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Film & Television Industry Glossary

Industry terminology for film, television, commercials, production, crew, talent, unions, guilds, distribution and the business of making entertainment.

A

A-List

A-List is an informal entertainment-industry term for highly prominent or commercially valuable talent and creative professionals, especially actors, directors, producers, writers, or…

Act

Is referred to the three act structure of a screenplay, play, novel, short stories, video games, and film. The three acts consists…

Acting

Acting is the performance craft of portraying a character, situation, or scripted action for film, television, theater, commercials, voice work, or other…

Action

In screenwriting and production, Action refers to what is physically happening in a scene and is generally described in the screenplay's action…

Actor

An Actor is a performer who portrays a character in film, television, theater, commercials, voice-over, motion capture, or other dramatic media. Actors…

Actors

The plural form of the term Actor.

Actress

A female professional person that acts out a character in a play, film, or television program.

Adaption

The practice of revising or creating another version for a movie or television program from a literary work such as a book,…

ADR

ADR, commonly expanded as Automated Dialogue Replacement or Additional Dialogue Recording, is the post-production process of recording dialogue after photography to replace…

Aerial Shot

An Aerial Shot is a shot photographed from a high vantage point to show geography, scale, movement, or spatial relationships. It may…

Ambidextrous

An individual capable of utilizing their left and right hands equally with ease, and or is very talented with various types of…

Android

A touchscreen mobile operating system, (OS) owned by Google used mainly for a smartphone and or tablet devices. Other devices such as…

Animation

Animation is the creation of moving images from a sequence of drawings, digital artwork, models, puppets, photographs, or computer-generated frames. Animation techniques…

Archetype

An Archetype is a recurring character type, story pattern, image, role, or symbolic model that appears across many stories and cultures. In…

Architect

An Architect is a licensed design professional who plans and designs buildings and built environments. In film and television, architectural knowledge can…

Art

Art is creative expression produced through visual, performing, literary, musical, cinematic, or other forms. In film and television, the term also appears…

Art Director

An Art Director helps manage and execute the visual design of a film or television production under the Production Designer. Responsibilities can…

Artist

A person a person with a particular skill like a painter who paints paintings or drawings on canvas, walls, furniture or books…

Artists

The plural version of the term Artist, as in a painter, musician or actor, and or any individual involved in the arts.

Assistant Production Accountant

An Assistant Production Accountant supports the Production Accountant with payroll, invoices, purchase orders, expense reports, petty cash, data entry, reconciliations, filing, and…

Audio

Audio is recorded, transmitted, processed, or reproduced sound. In film and television, audio includes production dialogue, ambience, sound effects, Foley, music, voice-over,…

Audition

An Audition is an evaluation in which a performer demonstrates their suitability for a role or engagement. Auditions may involve prepared material,…

Author

A person or writer of a book, novel, screenplay or manuscript.

Avatar

A photo, picture, icon or illustration that represents a specific person or brand on social media websites, forums, chat rooms and video…

B

Background Actor

A Background Actor is a performer who appears in a scene to populate and support the environment without serving as a principal…

Base Camp

Base Camp is the production support area established near a filming location for functions such as cast trailers, wardrobe, hair and makeup,…

Beat

In screenwriting and performance, a Beat is a small unit of dramatic action, thought, reaction, or change within a scene. The term…

Behind the Scenes

A term used to describe what goes on behind the camera of a motion picture or television show and or music video.

Below-the-Line

Below-the-Line (BTL) is a production-budget classification traditionally used for many crew, equipment, construction, location, transportation, post-production, and other production costs that appear…

Best Boy Electric

Best Boy Electric is the traditional industry title for the Gaffer's principal assistant. The position helps supervise the electrical crew and manage…

Best Boy Grip

Best Boy Grip is the traditional industry title for the principal assistant to the Key Grip. The position helps manage the grip…

Blocking

In filmmaking, blocking is the positioning of actors and movement in relation to the camera, and on stage at a production of…

Blog

A weblog or log on the internet, of any size where one can write thoughts or comments with commentary. Usually in a…

Book

A literary work with physical pages bound together with a spine, in paperback or hardcover versions. A term used in reference to…

Boom Operator

A Boom Operator is a production-sound crew member who positions and operates boom-mounted microphones to capture dialogue and other sound as cleanly…

