Buzz
With a career spanning more than 100 films as a camera operator, Dave Knox has mastered the peculiar jargon used by Hollywood insiders. His book, Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde, is packed with such terms. Below are some examples, drawn from Knox and other industry sources.
1. BABY LEGS
These aren't chubby or cute; they're made of aluminum and fully adjustable. This term describes a compact tripod designed for capturing low-angle shots.
2. BANANA
This refers to moving in a curved path away from the camera lens, creating the illusion of a straight line on screen.
3. BOGIE (or BOGEY)
Bogie describes an intruder who has entered the set and is unintentionally walking through the shot. The term originates from military jargon, where it denotes an unidentified aircraft or missile, often appearing as a radar blip.
4. MOS
This acronym stands for 'motor only shot,' indicating a film segment recorded without synchronized audio. A widely circulated—though unverified—tale traces its origin to early Hollywood talkies, where a German director such as Ernst Lubitsch or Fritz Lang allegedly said, 'Vee vill do this scene mit out sound,' leading to the abbreviation MOS.
5. MARTINI SHOT
The martini shot is the final shot of the day, eagerly anticipated by hardworking film crews. After this, the next 'shot' is typically enjoyed from a glass.
6. WHAT IS YOUR 20?
This phrase asks for your precise location. It, along with the next term, originates from the '10 Code' system commonly used by police departments for radio communication.
7. 10-100
This code signifies that a cast or crew member has temporarily left the set to use the restroom.
8. CHOKER
A choker isn’t a piece of jewelry from Wardrobe but refers to an extreme close-up shot focusing solely on the eyes.
9. FOUR-BANGER
This term doesn’t refer to a type of adult film but rather to a spacious four-door trailer equipped with dressing rooms, a production area, and a restroom for the crew.
10. STRIKE
To strike means to dismantle or remove an item from the set.
11. BABY
A baby is a compact lighting unit, typically 750 or 1000 watts, featuring a Fresnel lens with a wavy texture.
12. KILL
This command means to stop or deactivate something. It could apply to a disruptive noise ('Kill that lawnmower'), unnecessary dialogue ('Cut that line'), or an unwanted light source.
13. BLONDE
A blonde is a 2000-watt quartz spotlight that operates without a lens.
