A Complete List of Hollywood Slang
Ever been on a film set and felt like everyone was speaking a foreign language? Hollywood is notorious for its insider lingo.
If you want to navigate the backlot like a pro, you’ll need to master the slang. From quirky equipment names to cryptic production terms, here’s your ultimate guide to cracking the code of Hollywood-speak.
Check it out below.
A Complete List of Hollywood Slang
Abby Singer: The second-to-last shot of a filming day.ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement): Re-recording dialogue in post-production.Apple Box: Wooden boxes used for set building, positioning actors, and various equipment needs.Above the line: Budget for key creative personnel (director, producer, major stars).Back nine: Traditionally, the second half of an 18-hole golf game; where production deals are often made.Backlot: A studio-owned outdoor area with permanent sets or space to build them.Banana: A curved lighting stand.Beat: A brief pause or change in an actor’s delivery for dramatic effect.Beat Sheet: A basic outline of a screenplay, listing key plot points and scenes.Below the line: Budget for technical crew and production costs.Best Boy: Assistant to either the key grip or the gaffer (chief electrician).Bible: A comprehensive document outlining the world, characters, and overall arc of a television series.Blocking: Planned physical movements of actors within a scene.Blue/Green Screen: Large colored backdrops used for visual effects (actors are filmed in front of them, and the screen is replaced in post-production).Boilerplate: Standard legal language used in contracts.Bounce: Reflecting light with a white board or similar to soften the source.B-roll: Supplemental footage used to establish setting or add visual interest.Bump: A slight pay increase.C-47: A clothespin (used on lights and elsewhere in film sets).Call sheet: Daily schedule outlining the day’s scenes, locations, cast/crew needed, and important notes.Cattle Call: A large, open casting call.Chemistry Read: Actors audition together to test their potential onscreen chemistry.China Ball: A paper lantern that provides soft diffused lighting.Cold Read: Auditioning with a script with little to no preparation.Comp: Free tickets for an actor’s friends/family, or free services during production.Cookie (Cucoloris): A patterned cutout used to create dappled light effects.Coverage: The different camera angles and shots used to capture a scene.Craft services (“crafty”): The on-set snack and drinks table.Dailies: The raw footage shot on any given filming day.Day Player: An actor hired for a single day’s work.Development Hell: A project stuck in the development phase for an extended period.Dolly: A wheeled platform used for moving the camera smoothly.Flag: Black fabric used to block or shape light.Fourth Wall: The imaginary barrier between the actors and the audience.French Hours: Long workday without a traditional lunch break.Gaffer: The head electrician responsible for lighting on a film set.Golden Time: Overtime pay rate.Greenlight: A project getting studio approval to move forward.Grip: Crew member responsible for camera support, rigging, and non-electrical set work.Holding Deal: When an actor’s paid a retainer to stay available for a project.Honeywagon: A trailer containing portable restrooms.Hot Set: A set that’s ready for filming and cannot be disturbed.In the pocket: When an actor has totally embodied their character.Looping: A type of ADR where actors watch themselves on screen to better sync dialogue replacement.Magic Hour: The period during sunrise and sunset with soft, golden light.Mark: A designated position for an actor to hit during a scene.Martini on the Rocks: Similar to a Martini shot, but with a bit of unusable footage at the end.Martini Shot: The last shot of a filming day.Meal Penalty: Financial penalty if the crew doesn’t get a meal break on time.Motivation: The underlying reason behind a character’s actions.MOS: Filming without sound (stands for ‘Motor Only Sync’). Can also mean “mit out sound”.Off-book: Having your lines memorized and not needing the script.One-liner: A brief, single-sentence synopsis of a film or TV pitch.Option: Securing temporary exclusive rights to a script or book, usually with payment involved.Package: Combining a script with attached talent (director, actor) to make it more appealing.Pencilled In: Tentatively scheduled but not fully confirmed.Pickup: Additional filming done after the main shoot.Pitch: When a writer or filmmaker presents their project idea to potential buyers.Playback: Playing recorded audio or video on set.Polish: A final script rewrite focusing on minor tweaks and dialogue cleanup.Sandbag: Bags filled with sand used to stabilize cameras, lights, etc.Sides: The portions of a script an actor needs for their audition.Spec Script: A screenplay written without being commissioned, hoping to sell it later.Speed: The command from the sound mixer when recording is rolling and ready.Stinger: An extension cord.Stealing Focus: When an actor subtly draws attention away from the main action of a scene.Sticks: A tripod.Table Read: Cast gathers to read the script aloud, often a first production step.Tentpole: A big-budget film expected to be a blockbuster and anchor a studio’s release schedule.Texas Switch: Switching an actor for a stunt double discreetly during a shot.Tracking: How audience awareness and interest in a project build over time.Turnaround: A project abandoned by one studio and picked up by another.Walk and Talk: A scene featuring characters moving and conversing.Wrap: Signifies the end of a shooting day or the entire productionWrap Gift: A small present given to cast and crew at the end of production.