Box Office

Box Office can refer to the place where admission tickets are sold and, more commonly in the film business, to the theatrical…

Breakdown

In film and television, a Breakdown is an organized analysis of source material used to identify what a production or casting process…

C

C-Stand

A C-Stand (Century Stand) is a versatile support stand commonly used by grip and lighting crews to hold flags, nets, diffusion frames,…

California

The state of California was originally part of Mexico since the year of 1821, and later became the 31st state of the…

Call Sheet

A Call Sheet is the daily production document that tells cast and crew where and when to report for work and summarizes…

Call Time

A Call Time is the time a cast or crew member is instructed to report and be ready for work at a…

Camera

A camera is a device or imaging system used to record still or moving images. In film and television production, professional cameras…

Camera Operator

A Camera Operator physically operates the camera during a shot, executing framing and movement under the visual direction of the Director of…

Camera Report

A Camera Report records technical and identifying information about photographed material, such as scene, take, camera, lens, media, frame rate, filters, notes,…

Cast

The cast is the group of performers appearing in a film, television program, commercial, stage production, or other performance-based project. A cast…

Casting Director

A Casting Director is the professional responsible for organizing and leading the process of finding performers for roles in a film, television…

Catalyst

A person or thing that offers  a means, channel , method or mechanism that triggers an event to happen . A substance…

Catering

Catering is the meal service provided to cast and crew during production. Catering may be supplied by a dedicated production caterer, mobile…

Cattle Call

Cattle Call is an informal and increasingly dated casting-industry term for a large open audition in which many performers may be seen…

CGI

CGI stands for Computer-Generated Imagery. It refers to images created or substantially altered with computer graphics and used in film, television, commercials,…

Character

A Character is a person, creature, entity, or dramatic role that exists within a story. In screenwriting, characters are created through action,…

Chroma Key

Chroma Key is a compositing technique that removes a selected color from an image—commonly green or blue—so another image or visual element…

Cinema

Cinema can refer to the art and medium of motion pictures, the filmmaking tradition associated with theatrical moving images, or a venue…

Cinematographer

A Cinematographer, also called the Director of Photography (DP), is the department head responsible for the photographic and visual execution of a…

Cinematography

Cinematography is the art and craft of creating moving images for film, television, commercials, and other screen media. It encompasses choices involving…

Clapperboard

A Clapperboard, also called a slate, is used to identify a take and help synchronize picture and sound. It typically displays production,…

Close-Up

A Close-Up (CU) is a tightly framed shot that emphasizes a subject, most commonly a performer's face or a specific object. Close-ups…

CMS

A content management system (CMS), is utilized to build websites in a simpler fashion from the earlier days of the internet, in…

Colorist

A Colorist is a post-production professional who adjusts and shapes the color, contrast, density, exposure relationships, and overall visual consistency of finished…

Comedian

A performer who has a sense of humor and tells jokes with a punch line to make their audience laugh and giggle. Some…

Comedy

Comedy is a dramatic genre built around humor, comic situations, timing, character behavior, satire, irony, or absurdity. Comedy can appear in many…

Commercial

A Commercial is an advertisement produced for television, streaming, online video, radio, cinema, social platforms, or other media to promote a product,…

Company Grip

A Company Grip is a Grip assigned to the main shooting company and available to perform the day-to-day grip work required by…

Company Move

A Company Move occurs when the production unit relocates from one shooting location to another during the workday. The move requires coordinated…

Composer

A Composer writes original music for film, television, commercials, games, theater, or other media. Screen composers may create themes, underscore, cues, source…

Computer

An electronic device used to access the internet, store digital files, process words and download digital products. This device varies in size…

Construction Grip

A Construction Grip performs grip work associated with building, supporting, modifying, or preparing production structures, sets, platforms, rigging points, and related physical…

Continuity

Continuity is the consistency of story, performance, action, wardrobe, props, lighting, position, timing, and other visual or narrative details from shot to…

Continuity Report

A Continuity Report is production documentation that records details needed to track what was photographed and preserve consistency across shots and scenes.…

Cosplay

A portmanteau of costume play, where individuals known as cosplayers wear costumes to events and conventions, such as Comic-Con held annually in…

Costume

A costume is clothing designed, selected, built, altered, or coordinated for a performer to support character, period, story, continuity, and the visual…

Costume Designer

The Costume Designer is the department head responsible for designing and overseeing the clothing worn by performers in a film, television program,…

