Industry Terms & Definitions
Here are some common industry terms and bits of jargon you may hear during a shoot. I generally try to keep technical language to a minimum unless I’m talking with other professionals, but knowing a few of these can help demystify what’s happening on set.
- AC (Assistant Camera)
- Also called 1st AC on larger productions. Responsible for maintaining critical focus on the subject during filming.
- 2nd AC
- Typically handles camera media (memory cards), manages the clapper board (slate), and helps mark actor or subject positions.
- Best Boy
- Assistant to the Gaffer (lighting department) or Key Grip (rigging and support department), helping manage equipment and crew logistics.
- Bounce
- A reflective surface used to redirect light softly into a scene. You may hear “Hollywood it a bit,” meaning to aim the bounce more precisely at a subject.
- Camera Operator
- The person physically operating the camera. Sometimes this is also the Director of Photography (DP).
- Camera Production Assistant (Camera PA)
- An entry-level position focused on assisting the camera team and learning on set.
- Clapper Board (Slate)
- Used to label scene and take information. The audible “clap” helps sync audio and video in post-production.
- Cinematographer / Director of Photography (DP)
- Leads the camera and lighting departments and is responsible for the overall visual style, lighting design, and technical execution of the image.
- Constant Lights
- Continuous light sources that remain on throughout a shoot (as opposed to flashes or strobes).
- Depth of Field (Bokeh)
- Pronounced “boh-kay.” Refers to the soft, blurred background that isolates a subject and adds visual depth.
- Director
- Responsible for shaping the creative vision of a production and guiding performances and storytelling.
- Flag
- An object used to block or shape light, preventing spill or controlling contrast.
- Flash
- A small camera-mounted burst of light used primarily in still photography.
- Grip / Key Grip
- Handles camera support, rigging, and light-shaping equipment. The Key Grip supervises the grip department.
- Gaffer
- Chief lighting technician, responsible for executing the lighting plan designed by the DP.
- Gobo
- Short for “go-between.” A shaped object placed in front of a light to project patterns or textures.
- Hollywood (verb)
- Slang for carefully directing bounce light onto a specific subject or area.
- Hot Mic
- Means the microphone is live and recording — assume everything is being captured.
- Modifier
- Any tool placed on or in front of a light to shape its output (softboxes, grids, diffusers, gels, etc.).
- Motion
- Video or filmed footage.
- Producer
- Oversees the business, logistics, and production management side of a project.
- Sticks
- Tripod.
- Stills
- Standard photography. You’ll often hear me say “grabbing stills.”
- Strobe
- A large, high-powered flash typically mounted on a stand, used in studio and location photography.
- Practical Lighting (Practicals)
- Light sources that appear in the scene and also provide usable illumination (lamps, candles, string lights, etc.).
- Production Board
- A scheduling tool that outlines the shooting plan, timeline, and scene order for a production.