Filming Terminology All Extras Need to Know
Here is a list of the most used terminology used in the filming industry that all extras need to know and understand in order to be truly professional.
Action - is the cue for the actors to start their action
Cut - is the cue to stop. You're often told afterwards to "go back to your first positions" which means go back to where you were at the beginning of the scene.
Call Time - this is given to you by the agency who booked you. It is the time you need to be at work for the job they have booked you for. Make sure you are always on time if not early. If you show a history of being late, the agency will strike you off.
Continuity - is a sequence filming over more than a day or a sequence filming more than a shot. It is therefore important that nothing changes in your action, otherwise it will upset the continuity of the scene. Try to remember your action and your timing to help the continuity.
Final Checks - is where hair and makeup have their last chance to get everything right before they shoot. So when you hear this phrase you need to make sure you know what your action is for this shot.
Number Ones - is the same meaning as "first positions" where you go back to where you started off at the beginning of the shot.
Honey Wagon - is basically a portable toilet.
Pick Up - is a small part of the scene which needs to be reshot for one reason or another so you need to make sure you know where you were and what action you were doing in that part of the scene for continuity.
Remember that extra work has no guarantees offering regular work consistently so please don't expect a full time income from it. But there is a way to earn extra money while you're waiting for a booking from your agents and better still you can do this while you're working on a production.
Action - is the cue for the actors to start their action
Cut - is the cue to stop. You're often told afterwards to "go back to your first positions" which means go back to where you were at the beginning of the scene.
Call Time - this is given to you by the agency who booked you. It is the time you need to be at work for the job they have booked you for. Make sure you are always on time if not early. If you show a history of being late, the agency will strike you off.
Continuity - is a sequence filming over more than a day or a sequence filming more than a shot. It is therefore important that nothing changes in your action, otherwise it will upset the continuity of the scene. Try to remember your action and your timing to help the continuity.
Final Checks - is where hair and makeup have their last chance to get everything right before they shoot. So when you hear this phrase you need to make sure you know what your action is for this shot.
Number Ones - is the same meaning as "first positions" where you go back to where you started off at the beginning of the shot.
Honey Wagon - is basically a portable toilet.
Pick Up - is a small part of the scene which needs to be reshot for one reason or another so you need to make sure you know where you were and what action you were doing in that part of the scene for continuity.
Remember that extra work has no guarantees offering regular work consistently so please don't expect a full time income from it. But there is a way to earn extra money while you're waiting for a booking from your agents and better still you can do this while you're working on a production.