Coverage

In film and television production, Coverage is the collection of different camera angles and shot sizes recorded for a scene so editorial…

Craft Service

Craft Service provides snacks, beverages, coffee, water, and light food to cast and crew during the production day. It is distinct from…

Crane

A camera crane is a mechanical camera-support system that moves a camera through vertical, horizontal, or sweeping arcs to create elevated or…

Crew Call

Crew Call is the scheduled time when the general production crew is expected to report for work. Individual departments or crew members…

D

Dailies

Dailies are the picture and sound from recently completed photography prepared for review by authorized creative and production personnel. Dailies allow teams…

Day Out of Days

A Day Out of Days (DOOD) is a scheduling report showing when cast members are expected to work, hold, travel, start, finish,…

Day Player

A Day Player is a cast or crew member hired for a short engagement, often a single production day or a limited…

Dialogue

Dialogue is spoken language assigned to characters, narrators, hosts, or other speakers in a screenplay, teleplay, stage play, or other scripted work.…

Digital

A technical term used when describing data and or devices that consists of indicator signals that utilizes digits with a LED or…

Digital Imaging Technician

A Digital Imaging Technician (DIT) supports digital-cinema image workflows on set. Depending on the production, the DIT may help manage camera-image monitoring,…

Director

A Director is the principal creative leader responsible for translating a screenplay, teleplay, commercial concept, or other production material into the finished…

Directors

The plural form to describe the plural term of Director.

Diverse

The act of showing a variety of different things, and having a variety of different options with a variety of different people.

Diversity

A variety of different people or different things.

Dolly Grip

A Dolly Grip is a specialized Grip responsible for building, operating, and safely moving camera dollies and related camera-movement systems. Dolly Grips…

Drama

Drama is a narrative genre centered on character, conflict, relationships, choices, and emotional stakes. In film and television, drama may range from…

DVD

A term to describe a small plastic disc, which stands for, Digital Video Disc, which is utilized for storing digital video data such…

DVR

This is a term used to describe a digital video recorder, and electronic device run off software similar to a set-top box…

E

Editor

A Picture Editor is the post-production professional who selects, organizes, and assembles recorded picture and sound into the evolving cut of a…

Entertain

A type of social gathering at an individual home, club promotion, concert, or any other venue. Or to provide an individual with…

Entertainer

A professional person whose occupation or vocation is to entertain others such as an actor, singer, dancer, or comedian.

Entertainment

The act of entertaining someone at a venue, theater, amusement park or social gathering for enjoyment, a pleasurable recreational leisure activity.

Entertainment Industry

The entertainment industry are individuals involved inside the Entertainment business, sometimes called Showbiz or Show Business. Usually pertaining to Actors, Writers, Filmmakers…

Entertainment News

Entertainment reporting or journalism with a spotlight entertainment, such as trade publications for Actors, Writers, Filmmakers as well as Celebrity news and…

Executive Producer

An Executive Producer is a senior producer credit whose responsibilities vary by project. Depending on the production, an Executive Producer may help…

Exhibitor

In the film business, an Exhibitor is a company or venue that presents motion pictures to audiences, most commonly a movie-theater operator…

Exterior

In screenwriting and production, Exterior indicates that a scene takes place outside. Scene headings commonly abbreviate the term as EXT., followed by…

F

Facebook

A very popular social network website for friends to posts photos, videos, comments, and share moments together through live events. As well…

Family

A group of related individuals that have parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and children, etc., living together in the same household,…

Film

Film is both a photographic recording medium and a common term for a motion picture. Traditional motion-picture film records images photochemically on…

Film Budget

A Film Budget is the detailed financial plan used to estimate, authorize, track, and control the cost of making a motion picture.…

Film Distributor

A Film Distributor is a company that acquires or licenses the right to release and market a motion picture to audiences. Distribution…

Film Noir

Film Noir is a term associated with a cycle and style of crime-oriented films, particularly American films of the 1940s and 1950s,…

Film Permit

A Film Permit is governmental or other official authorization required for certain filming activities on public property or within regulated jurisdictions. Permit…

Film Production

Film Production is the process of creating a motion picture from development and pre-production through principal photography, post-production, delivery, and distribution preparation.…

Film Studio

A Film Studio can refer either to a company engaged in developing, financing, producing, distributing, or releasing motion pictures, or to a…

Film Trailer

A Film Trailer is a short promotional edit created to market a motion picture. Trailers use selected footage, dialogue, music, graphics, and…

Filmmaker

A Filmmaker is a person who participates substantially in creating a motion picture. The term may refer broadly to directors, producers, writers,…

Filmmakers

A term used for an individual or a group of individuals who makes films, more specifically the filmmaker is usually the Producer…

Filmmaking

Filmmaking is the collaborative process of developing, financing, preparing, photographing, editing, finishing, and delivering a motion picture. It can involve creative, technical,…

Films

The plural form of the term film.

