C47 - Hollywood Lore

"Inkie" made by Altman, is a 100 watt fresnel. Most people generally ask for this fixture by name, regardless of the manufacturer....Routine will sink in, and most people ask for it when they want any light (tungsten) under 300 watts..Depending on who you work with.
 
Anyone know of a definitive Dictionary of Industry Terms.

Heard an old DP call a 1 x 3 flag a battle AXE there has to be someone out there documenting these?
 
Anyone know where we could set up a Wiki to collaborate on a list of industry terms.

Anyone interested in such a project?
 
taormina said:
How about globes? Saying Light bulbs instantly marks you as an outsider.
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Yes. I've heard to never say light bulb. I believe they call them lamps and I have heard globes, but I think they differ from each other some how...
not sure.

jason.adams said:
Anyone know where we could set up a Wiki to collaborate on a list of industry terms.

Anyone interested in such a project?
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I'm down to help make a list, but then again I don't have a studio system background where these terms are from and heavily used.
 
"Lamps" is the exclusive term used in stage lighting. The "bulb" is the glass part of the lamp. You "relamp" a fixture.
I don't know if a wiki makes as much sense as just publishing a list. I've got the web space if someone wants to start it. I'll code the page.

I'll never forget looking at the DP when he asked me to "grab the sticks." I looked at him like I was about to get hit by a truck. Fortunately, he was a nice guy. :)
 
Whenever I work with Greenhorns on set I try and make up a bunch of new terms. My goal is that someday people will ask for a Blam-Rock, Barri , or a Crabapple-Dapple etc.
I also tell them that the industry standard for Panavision is Bananavision.
It seems to be catching on a little : )
 
Beeblebrox said:
Whatever the origins, I call them clothes pins. And I say "extension chord" instead of stinger.
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I can understand why some people don't want to give into the lingo.
Have you ever been on set when the Gaffer called out for a baby, then changed his mind and asked for a baby baby, then the DP calls for some baby legs then the AD says will someone go the the trailer and get me the baby. Then there is a real mushy scene with the romantic lead and he keeps calling the woman who's playing the single mother baby.
Then someone asks for C47s. It's f'n crazy.
 
benniles said:
I can understand why some people don't want to give into the lingo.
Have you ever been on set when the Gaffer called out for a baby, then changed his mind and asked for a baby baby, then the DP calls for some baby legs then the AD says will someone go the the trailer and get me the baby. Then there is a real mushy scene with the romantic lead and he keeps calling the woman who's playing the single mother baby.
Then someone asks for C47s. It's f'n crazy.
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Heh. ;)

I also say tripod instead of sticks. And one that really bugs me for some reason is "glass" instead of "lens." Ungh.
 
Heard an old DP call a 1 x 3 flag a battle AXE there has to be someone out there documenting these?
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Just reminded me of an incident an acquainted film cameraman told me. He had learned from some old cameramen/gaffers who used the term "neger" (=negro in German) for a (black) flag. He was used to it and, when first gaffing a set at the Hamburg film academy, called for a "neger". In an instance everything was silent, everybody was looking at him with disgust. In Hamburg they had not used this term since the late sixties because it was not considered politically correct. Awkward moment for him, but a funny story ;)
 
I heard from a professor at Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg, IL lighting class that the term was made up to replace "clothes pins" in the tax returns of set gaffers. IRS audits always dissalowed the purchase of clothespins as a work related/business related expense.
2002.
 
Gaffer, outside of the motion picture industry, is a traditional British English word for an older man or boss. It is essentially a variant on grandfather, used as a term of respect for a village elder, and applied to those in charge of workers since the 19th century. Gaffer within the motion picture industry originally related to the moving of overhead equipment to control lighting levels using a gaff. It has been used for the chief electrician in films since 1936 (Source: Oxford English Directory)

Frank
 
StuMarks said:
I heard from a professor at Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg, IL lighting class that the term was made up to replace "clothes pins" in the tax returns of set gaffers. IRS audits always dissalowed the purchase of clothespins as a work related/business related expense.
2002.
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classes start monday!

hey stu are you still at ilis
 
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