Set Lingo

Azmyth

Azmyth

Veteran
So I was just curious, because it seems to vary..

is there a "standard" for lingo used on set during takes..

for example.. on the last film I did.. it went like this..

"roll camera"
"camera is rolling"
"roll sound"
"rolling"
"soundspeed"
"film title scene 1-a take 1"
"action!"

should it be done differently?
 
Sound should be rolled first and be pre-slated vocally by the mixer - no need for the success of the beginning of the roll be dependent on someone remembering the take number correctly on the spot with everyone waiting.

1st AD says "roll sound". Mixer or boom op yells "sound speed" and the focus puller (1st AC) or camera op takes their own cue to roll, then says "camera speed". The clapper/loader (2nd AC) says "marker" and slaps the sticks. Director yells "action" at their leisure.
 
nothing said:
1st AD says "roll sound". Mixer or boom op yells "sound speed" and the focus puller (1st AC) or camera op takes their own cue to roll, then says "camera speed". The clapper/loader (2nd AC) says "marker" and slaps the sticks. Director yells "action" at their leisure.
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This is how I've always seen it done. Sound should roll before camera because sound costs less resources. And rarely have I seen a 2nd A.C. repeat the film title for each slate - it's redundant (we all know what the film is...) and wastes time/money.

If you have background or extras, the 2nd A.D. will yell "Background" after sound and camera are speeding, and the atmosphere extras/background will do what they do.

Also, the Director may call "Action on camera" if the shot is opened with a specific camera move, and then a second "Action" to queue talent or a certain effect to play, etc.

More of a hold-over from the film world when every frame running through the camera meant money lost, the 1st A.D. would yell "Picture's up" after camera and talent were done rehearsing - meaning this take is for real - and then "Roll sound."
 
I guess its going to also depend on how big your crew is, what your shooting on etc..

I've heard folks also say "checking the gate" which I assume refers to film cameras.
 
"Checking the Gate" is often used joking and not so jokingly when the AC confirms the digital take was good (no drop outs etc...).
 
thats the old way - although I do enjoy "back to one!"

we just say "kick ass NOW! or rock it out!"

Saying action is dinosaur film making
 
john threat said:
thats the old way - although I do enjoy "back to one!"

we just say "kick ass NOW! or rock it out!"

Saying action is dinosaur film making
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No it's "professional environment" filmmaking, like the 1000 other things that have developed over 100 years of filmmaking as common language and time tested methods. Even if I didn't need a slate for sound sync (which in 2012 you really don't) I'd STILL stale very take, using the exact same drill because it brings everybody's focus back where it needs to be.

When I use common industry practice terms and methods everybody from the DP I have worked with 10 times to the grip I didn't meet until that morning will know exactly what I mean.
 
The first thing I say before a take is " lock it down" This lets the Dp/1st ac and everyone thats on set know that were ready for a take, and they need to have their shot locked down and ready to roll, If sound is in camera, I dont say anything to the boom op, he gets his cue from "roll camera"" rolling" "slate" then they say the scene, and take, then ANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD ACTIONNNNNNNNN.

If audio is seperate, then they should be cued as well. The main reason they always ran audio before film, is because film is expensive, and there's no need to shoot more than you have to.

speed was always referred to film, because it takes a few seconds for it to ramp up to the 24 frames per second rate, thats why they will say speed when it hit the proper frame rate.
 
Jordan Scott Price said:
More of a hold-over from the film world when every frame running through the camera meant money lost, the 1st A.D. would yell "Picture's up" after camera and talent were done rehearsing - meaning this take is for real
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It still costs money to shoot more in a digital world too. Just ask your assistant editor and DIT. Also, you should ALWAYS make sure that everyone knows you are recording, especially the talent. Their entire career is built on their image so you don't want any chance of an awkward moment or clip taken out of context leaking on the internet.
 
john threat said:
thats the old way - although I do enjoy "back to one!"

we just say "kick ass NOW! or rock it out!"

Saying action is dinosaur film making
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Good if making action films or a comedy scene where the energy is very high. Would not work on Schindler's List, I can tell you that. A more calm and quiet, 'action', is a still a good and appropriate cue when the actors are in serious and fragile states of mind. However, many people during very tender scenes choose 'when you're ready'. It is a very soft entrance to not break the actors mind set.

If the scene is a man saying goodbye to his dying wife who is losing a battle with cancer, I really doubt a "kick ass NOW" cue would be appropriate. If anything, the term 'action' is very neutral one and will carry the energy depending on how you say it, soft and long or loud and short. That is why it works so well. I would say 'kick ass NOW or rock it out" would only be appropriate on a music video or a high octane film. On many professional sets, the actors and crew would not benefit from it... I think it stands to amuse the person saying it more than the people hearing it. It would be a very specific kind of set where that would fly as being appropriate.
 
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Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
Good if making action films or a comedy scene where the energy is very high. Would not work on Schindler's List, I can tell you that. A more calm and quiet, 'action', is a still a good and appropriate cue when the actors are in serious and fragile states of mind. However, many people during very tender scenes choose 'when you're ready'. It is a very soft entrance to not break the actors mind set.
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I say when you are ready - when its drama or tender moments.

I almost never say action except when its like a action sequence with no speaking.

Haha.. dinosaur film-making is funny. great film is about breaking rules - not following them to the letter.
 
john threat said:
I say when you are ready - when its drama or tender moments.

I almost never say action except when its like a action sequence with no speaking.

Haha.. dinosaur film-making is funny. great film is about breaking rules - not following them to the letter.
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Absolutely support rule breaking, I do it myself, when there is a REASON. Doing it "just because" generally results in shooting yourself in the foot.
 
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