First Assistant Camera

The First Assistant Camera (1st AC), commonly called the Focus Puller, is responsible for maintaining critical focus during photography and helping manage…

First Assistant Director

The First Assistant Director (1st AD) manages the shooting set's schedule, workflow, communication, and operational coordination so the Director can focus on…

First Team

First Team is production shorthand for the principal performers who will appear on camera in a scene. The term is often used…

Flick

A slang term used to describe a film, or movie. A term to describe a sudden quick moment, as in he or…

Flicks

The plural form of the term flick.

Foley

Foley is the post-production process of performing and recording synchronized everyday sound effects to enhance or replace production audio. Foley artists recreate…

Foodie

A term used to describe a person interest in food, not because of enjoyment or hunger, but as a hobby. A foodie…

Football

A full contact American team sport played in with an oval-shaped ball on a field with hash marks and field goal uprights.…

Funny

Something that causes people to laugh due to some type of hilarious or humorous entertainment. A term used to describe something that…

G

Gaffer

A Gaffer is the head of the electrical lighting department on a film or television production. Working closely with the Director of…

Galaxies

The plural term of Galaxy, to describe many systems of stars, gas, dust particles and dark matter that is bound together by…

Galaxy

A term to describe a system within our universe, composed of stars, gas, dust particles and dark matter that is bound together…

Generator

A Generator is a portable or vehicle-mounted power source used to supply electricity when utility power is unavailable, insufficient, or impractical. In…

Genres

A Genre is a category used to group films, television programs, books, music, or other creative works by shared conventions, subject matter,…

Google

Is a term and name of the enormous worldwide technology company and search engine on the internet founded in September 4, 1998, (1),…

Googol

Is a funny sounding term used to describe 10 to the one hundredth power, or the number one followed by one hundred…

Gourmet

A term that describes a type of food that relates to high quality in any particular area of expertise, such as with…

Grip

In film and television production, a Grip is a member of the grip department responsible for camera support, rigging, and the mechanical…

Grips

A plural form of the term Grip, is essentially in layman terms a handyman or woman, for a film or television production.…

H

Hair Department Head

The Hair Department Head supervises the hair department and oversees the design, preparation, styling, maintenance, and continuity of performers' hair for a…

Headshot

A Headshot is a professional portrait used by actors and other performers for casting and representation. Modern headshots are typically color photographs…

Hero

In storytelling, a Hero is a central character who confronts major obstacles, makes consequential choices, and often drives the story's primary dramatic…

Hip-Hop

A culture derived from rap music, a  type of music genres, that consists of rhyming skills a poetry with melodic style type…

Hollywood

A small town in Los Angeles California, that is known for Show Business, Movies, The Oscars, Celebrities, the world-famous Chinese Theater, the…

Hot Set

A Hot Set is a set that has been dressed, arranged, lit, rigged, or otherwise prepared for photography and should not be…

I

I.A.T.S.E.

IATSE is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories…

IMDb

A very popular website widely used by the entertainment industry for casting of motion pictures, selecting writers and crew members for film…

In The Can

In the Can is an industry expression meaning that required material has been successfully recorded or that a production phase has been…

Independent Film

An Independent Film is a motion picture produced outside the direct production control of a major studio, although an independent project may…

Insert Shot

An Insert Shot is a close or isolated shot of a specific detail that the audience needs to see clearly, such as…

Instagram

Instagram is the name of a popular photo sharing social network, mostly used on a mobile smartphone, whether iPhone or Android. The…

Interior

In screenwriting and production, Interior indicates that a scene takes place inside an enclosed location. Scene headings commonly abbreviate the term as…

