The "Grip-tionary" is a dictionary for film-lingo, particularly for those who want to know what in the world we're talking about, lest we forget to explain ourselves when we use odd production terms. Not only will you get a general idea of the equipment, but of the jobs on-set. For instance, it got its name after the on-set grips. The grips are the workers on-set who transport, maintain and help operate production equipment.
See? Look how much learning we've accomplished already! Should you come across any other terms you find confusing, feel free to ask in a comment and we'll add it. Have fun learning a little more about our world :)
Note: There are a bajillion film-terms out there, we know. We're telling you the main ones that we used on our set.
-A-
Apple Box
A wooden box used for everything...to make small actors tall, raise dolly-track, raise furniture to make tall actors short, a place for teamsters to sit, or a good place to pick up a splinter in a very delicate part of the body. There are Full Apple boxes (pictured far left) as well as Half, Quarter, and Eighth apple boxes that we call Pancakes.
A.C. - Abbreviation for "Assistant Cameraman." When filming, the camera op has to keep all attention on framing the subject or the action. This means that someone needs to simultaneously pull focus. This would be the 1st A.C.'s job, in addition to being responsible for the camera. The 1st A.C. builds it and is the one to move it. The 2nd A.C. is responsible for keeping camera reports on each take, and for updating/clapping the slate (that cool icon of film...you'll recognize it when you scroll down to "Slate").
A.D. - Abbreviation for "Assistant Director." The First Assistant Director (1st AD) is directly responsible to the producer and "runs" the floor or set. He's the on-set whip that will keep things on time. He is responsible for keeping the crew informed and the director on-track. He is also the one who calls out the bit: "Quiet on set! Roll sound! This is Scene 1A Take 1, roll camera! Mark-it!" (Only the director calls "action") The 2nd AD is responsible for handing out or sending call-sheets(sheets that tell everyone where to be and when for the next shooting day).
ADR - Abbreviation for Automatic Dialog Replacement. A process of re-recording dialog in the studio in synchronization with the picture. This happens in post-production. Sometimes the sound recorded on-set is really iffy; maybe a plane flew over-head, or there's just terrible noise in the background. They can replace all the dialogue and control the rest of the sound it in sound-design. Note: ADR is not the same as voice-over or narration.
Bazooka
A riser to mount the camera on. It is usually attached onto the dolly (instead of setting the tripod on the dolly) or a high-hat. Sometimes we want it lower than the tripod height but not really on floor-level, so using the bazooka is one more option we have.
Boom op
The boom operator is responsible for holding the shotgun-mic. This is a very directional mic that picks up great sound if he's doing his job right.
-C-
C-47
Yes ladies and gentlemen, C-47s are plain-jane clothespins. I think they were named like this just to confuse newbies on-set. Besides holding things up, like gels, they provide vast entertainment in the C-47 game: try to clip as many onto someone's clothes without them realizing it. I believe there was one clipped to the bill of someone's hat for the longest time...
See? Look how much learning we've accomplished already! Should you come across any other terms you find confusing, feel free to ask in a comment and we'll add it. Have fun learning a little more about our world :)
Note: There are a bajillion film-terms out there, we know. We're telling you the main ones that we used on our set.
-A-
Apple Box A wooden box used for everything...to make small actors tall, raise dolly-track, raise furniture to make tall actors short, a place for teamsters to sit, or a good place to pick up a splinter in a very delicate part of the body. There are Full Apple boxes (pictured far left) as well as Half, Quarter, and Eighth apple boxes that we call Pancakes.
A.C. - Abbreviation for "Assistant Cameraman." When filming, the camera op has to keep all attention on framing the subject or the action. This means that someone needs to simultaneously pull focus. This would be the 1st A.C.'s job, in addition to being responsible for the camera. The 1st A.C. builds it and is the one to move it. The 2nd A.C. is responsible for keeping camera reports on each take, and for updating/clapping the slate (that cool icon of film...you'll recognize it when you scroll down to "Slate").
A.D. - Abbreviation for "Assistant Director." The First Assistant Director (1st AD) is directly responsible to the producer and "runs" the floor or set. He's the on-set whip that will keep things on time. He is responsible for keeping the crew informed and the director on-track. He is also the one who calls out the bit: "Quiet on set! Roll sound! This is Scene 1A Take 1, roll camera! Mark-it!" (Only the director calls "action") The 2nd AD is responsible for handing out or sending call-sheets(sheets that tell everyone where to be and when for the next shooting day).
ADR - Abbreviation for Automatic Dialog Replacement. A process of re-recording dialog in the studio in synchronization with the picture. This happens in post-production. Sometimes the sound recorded on-set is really iffy; maybe a plane flew over-head, or there's just terrible noise in the background. They can replace all the dialogue and control the rest of the sound it in sound-design. Note: ADR is not the same as voice-over or narration.
