A Funny but Informative Guide to Video Production Slang

Walk onto a video set and you might think you need Rosetta Stone. People call for a stinger. Someone’s shouting “Crossing!” with a pancake in hand. A director mutters about a martini shot, and nobody lifts a glass.

This world runs on slang. If you’ve ever nodded politely while silently Googling on your phone later, this guide is your cheat sheet.

C‑47

Wooden clothespin

Used to clip gels to lights. It sounds official, like aerospace gear. That’s intentional: you want that on the budget sheets.

Flag

Any material used to block light from reaching the subject.

Apple Box

Swiss Army box: Full, half, quarter, pancake, stack ’em, stand on ’em, sit on ’em. Apple pie not included.

Pancake

Short apple box

Raise gear or actors by half an inch. No syrup. If they ask for pancakes, they’re behind schedule, not hungry.

Pancake 2

A light affixed to the drop ceiling with a center light and a Flag on each side.

Stinger

Extension cord

Sure, you could say “cord”, but “stinger” makes life sound dangerous. And sets always overstate drama.

10‑1 / 10‑2

Bathroom breaks in code

10‑1 is quick. 10‑2 means you might not make lunch. Less awkward than yelling across the set, “I’m gonna poop!”

“Fix It in Post”

We gave up

It’s the set’s anthem. Blinked through the line? Lighting shot sucks? We’ll fix it in post. Spoiler: post can’t fix everything.

Room Tone

Pretend silence

We record ambient sound to patch edits. In theory, it’s peaceful. In practice, someone coughs or rustles a chip bag.

Martini Shot

Last shot of the day

No cocktail involved. Just hope of escape, paper towels, and maybe, finally, some sleep.

Crafty

Snack table

Holy ground. Good coffee = crew loyalty. Donuts? Miracle workers. If snacks go, morale goes too.

Abby Singer Shot

Second-to-last shot of the day

Named after production manager legend Abby Singer. If you hear this, buckle up, the martini shot’s next.

Banana

Curve your walk. “Banana” means curve your path for better framing. Sounds fruity, but framing-wise? Pure perfection.

Swing Gang

Set fixer movers

These folks build or strike sets at the last minute. They handle whatever needs changing, fast.

Leadman

Props and swing boss

Leadman runs prop crew and coordinates with the swing gang. They keep set decor consistent and scene-appropriate.

Dailies

Raw footage preview

Daily footage review sessions, used to catch issues early. In the digital era, these are instant, but still called “dailies.”

Set roll sequence

Set manners in code: actors get final fixes, quiet on set, cameras record, sound records, then, go!

Last Looks → Quiet Please → Turn Over → Speed → Action

Hot Set

No touch zone

A set that’s live. Don’t walk, don’t talk, don’t think. Just don’t.

Lock It Up / Picture’s Up

Camera rolling warning

Cue silence. The set is live and mic is listening.

MOS

Shot without sound

Stands for “mit out sound” (Geddit?). Useful—but weird.

Marking

Taping actor positions

Tape marks where actors need to stand for focus or lighting. Super precise.

Master Shot

Wide coverage shot

The safety shot that covers the full scene contextually. Editors love this.

More Slang to Drop This Year

  • Striking – Someone’s powering on a bright light. Eyes off, folks. Meant to be blinding.
  • Three Banger – A three into one electrical adapter.
  • Six Finger – Many people call it a six-plug power bar.
  • Genny – Loud, gas-powered generator. No juice, no shoot.
  • Hot Brick – Charged walkie battery. More valuable than gold.
  • Flying In – Gear/people en route to set. Move if you’re in the way.
  • Crossing – Someone’s walking through the frame. Cue director rage.
  • Sandbag – Heavy weight for gear stability or veiled warnings.
  • Sticks – Fancy word for a tripod
  • Video Village – HQ for all the those watching monitors (and gossiping).
  • Key Grip / Gaffer – Grip boss moves gear; Gaffer handles lighting like family heirlooms.
  • GOBO / Grid – Patterns or grids placed to shape light. Artistic tape and metal jigsaw puzzles.

Why This Slang Exists (And Why You Should Care)

This is more than silly vocabulary. It’s tempo. It’s clarity. It’s safety (watch the lights!). And it’s culture. Knowing these terms:

  • Saves time
  • Minimizes missteps
  • Avoids serious eye rolls

And occasionally? Gets you free snacks.

Final Take on Video Production Slang

Video production slang is the glue holding the chaos together. It may sound absurd, but once you learn it, you’re not just part of the crew. You are part of the crew.

So don’t panic when someone yells “Banana the actor, lock it up, roll cameras, and deploy the swing gang.” Ask for more snacks instead.

Citations

•Abby Singer Shot & Martini Shot explained

•Swing Gang & Leadman definitions

•Set call sequence, Hot Set, MOS, etc.