Internet

The worldwide web, also known as the global communication network, and as well as the information superhighway that allows computers all over…

iPhone

A touchscreen mobile smartphone with a (iOS ) operating system owned by Apple, which is a direct competitor of Android that can…

J

Java

A branded computer programming language or script (Java script), utilized to create interactive gaming and other applications on the world wide web.…

K

Key Grip

The Key Grip is the head of the grip department on a film or television production. Working closely with the Director of…

Key Rigging Grip

The Key Rigging Grip is the department head responsible for supervising the rigging grip crew and planning the installation, maintenance, and removal…

L

Lighting Technician

A Lighting Technician is a member of the electrical lighting department who installs, powers, adjusts, operates, and removes lighting equipment and electrical…

Line Producer

A Line Producer is a senior production-management professional responsible for translating the creative plan into an executable production operation. Duties commonly include…

Live Streaming

Live Streaming is the real-time or near-real-time delivery of audio and video over the internet or another network while an event is…

Location

A place, setting and or personal or business residence. In filmmaking, a location shoot is a place film and television scenes are…

Location Agreement

A Location Agreement is a contract granting a production permission to use private property or another controlled location for filming and related…

Location Manager

A Location Manager oversees the practical locations used by a production. Duties can include scouting, negotiating access, permits, agreements, neighborhood coordination, parking,…

Location Scout

A Location Scout researches and photographs potential filming locations that meet a production's creative, logistical, budgetary, and technical requirements. Scouts evaluate factors…

Lockup

A Lockup is a controlled area or position used to keep people, vehicles, noise, or other activity from entering or disrupting the…

Lol

Stands for  "Laugh Out Loud", in texting, and in many social media and social networking platforms and websites.

M

MacGuffin

In literary works, a term used for a plot device such as an object, goal, desired goal, or some form of motivation…

Makeup Department Head

The Makeup Department Head supervises the makeup department and is responsible for planning and executing performers' makeup requirements in collaboration with the…

Marine Grip

A Marine Grip is a Grip working on or around water-based production environments, vessels, floating platforms, docks, marine camera-support systems, or other…

Marketing

In business, the act of promoting and or selling products and or services, which can include research and development as well as…

Martini Shot

The Martini Shot is the final planned camera setup or shot of the production day. The expression is traditional industry slang and…

Master Shot

A Master Shot is a shot that records most or all of a scene's action from a relatively comprehensive framing. It establishes…

Matte

In visual effects, a Matte is an image, mask, or defined area used to control which parts of one image are visible…

Meal Penalty

A Meal Penalty is compensation triggered when a production does not provide a required meal period within the time or conditions established…

Mixer

A Mixer is a sound professional responsible for combining, balancing, and controlling multiple audio sources. In production, the Production Sound Mixer records…

Monologue

A Monologue is an extended speech delivered by one performer or speaker. In acting, monologues may appear in scripts or be prepared…

MOS

MOS is a production notation indicating that a shot will be photographed without synchronized production sound. The image may later use music,…

Motion Picture

A term used to describe a movie or film for theater exhibition, or home viewing such as DVD or live streaming and…

Motion Pictures

A term used to describe the plural form of Motion Picture.

Movie

A Movie is a motion picture: a sequence of moving images, usually accompanied by sound, created for theatrical exhibition, television, streaming, physical…

Movie Theater

A Movie Theater, or cinema, is a venue designed for the public exhibition of motion pictures. Theaters typically include one or more…

Movies

A term used for describing a film, motion picture and or movie  in the plural form.

Music

Music is organized sound created through melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, timbre, performance, or composition. In film and television, music may function as…

Music Video

A Music Video is a short-form audiovisual production created to accompany, promote, interpret, or expand upon a recorded song or musical performance.…

N

Nebula

A term used to describe a cloud of interstellar dust as gas, such as helium and hydrogen in which is contained inside…

Novel

A Novel is an extended work of prose fiction that develops characters, events, settings, themes, and narrative structure over substantial length. Novels…

Novella

A novella is a term derived from an Italian word, which is a fictional text and or literary works usually written in…

O

One-Liner Schedule

A One-Liner Schedule is a condensed production schedule listing the scenes planned for each shooting day in a compact line-by-line format. It…

P

Packaging

In film and television, Packaging is the process of assembling key elements of a project—such as underlying rights, screenplay, director, producers, principal…

Paint

Paint is a pigmented coating applied to surfaces for color, texture, protection, or visual effect. In film and television production, paint is…

Painting

Painting is the process or art of applying pigment to a surface to create color, imagery, texture, or finish. In production, scenic…

Photograph

A Photograph is a still image created by recording light with a camera onto photographic film or a digital sensor. In production,…

Pickup Shot

A Pickup Shot is additional photography recorded after the main coverage of a scene or sequence to supply a missing angle, detail,…

Play

A Play is a dramatic work written for live performance before an audience. Plays are organized through dialogue, stage directions, scenes, acts,…

Plot

In a screenplay, film, TV production or play the main events of a scene.

