Video Production Terminology 101: Swng’s Guide to Video Production Lingo & Definitions

Video production can sound like a different language for those new to the industry. Here are our top words and phrases that will help newcomers and clients feel confident using production lingo.

1. “10-1”: Refers to a restroom break for crew members.
2. After Effects: A powerful Adobe software application used for motion graphics, visual effects, and compositing.
3. Art Department: The department responsible for the visual aesthetics of a production, including set design, props, and costumes.
4. Assistant Editing: Support for the main editor by organizing footage, managing media, and performing initial cuts.
5. B-roll: Supplemental footage that supports the main content or narrative.
6. Brand Audit: An examination of a brand’s strengths, weaknesses, and positioning in the market.
7. Breakfast Call: The time before Call Time, when breakfast is served for crew.
8. Brick: A walkie-talkie battery. “Can I get an extra brick?”
9. Call Sheet: A document distributed to the cast and crew, containing essential information for the day’s shoot.
10. Call Time: The designated time when crew members are expected to report to set.
11. Creative Ideation: The process of generating creative ideas and summarizing them into brief descriptions known as log lines.
12. Crafty: The craft services table, offering snacks and refreshments for the crew.
13. Dailies: Raw, unedited footage that is viewed by the director and production team while on-site when there is an assistant editor on crew. This can be crucial when filming scenes that are dependent on how they cut together in post.
14. Going into Grace: When the director requests that lunch or wrap is delayed, and the crew goes into lunch penalties or overtime, respectively.
15. Interview: A structured conversation between two parties to elicit information, insights, or opinions.
16. Live Stream: A real-time broadcast of video content over the internet.
17. Log & Color Grading: Recording footage in a flat or desaturated color profile, followed by adjusting and enhancing colors in post-production.
18. Lower Thirds: Graphical overlays in the lower portion of the screen displaying information about the on-screen subject.
19. Martini Shot: The final shot of the day!
20. Motion Graphics: Animated elements such as text, graphics, or images enhancing the overall production.
21. “On Your One” / “On Your Two”: A call from the director signaling that the actor should return to the starting position for that scene. When the director calls for “Action,” the actor will go from “their one” to “their two.”
22. Paper Cut: An initial edit of a video project using printed scripts or storyboards.
23. Picture in Picture: A video overlay technique where one video is displayed on the full screen while another is inset in a smaller window.
24. Pre-Recorded Live Event – Tape to Deck: Recording a live event in advance and playing it back as if it were happening live.
25. Scriptwriting: The process of writing the script or screenplay for a video project.
26. Senior Editing: Experienced professionals responsible for the final edit of a video.
27. “Slate In”: The call from the director that the actor and crew are set and ready for the slate to be brought into the camera’s frame. The slate is the clapper that helps editors sync the audio file and video file in the post-production process. The slate is also labeled with the scene name and number so the shot is labeled for the editors.
28. Sound Mix: Blending and balancing audio elements to create a polished and immersive audio experience.
29. Steadicam: A camera stabilization system allowing for smooth, handheld shots.
30. Stinger: An electric extension cable.
31. Storyboard: Visual representations of the scenes in a video, often in comic strip format.
32. Tape to Deck: Recording live content onto a physical tape or digital equivalent for later playback.
33. Treatments: Detailed outlines or descriptions of the creative vision for a video project. Two to four options are presented in a deck with sample visuals and inspiration to the client for final selection.
34. “What’s Your 10?”: It means: “What is your location?” It is usually asked over walkie-talkie.
35. Wrap: The conclusion of filming for the day or the entire project. “That’s a wrap!”

Congratulations! You’re now fluent in the lingo of video production. From “Martini Shot” to “Wrap,” these terms are more than just industry jargon—they’re the shorthand that keeps creativity and collaboration flowing on set. By understanding and using these phrases, you’ll not only sound like a pro but also navigate projects with newfound confidence and ease.

Whether you’re brainstorming treatments, analyzing dailies, or grabbing an extra “brick,” you’re well on your way to mastering the art of video production communication. So, next time you’re on set, you can confidently nod when someone says, “Slate in!”

Are we missing your favorite production lingo or phrase? Send us an email at [email protected] with “Production Lingo” in the subject line.