colorization the computerized process of transforming black-and-white film into color.
commissary a movie studio's cafeteria.
continuity consistency in the images presented in a movie from scene to scene. For example, an actor may be shown with unkempt hair in one shot and then perfectly combed hair in the next shot, or a prop visible on a table in one scene may mysteriously vanish in a following shot because someone on the set inadvertently removed it, thereby breaking continuity. It is the script supervisor's job to monitor continuity from shot to shot and keep careful notes concerning every detail, including lighting, environmental conditions, positions of the actors, prop locations, etc., and have a "continuity report" available at all times.
costume supervisor one who is in charge of the creation, sizing, and authenticity of costumes.
coverage a brief, written review of a script submitted to a producer or studio.
cover set an alternative set used when outdoor shooting is spoiled by rain.
cover shot see master shot.
craft service a company or caterer responsible for providing snack tables for the cast and crew.
crane shot an aerial shot taken from a crane or suspended mechanical arm.
crawl the rolling credits at the end of a movie.
credits at the beginning and end of a film, the list of all the people in the production crew, including the actors.
crosslighting lighting that originates from the sides.
cut to to switch from one scene to another.
dailies prints from a day's shooting, viewed by the director and others to determine if any shots need to be filmed again. Also known as rushes.
dialogue coach a person who teaches actors how to speak a foreign language or with an accent.
director the person who directs the action of the actors, sets scenes, coordinates other technicians, and so on.
director's cut a version of a movie as the director prefers it with complete artistic control and little or no studio input.
director of photography see cinematographer.
direct to video a movie sold only on VHS tape or DVD and not previously released in theaters.
docudrama a movie based on a real event.
dresser one who assists the actors with their costumes.
dub to record dialogue, foreign dialogue, or sound effects in a studio after the film has been shot.
editing the cutting, splicing, and final arrangement of scenes in a film.
editor one who cuts, splices, and determines the final arrangement or length of scenes in a film.
effects track the soundtrack containing sound effects, to be mixed with other soundtracks.
epic a heroic movie with a story line that frequently spans many months or years.
executive producer a producer who handles only the business and legal matters on the making of a film.
extra a person hired to play a nonspeaking part in the background of a scene, frequently as a member of a crowd.
film noir French term meaning, literally, "black film," used to describe some American movies made in the 1940s that were notable for their low-key or dark lighting effects.
final cut the edited, finished film.
flashback a scene that departs from the present and shows an event from the past.
flood short for a floodlight.
focus puller a member of the camera crew who adjusts the camera's focus during filming.
foley to reproduce the sound of a body movement, such as footsteps or rustling clothes, in a recording studio for dubbing onto film.
foley stage a large room with several different types of floor (brick, wood, tile, etc.) used to dub in the sound of footsteps in a film.
foley studio a recording studio in which the picture and soundtrack are played while sound effects are added to match the action of the actors, for example, clothes rustling or footsteps.
gaffer a set electrician and light specialist.
giraffe an adjustable boom microphone.
grip a set assistant or stagehand; one in charge of props.
handheld a handheld camera, used for natural, documentary like effect.
Hays Office the office of former Postmaster General Will Hays, who was appointed by the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors to develop a gen- eral code to guide producers on how much sex, violence, or offensive language could be allowed in films. Notoriously strict, the Hays Production Code was introduced in 1934 and remained in effect until 1967, when it was abolished.
high concept descriptive term for a highly commercial plot, script, or idea for a movie. A high-concept movie usually has top actors, bigger-than-life action, a clever premise appealing to the largest body of potential movie-goers, and a vast potential for profit.
hit the mark during a shot, a cue from the director to move to a designated spot on the set.
honeywagon a trailer or truck used as a dressing room while shooting a film on location.
horse opera a western.
hot set a movie set on which a scene is currently being shot.
independent a movie shot and produced by a filmmaker unaffiliated with a major studio.
indie an independent film.
in the can slang, referring to a movie that is shot but not ready for distribution.
kenworthy a special crane, sometimes computer programmed, used to film miniature sets.
klieg light a floodlight.
leader the black strip of film showing countdown numbers at the beginning of the film.
letterbox a format in which a widescreen motion picture can be presented on video with a top and bottom band of the television screen blocked out.
lip-synch to match recorded speech with the actors' lip movements on film.
location manager a person who is in charge of arranging for shooting in a given location and securing any necessary permissions from property owners and authorities.
location scout one who searches out appropriate locations for shooting.
lock it down, speed, action "Lock it down" is announced by the assistant director to quiet everyone on the set for shooting. The director of photography or camera operator then announces "speed," so the director will know when the camera is operating at the correct speed. "Action" is then called by the director to commence performance of a scene.
looping lip-synching on short loops of film.
Macguffin a term coined by director Alfred Hitchcock, referring to a plot element which at first appears meaningless to the audience but which becomes important later on.
married print the soundtrack and film combined into one unit.
master shot a long shot that takes in an entire scene. Also known as a cover shot.
method actor an actor who practices a form of naturalistic acting first popularized in the 1930s.
Mickey Mousing combining whimsical music or musical effects with the actions of the actors, a technique frequently used in cartoons and sometimes in comedic movies.
mix to combine different soundtrack elements, such as dialogue, music, and sound effects.