location scout a production assistant who finds and reserves locations for shooting.
makeup call the time at which a performer must report to the makeup department.
master of ceremonies the host of a TV program; the MC or emcee.
match dissolve an optical transitional effect in which a scene fades and is replaced by a similar or nearly identical scene, but at a later time.
maxi-brute a powerful arc spotlight containing nine 1,000-watt lights in three rows. Also known as a nine-light.
minicam a portable TV camera used when taping on-location news.
network collective term for a group of affiliated TV stations that air the same programs.
O/C script directive for "on camera."
one-key one 1,000-watt floodlight. A 1,500-watt light equals one-and-a-half key.
open-ended of a national program or commercial, having a portion in which a local announcer can add local information.
opening billboard an opening preview or the opening credits of a program. Also, an announcement of sponsors, such as "brought to you by . . ."
opticals optical effects; examples are dissolves, fades, superimpositions, and wipes.
outcue the last four words in an interview, dialogue, or newscast, used as a cue to the engineers and director to roll music and run the credits. Also, known as endcue.
outtakes unused portions of a program tape, edited out due to flubbed lines or other mistakes.
pan a bad review of a program. Also, a direction to the cameraman to sweep slowly across a scene for a panoramic effect.
pan and scan the method by which a motion picture's widescreen aspect ratio is changed to make it suitable for TV broadcast. See also letterbox format.
Pan-Cake the heavy makeup used by performers.
paper cut a written schedule or list of cuts and splices keyed to time cues made before the actual editing takes place.
PAR light a commonly used spotlight having a parabolic aluminized reflector.
people meter an electronic system for tracking TV viewers to establish ratings, adopted by A. C. Nielsen in 1987 to replace the diary system.
Pepper's ghost a simple special-effects method of producing a ghost image. A camera shoots through an angled mirror to create a reflection of the subject; invented by scientist John Henry Pepper.
performance royalties payments made by a broadcaster to a songwriter or publisher for the right to play their music.
pod a group of commercials.
poop sheet a trivia information sheet on athletes, used by sports announcers between plays in a game.
preempt to broadcast a special in place of a regularly scheduled program.
preview monitor a monitor from which the director chooses the picture to be used by various cameras.
prime time the time period having the largest view- ership, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
producer one in charge of financing and staffing a show. In addition to the business end of a program, a producer may also oversee some creative aspects of a show.
prompter a device that enables an actor or announcer to read off a script while looking into the camera. See prompter script, TelePrompTer.
prompter script a script transmitted to a monitor on top of or beside a camera, or superimposed on the camera lens itself for reading but not seen by the TV audience.
quad split an optical effect in which four different scenes appear on the screen at the same time.
residual a royalty or payment made to a performer for use of their taped performance beyond the original contract.
ripple dissolve a dissolve or fade in which the scene ripples or wavers into the next scene, as in a dream sequence or flashback.
rostrum camera a camera designed to shoot artwork on a table, for animation.
rotoscope a prism and lamphouse device used on a special-effects camera to produce traveling mattes.
rug slang for background music in a commercial.
scale minimum standard fee for a performer or model.
scoop the most frequently used light in TV, specifically a 1,000-watt floodlamp having a shovel-like reflector. Also known as a basher.
set the location of a TV production; the scenery, furnishings, props, lighting, and equipment of a TV program.
set and light director's order to get the set and lighting ready for shooting.
shaky-cam slang for a handheld camera.
shooting log a notebook with details of a day's shooting and the camera equipment used. Also known as a camera log.
shooting schedule the schedule of when each shot in a movie or TV show will be made, usually out-of- sequence to the storyline but later edited in order.
shot box on a TV camera, a control panel for zoom and other focus changes.
signature montage a sequence of brief, identifying scenes used as an introduction to a program.
simulation a reenactment of an event, used frequently in news programs.
simulcast a program broadcast simultaneously on radio and TV, as a concert or presidential speech.
sister station a TV station affiliated with the same network as another station.
sitcom situation comedy.
snake a special studio cable that combines several cables.
sound bite a quick clip of a quote made by a politician or other newsworthy person, aired on a newscast.
sound dissolve the fading out of sounds in one scene followed by the fading in of sounds from an upcoming scene, a transitional device.
spider a junction box for several electrical outlets, used in studios.
spider dolly a camera mount comprising projecting legs on wheels.
splice to join two pieces of film or tape together.
splicing charge a fee sometimes charged for splicing a commercial into a program.
split screen an optical effect in which two or more scenes are shown on the screen at the same time.
squib a gunpowder charge held in a gelatin capsule, detonated from a distance to simulate gunfire.
squibbed bag a squib placed in a blood bag (imitation blood) and detonated on or under clothing to simulate gunshot wounds.
stable a group of performers under contract with a single agent or network.
standby guest on a talk show, an "extra" guest used as a stand-in in case another guest doesn't show up.
standing set a permanent or semipermanent set used repeatedly, as on a soap opera.
still store an electronic memory unit that stores graphics and photos for use in news programs.
storyboard a sequence of cartoons and sketches that illustrate a proposed commercial. Also used in movies to plan how scenes will be shot.
strike to tear down a set.
sweeps TV ratings periods in November, February, May, and July, noted for the airing of sensational programming in order to attract a large audience.
syndicate a service that distributes a TV program to subscribing stations.
syndication the distribution of a program to subscribing stations.