Plural

In American English grammar, a word or form of a word meaning more than one, as in people who is more than…

Poetry

Poetry is a literary form that uses concentrated language, rhythm, imagery, sound, structure, and other expressive techniques to communicate ideas, emotion, or…

Popcorn

A type of recreational food snack with fluffy kernels, usually eaten with salt and or butter as a preferred condiment and widely…

Portmanteau

The combining of two common words into one different word that consists of a different meaning, or a separate aspect of a…

Post-Production

Post-Production is the phase after or alongside photography in which recorded material is organized, edited, finished, and prepared for delivery. It may…

Pre-Call

A Pre-Call is a call time earlier than the general crew call assigned to specific workers or departments that need additional preparation…

Pre-Production

Pre-Production is the planning phase before principal photography. It can include budgeting, scheduling, casting, hiring crew, scouting and securing locations, production design,…

Premier

A term which supports attending the first showing of a film or motion picture at the box office, which is mostly a…

Premiere

In the entertainment industry, the first showing of a Motion Picture, is a star studded event with Celebrities and or stars of…

Principal Photography

Principal Photography is the main period during which a film, television episode, commercial, or other production records its primary scripted or planned…

Producer

A Producer is a person responsible for helping organize, finance, develop, and carry a film, television, commercial, documentary, or other production from…

Producers

The plural form of the term Producer.

Production

Production is the process of creating a film, television program, commercial, documentary, or other screen project. The term can refer to the…

Production Accountant

A Production Accountant manages the financial records and day-to-day accounting operation of a film or television production. Duties can include cost reporting,…

Production Assistant

A Production Assistant (PA) is an entry-level or early-career production worker who supports the operational needs of a film, television, commercial, or…

Production Company

A Production Company is a business entity formed or engaged to develop, finance, organize, and produce film, television, commercials, documentaries, music videos,…

Production Coordinator

A Production Coordinator organizes the production office and the flow of information, paperwork, logistics, purchasing, travel, vendors, crew communications, and administrative support…

Production Designer

The Production Designer is the senior creative department head responsible for developing and overseeing the physical visual world of a film or…

Production Sound Mixer

The Production Sound Mixer is the department head responsible for recording usable dialogue and other production sound during photography. The mixer selects…

Property Master

The Property Master is the department head responsible for the props used by performers or placed within a scene. Duties can include…

Prose

Prose is ordinary written language organized into sentences and paragraphs rather than verse. In film and television development, prose is commonly used…

Protagonist

The Protagonist is the principal character whose goals, choices, and conflicts drive the central action of a story. The protagonist is often—but…

R

Rap

The art of language, slang, and or music genre.

Reel

A video or short clip, used to present a part of a of an actor, director, or cinematographer's work. In the past…

Reshoot

A Reshoot is photography performed again after earlier material has already been filmed, usually because creative, technical, performance, continuity, story, or editorial…

Rigging

Rigging is the process of installing, securing, supporting, and removing equipment or structural systems used for production. In the grip department, rigging…

Rigging Grip

A Rigging Grip specializes in installing and removing grip-support systems that must be prepared before photography or remain in place across shooting.…

Room Tone

Room Tone is a recording of the natural ambient sound of a location or interior without intentional dialogue. Editors and sound teams…

S

SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA is a U.S. labor union representing actors, recording artists, broadcasters, voice performers, stunt performers, dancers, singers, and other media professionals working…

Sahob

An Urban slag word for friend, homie, buddy, compadre, companion or mate.  The word sahob is most often used by West Coast…

Sales

In entertainment, Sales refers to licensing, selling, or otherwise monetizing rights to a film, television program, format, or other content. Sales activity…

Scene

A Scene is a unit of dramatic action that takes place at a particular location and time. In screenwriting, a new scene…

Screenplay

A Screenplay is the written blueprint for a motion picture or other screen production. It is generally organized into scenes and uses…

Screenwriter

A person in charge of creating a Script or Screenplay, which is the blue print of any film or movie. A Screenwriter…

Screenwriting

Any writing that is for a movie or film, structured in the context of a Screenplay.

