Michigan Movie Theatres.com : Terms & Definitions

Movie Terms And Definitions

Calling Grace
On-Set Term; Grace. The grace period is allotted to production when going over onto lunch or dinner. Once grace is called the production is allowed to finish the current shot, and no lens changes are permitted. If the UPM lets the 1st AD know that lunch is going to arrive late, she or he will call Grace, if possible, to avoid having to pay the meal penalty or feed the crew Happy Meals.

Press Junket
Industry Term; An event involving the media where members of the press go into rooms (mini-sets usually with a poster of the film in the background) and ask questions of the actors and director. Often held in a hotel. Generally organized by entertainment companies to help build awareness around a project that is being prepared for release to the public.

Tone
Writing Term; The expression of a script, scene, movie that reveals the attitudes, voice and feelings of the author. Also, an element of the script that producers throw out as something to be modified when there is something wrong with a scene that they can't quite put their finger on.

Post-Production (Post)
Industry Term; The phase of film production that takes place after shooting has been completed. Post-Production involves editing, the addition of titles, the creation of special effects and the final soundtrack.

Sound Speed
On-Set Term; The announcement made by the sound recorder indicating to the director that sound is ready and recording.

Development of a script
Writing Term; Also known as development hell. From the writer's point of view, this is when the producers rape their vision. From the studios p.o.v. development is where a good script is made better and more production friendly (a.k.a cheaper).

Best Boy
Player; Chief Electrician in charge of all power distribution and the lighting equipment on the truck.

Time Period
Writing Term; The historical period in which a story is set.

Filter
On-Set Term; DPs use different filters on their cameras to add or take away certain aspects of a given shot (light, color, etc.).

Blocking
(Blocking Rehearsal) On-Set Term; A walk-through of the actors' movements, relative to the camera, for a given scene. This ensures that the camera will capture all the good stuff when film is actually rolling, such as people being blown out of doors by large fireballs.

Check the Gate
- On-Set Term; The gate is a piece of metal in the shape of a film frame on a camera. Once you have final set up you look in the gate to check for hair in the frame. This must happen often, since a piece of hair showing up in post on the perfect shot could lead to great frustration.

Stealing Shots
- On-Set Term; When the director and DP decide on the fly to shoot something that was not on the original shooting schedule and shot list. They might not be mentally prepared for a scheduled shot, or they might see something and decide in the moment they want it in the movie. Some advice don't do it (especially not on a low-budget).

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Did You Know?

Movies are rated according to content.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), in a rating system established in 1968 and intended as parental guidance, grades movies for nudity, violence, drugs, language and theme and also releases brief descriptions of the material that contributed to the movie ratings, such as violence, language, strong sexual content and drug-related material.