Movie Speak: How to Talk Like You Belong on a Film Set

by Tony Bill

When is "groucho" not a comedian? A "seagull" not a bird? A "banana" not a fruit, and a "taco cart" not a food stand? What's the "Castle rock rule" and when should you call for a "buff & puff"? And why expect trouble when the A.D. (assistant director) knowingly mumbles "Gone With the Wind in the morning, Dukes of Hazzard after lunch"? An oral tradition gathered and passed down for more than a hundred years, the language of moviemaking, like other secret lexicons, is the only accepted way of communicating on a set—and is all but unknown to the outside world. Technical, odd, colorful, mysterious, the working language of movies sheds light not only on the hugely complex process of making a film, but on the invisible hierarchies of a set, the unspoken etiquette between cast and crew, and the evolution of a process that's endlessly fascinating.

Movie Speak is a book about language, but through language also a book about what it’s really like to be a director or a producer or an actor or a crew member. An Oscarwinning producer (The Sting), actor (who worked with Spielberg, Coppola, and Sydney Pollock), and director (Five Corners, Flyboys, My Bodyguard, and more), Tony Bill has been on sets for more than 30 years and brings a writer's love of language to this collection of hundreds of film terms. A futz. A cowboy. A Brodkin and a double Brodkin (a.k.a. screamer). Streaks ’n tips, a Lewinsky, Green Acres, rhubarb, a peanut, a Gary Coleman, snot tape, twin buttes, manmaker (and why you can yell for one if needed for a grip, but must whisper if it's for Tom Cruise)—these are the tricks of the trade.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Reference, Media Tie In, Writing, Dictionaries

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2009

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a dictionary of the odd words found on film sets, for instance, a “gobo is an object used to hide or block a light,” (77) but it’s also used in theater. Groucho helps a camera operator, when the actor goes from sitting to crouching, in Groucho- style, so the close up isn’t on the actor’s crotch. (80) There are informative, breezy essays based on the writer/ director/ producer/ actor's life. I'm glad I read this.

I bought this for $3.99 from the Book House on 10/13/15.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

adequate bathroom lecture

[Naomi Batiste · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this achieved its purpose in familiarising me with the language used on set… I almost threw this book at the wall so many times. It’s rampant with misogynistic sexist bullshit. Bleugh. Made me want to vomit several times. This is exactly why we have intimacy coordinators now (me lol).

[Frankie Moonz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful and funny. Filled with history and interesting factoids (Scorcese keeps a mirror on his monitor to keep an eye on who’s behind him!?). Made me feel really great every time I knew a term and got to say to myself “ha. Wish I had this book three years ago when the Production Designer asked me to go get a jack!” And I said yes as a P.A. having no idea what a jack was back then!!! Anyway really fun if you’re breaking into the industry or just curious about the language of moviemaking.

[Arjun]

Bookmark...
B

[Siri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every industry has its own lingo and the film industry has quite the colorful and historic one. This book is a great reference for someone breaking into the movies and, because one probably can't memorize the full plate of strange terms in a single reading, good to keep around so that when you are on a set, you can do a quick look up. Nicely sized for keeping with you in such cases. Besides a glossary of terms, the book is interspersed with articles. You will feel like an insider by the end of the reading.

[Adam Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Informal, amusing, and occasionally enlightening. Some terms will be familiar to those even with just a passing knowledge of filmmaking, others seem a bit more specialized. Written with affection and experience. As someone who is learning his way around a film set I found it helpful in understanding a bit more of the mindset of the people on the other side of the action.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't learn much new terminology ... I was simply curious that someone wrote a book on the topic. Would be more entertaining for someone not familiar with set lingo.

[Thk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too technical for the amateur, but some interesting terms shared here that may be of interest to budding directors and producers

[Krista W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this was free on Amazon? Informative and amusing.

[Gladys Kusmulyadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice one to give you some information about the terms and its meaning in film production

[Philippe Bouyer-Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vital for wandering in Hollywood.