Script

The literary format or text of a screenplay, teleplay, radio broadcast or play. A handwritten form of writing instead of print or…

Script Supervisor

The Script Supervisor tracks continuity, script coverage, performance details, camera information, timing, scene completion, and changes made during photography. Their notes help…

Scriptment

A Scriptment is a hybrid development document that combines elements of a screenplay and a treatment. It is generally written in prose…

Second Assistant Camera

The Second Assistant Camera (2nd AC) supports the camera team with slating, camera reports, media or magazine handling as applicable, lens and…

Second Assistant Director

The Second Assistant Director (2nd AD) supports the First Assistant Director by coordinating cast calls, movement, paperwork, background activity, production information, and…

Second Team

Second Team is production shorthand for stand-ins who temporarily take the places of principal performers while camera, lighting, blocking, focus, and other…

Second Unit

A Second Unit is an additional production unit that photographs material separate from the main unit. It may handle action, inserts, establishing…

Second Unit Director

A Second Unit Director directs photography assigned to the second unit under the overall creative requirements of the production. The role may…

Set

In film and television, a set is the controlled environment in which a scene is staged and photographed. A set may be…

Set Decorator

The Set Decorator is responsible for selecting, sourcing, arranging, and managing the decorative elements that appear in a set or practical location,…

Set Painter

A Set Painter is a craftsperson in the art or construction department who applies paint, coatings, finishes, textures, aging, scenic treatments, and…

Shooting Schedule

A Shooting Schedule organizes the scenes and production work to be completed across the photography period. It is built from creative, cast,…

Shot

In film and television, a shot is a continuous recorded image from the moment the camera begins recording until it stops, or…

Shot List

A Shot List is a planning document that identifies the camera setups or individual shots intended for a scene or sequence. It…

Sides

Sides are selected pages or excerpts from a script provided to performers for auditions, callbacks, rehearsals, or a day's work. Sides usually…

Smartphone

A type of mobile phone which functions much like a mini computer, with a touch screen key board and numerical display. Usually…

Sociability

Sociability the quality or state of being sociable; also : the act or an instance of being sociable and or friendly and…

Social

An informal or formal gathering and or get-together planned by members of a club, church, group, fraternity/ sorority, social network, and or…

Social Blog

A weblog or log on the internet, of any size where one can write thoughts or comments with commentary. However, there is…

Social Community

An online community of individuals on a social network or social blog with shared ideas or hobbies.

Social Media

Websites that usually require a log in and password and allow the use of photographs, text, and other methods which individuals share…

Social Mixers

A social gathering designed to network with like-minded individuals for the purpose of selling and or investing in a product or service.

Socialbilitty

Socialbilitty is a portmanteau word from Social and Ability, derived from the original word Sociability, which is spelled differently, and means the…

Sound

In film and television production, sound refers to the recorded and designed audio elements that accompany the picture, including dialogue, production effects,…

Sound Report

A Sound Report documents production-sound recordings and associated metadata, including scene, take, track assignments, microphones, file names, timecode, and notes about the…

Stage

In film and television production, a stage usually refers to a soundstage or other large enclosed production space designed for building sets,…

Stand-In

A Stand-In is a performer or crew-associated participant who substitutes for a principal actor during technical preparation so camera, lighting, focus, marks,…

Star-Studded

A term to describe an event, attraction, and or venue, that contains many celebrities and famous individuals,, Actors, Producers, Directors and or…

State-of-the-Art

A product or place that incorporates the newest features to date, representing cutting edge technology of the greatest degrees of development.