-B-
BazookaA riser to mount the camera on. It is usually attached onto the dolly (instead of setting the tripod on the dolly) or a high-hat. Sometimes we want it lower than the tripod height but not really on floor-level, so using the bazooka is one more option we have.
The boom operator is responsible for holding the shotgun-mic. This is a very directional mic that picks up great sound if he's doing his job right.
-C-
Yes ladies and gentlemen, C-47s are plain-jane clothespins. I think they were named like this just to confuse newbies on-set. Besides holding things up, like gels, they provide vast entertainment in the C-47 game: try to clip as many onto someone's clothes without them realizing it. I believe there was one clipped to the bill of someone's hat for the longest time...
C-StandA general purpose grip/lighting stand, used to hold whatever we need it to hold.
Camera op - The camera operator concentrates on framing and exposure while filming. He works closely with the 1st A.C. to set focus marks. He is also the only other one, besides the director, who can call "cut" should something be wrong with the shot.
Cinematographer - See D.P.
A heavy duty stand, considerably more hefty than a C-Stand. It is called a combo because it can be used for both reflectors and lights (usually the bigger ones).
-D-
Director - A person who supervises the creative aspects of a dramatic production or film and instructs the actors and crew.
Dolly - Particularly called the Roundy-round dolly, this is used to achieve smooth, moving shots known as dolly-shots. We used different wheels, mounted on dolly-track to control the specific placement of the dolly.
Dolly Grip - A grip who controls the movement of the dolly by pushing it along the track at a pre-determined speed. Must coordinate with the camera op and 1st A.C for movement, depending on each shot.
Dolly Track - Straight or curved track that guides the dolly.D.P. - Abbreviation for Director of Photographer, also known as the Cinematographer. Chief over lighting and camera crews. Responsible for making artistic and technical decisions with the director to achieve a certain look and feel for the film.
-E-
Electrician - person in charge of and familiar with the electrical equipment on-set, primarily with lights.
-F-
Follow-focus - A mechanism that connects to the lens to make it easier for the 1st A.C. to pull focus. They make marks on that white ring you see there, so they know that when an actor/dolly reaches a certain point, they should be at that mark.-G-
Gaffer - the workers on-set who deal primarily with lights; moving and placing them.
Grip - The workers on-set who transport, maintain and help operate production equipment. Mainly there for all the heavy-lifting ;-)
-H-
Hi-Hat - A square of plywood with a bracket attached for a tripod head. Used sometimes in combination with the bazooka) for filming low angles. Its name is a bit of a contradiction, but it used to be that a Hi Hat was for shooting from very high up, with the plywood board being mounted up high somewhere.
HMI - This is a beast of a light. HMI stands for Halogen Metal Incandescence. They are very bright, power efficient lights. We used a 1200 Watt HMI as well as a 4K for some of our Night-for-day shots (when we shoot at night, and make it look like day).-I-
Insert shot - A close-up of some detail in the scene.
-J-
Until we find something that we used that starts with J, it's a pretty boring letter at this point...
-K-
Um....K too.
-L-
Yup...
-M-
-N-
Another one of them boring ones...
-O-
.......
-P-
-P-
P.A. - Abbreviation for Production Assistant; may or may not be as good-looking as this fellow. It is THE entry-job; P.A.s are at the mercy of whatever they're needed for...running to get more water, delivering coffee, wrangling talent (actors), or relaying communication between places. Basically the Gofer. Every set needs 'em.
Producer - One who supervises and controls the finances, creation, and public presentation of the film. This includes logistics, locations, attaching crew, setting up appointments and the gathering-of-materials to facilitate the vision of the director and completion of the film.
-Q-
....
-R-
-S-
Script Supervisor - The script supervisor is responsible for continuity on-set. For instance, if someone was holding a cup of coffee in one shot and in the next shot they were holding a bottle...well, the script supervisor was obviously falling down on the job.
Set-Dresser - person who works Art Department...responsible for decorating the set to make it look legit before shooting. This is not to be confused with the set designer, who is basically responsible for building or creating the set.
- Shotgun Mic - A highly directional microphone, usually with a long, tubular body; used by the production sound mixer on location or on the set for film and television productions. Is sometimes mixed with the sound from lav mics (the small ones they secretly rig to get better sound from specific actors).
- Silk - A lighting diffusion or reflective material, formerly real silk. It comes in various sizes, but you can also improvise (as we did) and cut it out of frosted plastic (i.e. plastic drop-cloth you can get for a couple bucks at Wal-Mart). This can be put between a light and subject to soften the direct light. We used it in particular to cover the windows so when a light shined on it, it diffused evenly and the entire window would be blown out (white).
-T-
