would always alert his crew of the second-to-last shot of a setup, scene, or the day.
Apple or Apple Box – a solid wooden box that comes in standardized sizes (from largest to smallest): full, half, quarter, pancake
Back In – phrase meaning lunch and/or any break is over and work has begun again
C47 – a clothespin
Crafty – craft services area and/or person
Day Player – a crew member hired for only one day or a handful of days worth of work
Furnie Blanket – a furniture blanket or sound blanket
Gary Coleman – a small C-stand
Hot Points – yelled when carrying something with the potential to hit somebody like dolly track or a C-stand. Usually said when going through a narrow hallway, doorway or around a corner
Juicer – an electrician
Last Looks – phrase to call in hair/make-up to give a final touch-up to actors before a scene is filmed
Last Man – phrase that refers to the last person to get their food at lunch; usually used because lunch should not officially start until the last man has gone through
Magic Hour – the time right before sunrise/after sunset in which the sky is somewhat dark but still illuminated. Often lasts only 20 minutes despite its name
Martini – the last shot of the day
Pancake – a size of apple box; see “apple”
Picture’s Up – phrase to alert all on set that cameras are almost set to start rolling
Scripty – the script supervisor
Sides – a half-sized script that contains only the scenes being shot that day
Sparks – an electrician; see “juicer”
Stinger – an extension cord
Talent – actor(s) or actress(es)
Video Village – the area in which viewing monitors are placed for the director and other production personnel. Referred to by this name because of the propensity to fill with people, chairs, and overall “too many cooks in the kitchen”
Speak the Language
Like any job, there is short-hand and slang thrown about on sets, but the difference in this profession is how prevalent it truly is. The idea behind it is speed and efficiency.
Knowing the write term or slang for something can be the difference between someone who’s respected on set and someone who is snickered at during lunch.
More From this Series
Film Set Lingo is a three-part series focusing on defining and clarifying the most commonly used slang and lingo on movie sets.
Part 1 – General Production Slang
Part 2 – The Camera Department
Part 3 – Walkie-Talkie and Radios