Story

A Story is the sequence of events, characters, goals, conflicts, choices, and consequences that form a narrative. In film and television, story…

Storyboard

A Storyboard is a sequence of drawings, illustrations, or digital frames used to previsualize how shots and scenes may appear on screen.…

Streaming

Streaming is the delivery of audio or video over a network so it can be played while data continues to arrive rather…

Stripboard

A Stripboard is a scheduling tool that represents screenplay scenes as movable strips containing key production information. Traditionally physical and now commonly…

Stunt Coordinator

A Stunt Coordinator plans, designs, rehearses, and supervises stunt action for a production with an emphasis on safe execution. The coordinator works…

Sub-Foreman Grip

A Sub-Foreman Grip is a supervisory Grip assigned to lead a portion of the grip crew, a specific work area, or a…

Superhero

A compassionate and caring fictional character, usually the protagonist in a comic book, or a movie based off of a comic book…

T

Tags for Likes

A Hash tag or (# ) on the social media network app Instagram, mostly utilized on a Smart Phone. The user tags…

Talent

In film, television, commercials, casting, and related production work, talent is an industry term for performers engaged to appear or perform in…

Talent Agent

A Talent Agent is a licensed or otherwise legally authorized professional, where required by applicable law, who represents performers and other entertainment…

Talent Manager

A Talent Manager is a professional who advises and guides an entertainer's career, including strategy, positioning, professional development, relationships, and long-term planning.…

Tech Scout

A Tech Scout is a production visit to selected filming locations by key department heads and production personnel before shooting. The team…

Teleplay

A Teleplay is a script written for television. Depending on format, it may be created for an episodic series, limited series, television…

Television

Television is a system and medium for distributing and viewing audiovisual programming, including scripted series, news, sports, documentaries, unscripted programming, live broadcasts,…

Theater

An exhibitor of a movie and or film, usually a chain or a franchise, but not limed to Art Houses, which are…

Theme

In storytelling, a Theme is the central idea, question, value, or underlying meaning explored through the characters, conflicts, choices, and consequences of…

Throwback

A term used to describe a person, place or thing that refers back to an earlier time, usually somewhat significant and or…

Timecode

Timecode is a standardized numerical reference used to identify precise positions in recorded picture and sound. Productions use timecode to help synchronize…

Trade Show

A Trade Show is an industry event where companies, manufacturers, vendors, organizations, and professionals exhibit products, services, technology, and capabilities to a…

Treatment

A Treatment is a prose document that presents the concept, story, characters, tone, structure, and major dramatic beats of a proposed film,…

Turnaround

Turnaround is the required rest period between a worker's dismissal from one production day and the next scheduled call. Minimum turnaround periods…

TV

TV is a common abbreviation for television, referring either to the medium, its programming, or a television receiving/display device depending on context.

TV Pilot

A TV Pilot is an episode or presentation produced to demonstrate the concept, characters, tone, format, and production approach of a proposed…

Twitter

Twitter is a very popular type of Social Network co-founded by Jack Dorsey (@jack) who also serves as CEO, which utilizes the concept…

U

Unit Production Manager

A Unit Production Manager (UPM) manages the physical and administrative operation of a film or television production. Responsibilities can include budgets, schedules,…

Unit Still Photographer

A Unit Still Photographer creates still photographs during production for publicity, marketing, editorial, archival, continuity, and promotional use. The photographer works around…

V

Video

Video is electronically recorded, processed, transmitted, or displayed moving imagery, usually with synchronized audio. Video can refer to a recording, a file,…

Video Village

Video Village is the monitored viewing area where authorized production personnel can watch the camera feed during filming. It commonly serves the…

Visual Effects Supervisor

The Visual Effects Supervisor (VFX Supervisor) leads the planning and execution of visual-effects work for a production. The supervisor helps determine what…

W

Walkie-Talkie

A Walkie-Talkie is a handheld two-way radio used for real-time communication among production departments and crew. Productions typically organize radio traffic by…

Wardrobe

Wardrobe refers to the clothing and costume elements worn by performers in a film, television, commercial, or other production. The wardrobe or…

Western

A Western is a film or television genre associated with the American West and frontier mythology, often involving themes of law, settlement,…

Wide Shot

A Wide Shot frames a subject with substantial surrounding environment visible. It is often used to establish location, geography, scale, blocking, or…

Wild Track

A Wild Track is sound recorded separately from synchronized picture. It may capture dialogue, ambience, sound effects, room tone, machinery, crowds, or…

WordPress

WordPress is a free open-source content management system (CMS) that uses Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP)...

Wrap

Wrap means that a day's work, a scene, a performer, a department, a location, or an entire production has completed its scheduled…

Writers Guild of America

The Writers Guild of America commonly refers to two affiliated labor unions: the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and the Writers…