322 Moving Images: Making Movies, Understanding Media
Glossary
Art director – Art directors execute the sets and other design elements
conceived by production designers and may oversee the art department for
a motion picture.
Barn door – Two- or four-paneled metal device attached to the front of a
studio lamp to control light spill.
Best boy electric – First assistant to the gaff er and is in charge of implementing
power hookups, electrical materials, and lighting setups.
Best boy grip – Th e assistant to the key grip, serving as a set foreman and
overseeing the work of grip crew.
Bluescreen – Compositing technique originally known as “travelling matte” in
which actors stand in front of a blue screen during fi lming, then all of the blue
is removed leaving the images of the actors so that they can be inserted into
a background. Uses of computers in fi lmmaking and printing have improved
the procedure, and digital technology has widened its applications.
Breakdown – Analysis of elements necessary to produce a script done for
cost estimates and preparations by location for each department working
on the movie.
Call sheets – Daily schedule for crew and cast, including arrival and shooting
times.
Camera operator – Crew member who operates the camera during shots,
viewing the scene and adjusting framing. It may be the cinematographer or
a camera technician under supervision of the director of photography.
Casting director – Individual responsible for overseeing the selection of lead
and supporting actors for a feature fi lm or television show (although not
necessarily the stars with top billing) done in collaboration with the director
and producers.
Changing bag – Lightproof bag with two zippered linings used for changing
fi lm rolls in magazines while on location when no dark room is available.
Common option is changing tent with supports to suspend linings above
loader’s hands.
Construction manager – Person responsible for building of sets.
Costume designer – Head of the costume department who works with the
director and production designer to dress characters appropriately and to
establish a consistent and suitable style for the movie.
Diff usion – Material used to soft en or break up direct light.
Director of photography – Commonly called the DP, this person is the head of
camera crew and directs lighting. Also known as cinematographer, although
the term director of photography is sometimes specifi cally employed when
there is a separate camera operator photographing shots.
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