Dallas Movie Theatres Terms & Definitions

First Assistant Director Player; (1st AD) The person who keeps everything moving forward, on time and on schedule. The 1st AD is responsible for scheduling the shoot each day as well as managing the set during production. Good communication skills are key. Shot lists are crucial to the 1st AD performing his or her job efficiently. Without them, the shooting schedule may be created on the fly, and this disorganization will most likely show up on screen. Director of Development Player; Studio or production company executive who is involved with reading scripts, coverage, giving notes, making writers and directors lists and meeting with agents. Shepherds ideas, books and scripts into better scripts ready for production. Often have suspicious daily schedules involving breakfast, lunch, and drinks meetings. Filter On-Set Term; DPs use different filters on their cameras to add or take away certain aspects of a given shot (light, color, etc.). Process Trailer On-Set Term; A process trailer is a truck with a camera on the trunk. A trailer pulls a car that is low enough to the ground so that it actually looks like it's driving along. One can shoot in the car while it's moving around and the actors don't have to worry about actually driving. Problem is, it's a complicated and time consuming process to get everything rigged up properly. Also, by shooting with the process trailer you've six more variables other than people remembering their lines, the camera working, and the light being right. Post-Production (Post) Industry Term; The phase of film production that takes place after shooting has been completed. Post-Production involves editing, the addition of titles, the creation of special effects and the final soundtrack. Screening Industry Term; Usually a private showing of a completed film; sometimes before its theatrical release. Greenlight Industry Term; Used in Hollywood to describe when the studio commits to making a film. When a film gets the Greenlight from the studio brass, the production team sets a start date and the studio begins allocating resources (i.e. money) to kick off pre-production. Tone Writing Term; The expression of a script, scene, movie that reveals the attitudes, voice and feelings of the author. Also, an element of the script that producers throw out as something to be modified when there is something wrong with a scene that they can't quite put their finger on. Shooting Day On-Set Term; Literally, a day when the movie is being shot. Example a week of six shooting days and one day off or five shooting days and two days off. Sometimes, actors will negotiate less aggressive shooting schedules to give the director more creative space or to give themselves more leisure time. Dolly Shot On-Set Term; Any shot made from a moving dolly. These may also be called tracking or traveling shots.