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Movie Crew Glossary
Art Director
Person who is in charge of and oversees the artists and craftspeople who build
the movie sets.
Assistant Director
The Assistant Director is responsible for tracking the progress of the film
versus the production schedule. Also responsible for preparing call sheets.
Associate Producer
Associate Producer is an individual who share the responsibility for creative
and business dealings with the Executive Producer.
Background
Artist Background Artists design and/or construct the art used at the rear
of a set.
Best
Boy This term is
thought to have been borrowed from early sailing crews, who were employed to
work the riggings in early movie theatres. Best Boy refers to the second in
charge of any group, most commonly the chief assistant to the Gaffer. Females
are also known as "Best Boys."
Body
Double Body Doubles
are used to take the place of the actor/actress for a specific scene. Normally
the Director will choose to use a Body Double when an actor's actual body part
isn't quite what is desired for a scene. Body Doubles are often used for scenes
involving nudity or physical prowess.
Boom
Operator Boom
Operators are members of the sound crew who operate the boom microphone. The
boom microphone is a microphone attached to the end of a long pole. The Boom
Operator extends the boom microphone over the actors, out of sight of the
camera.
Camera
Loader The Camera
Loader operates the clapboard, signaling the beginning of a shot. Also
responsible for the actual loading of the film stock into film magazines.
Casting Director
The Casting Director auditions and helps choose all the speaking role actors in
movies, television shows, and plays. Must have a wide knowledge of actors, and
be able to match the talent with the role. Also serves as the liason between
Directors, actors, and their agents. Responsible for negotiating deals with
agents and for obtaining contracts for each hired actor.
Choreographer
Person responsible for planning and directing all dance sequences within a movie
or play.
Cinematographer A
Cinematographer is a person who has expertise in the art of capturing images
either electronically or on film through the use of visual recording devices.
Also responsible for the selection and arrangement of lighting. The Director of
Photography is the movie's chief Cinematographer.
Color
Consultant A
technical advisor who is an expert in film developing and film stock, and who
provides advice to cinematographers.
Composer Composers
are musicians whose music appears in a movie's score. Most films have at least
one original song written expressly for the score.
Conductor The
person who directs the orchestra's performance of the film's score.
Construction Coordinator
Sometimes referred to as the Construction Foreman or Construction Manager. This
person is in charge of all financial responsibilities having to do with
construction including tracking, budgeting, and reporting. Also responsible for
the physical integrity of the buildings created by the construction crew.
Costume Designer
Person who is directly responsible for designing the costumes in a film.
Costumer The
Costumer is responsible for handling the costumes/outfits worn by the actors.
Creator The author
or other primary source behind the creation of the movie, series, or a specific
set of characters.
Dialog
Coach The Dialog
Coach is responsible for helping an actor's speech pattern fit their character,
usually by assisting with pronunciations and accents.
Director Directors
are responsible for the casting, editing, shot selection, shot composition, and
script editing of a film. They are the creative source behind a movie, and must
communicate to actors on the way a particular shot is to be played. Directors
usually have artistic control over all aspects of a film.
Director of Photography
The Director of Photography is the Cinematographer who is responsible for the
process of recording a scene as instructed by the Director. Duties include
selection of film, cameras, and lenses as well as selecting the lighting. The
Director of Photography directs the Gaffer's placement of lighting.
Dolly
Grip Grip
specifically responsible for positioning the dolly. The dolly is a small truck
that rolls along tracks and carries the camera, camera person, and occasionally
the Director.
Editor
A person who edits a movie, by following the Director's instructions. Editors
normally work on the visual editing of a film, and are in charge of
reconstructing the sequence of events within a film.
Executive Producer
Executive Producers are responsible for the overall production of a film, but
are not directly involved in any of the technical aspects. Normally an Executive
Producer will handle the business and legal issues relating to filmmaking.
Extra
Extras are people who do not have a speaking role and are usually used for
filler in a crowd scene, or as background action. No acting experience is
necessary to be an Extra.
Foley
Artist Foley
Artists create foley sound effects. Foley Artists use a variety of objects to
create the sounds of footsteps and other incidental noises in a film.
Gaffer
Literally translates to "old man." The Gaffer is in charge of the electrical
department.
Greensman Greensman
provides the foliage and other greenery used as backgrounds on sets.
Grip
Grips are responsible for the maintenance and positioning of equipment on a set.
Key
Grip The Key Grip
is in charge of a group of Grips. Key Grips may also by the construction
co-ordinator and a back-up for the camera crew. Key Grips and Gaffers work
closely together.
Line
Producer
Responsible for managing every person and issue associated with a film. Line
Producers typically work on one film at a time.
Location Manager
Location Managers are responsible for all aspects of filming while on location,
including making arrangements with authorities for permission to shoot.
Matte
Artist A person who
creates the artwork used in a movie via a matte shot or optical printing. Matte
Artists typically create the background of a shot.
Producer Producers
are in charge of a movie's production in all matters, except for the creative
efforts of the Director. The Producer is also responsible for raising funds,
hiring key personnel, and arranging for distribution.
Production Assistant
Production Assistants do various odd jobs on movie sets, including stopping
traffic, acting as couriers, and fetching items from craft services. PA's are
often attached directly to a specific actor or filmmaker.
Production Illustrators
Production Illustrators draw all the storyboards used to make a film. They are
also responsible for any drawings needed during the course of a production.
Production Manager
Responsible for ordering equipment, securing cast and crew accommodations, and
other practical matters on the set. Reports directly to the film's Producer.
Property Master The
Property Master is responsible for purchasing/acquiring all the props used
during production.
Screenwriter
Screenwriters adapt existing works for production into a movie, or create a new
screenplay to be filmed.
Set DesignerSet
Designers translate a Production Designer's vision and ideas of the movie into a
set which is then used for filming. Set Designers report to the Art Director and
are in charge of a Leadman.
Sound
Designers Sound
Designers are responsible for creating and designing the audio portion of a
movie.
Technical AdvisorTechnical
Advisors are experts on a specific subject matter, and offer advice on making a
film more authentic and true to its subject matter.
Unit
Production Manager
Unit Production Managers are executives who are responsible for the
administration of a film. UPM's report to a senior Producer, and only work on
one film at a time.
Wrangler
Wranglers are directly responsible for all entities on the set who cannot be
spoken with. They are responsible for the care and control of items and animals,
and must have an expertise in dealing with these particular items or animals.