Comments on: Movie speak

By: Peggy Archer

Peggy Archer — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:27:21 +0000

John, I love you to death, but I do have to take this time to point out that on set, there is one gaffer.

There can be only one. Gaffer per unit, that is. The gaffer is the guy who stands next to the DP and discusses the lighting and then tells us (the electricians) what to do.

The gaffer doesn't touch lights or wrap equipment.

The people who start tidying up are the electricians, of which there are many.

By: JKing

JKing — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:57:44 +0000

Funny how many people use 'penultimate' to mean, like, even more ultimate than ultimate ...

By: RTA

RTA — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:34:13 +0000

"Both sound better than penultimate."

And much better than "pre-martini" shot.

By: The English Language

The English Language — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:06:48 +0000

Hey, no knocking “penultimate”.

By: John

John — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:18:34 +0000

@Ryan Covert:

I'm not familiar with the Cole/Haag book. I recommend Hollywood Standard simply because it's mostly right, and it saves me having to answer a lot of questions on this site.

@Brian and @Garrett:

Both sound better than penultimate.

By: Garrett

Garrett — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:14:13 +0000

Brian,

I guess "next-to-last" is a North American (or maybe just American, haven't spent much time in Canada) phrase, because I hear it all the time.

I've yet to hear "second last" but I do hear "second-to-last" on occassion.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:07:54 +0000

That's two terms that are new to me; I never heard anybody say "next-to-last" before. I'm guessing it's a North American phrase, is that right?

Here, we just say second last, which, now that I've thought about it sounds just as oxymoronic(ish)!

By: Ryan Covert

Ryan Covert — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:01:15 +0000

I'm using the Cole/Haag version One for film writing... I know it's a little bit dated... but most of the book is still on point... would I really be better off updating my style guide going with THE HOLLYWOOD STANDARD?

Okay, so it's only about 15 bucks, but should I invest? Is there enough disparity between the older book, and this new and improved version?

Anyone have any insight between these two must-have guides?

By: Andreas Climent

Andreas Climent — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:06:48 +0000

I actually did know what an Abbey Singer is, but only after reading a bunch of movie glossary lists as part of my own little film school.

Two of the best lists I’ve found are this one http://www.filmland.com/glossary/Dictionary.html and IMDB’s glossary list http://www.imdb.com/Glossary/A

It’s actually pretty fun to learn about the origin of all the different strange set terms so I’ll check out the book when I get a chance!