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 production
• Wrap Gift: A small present given to cast and crew at the end of production.