Encyclopedia

2106 entries · Page 21 of 36

• Matte Painter

  A Matte Painter creates convincing environments, vistas, skies, architecture, set extensions, and atmosphere that expand or replace photographed locations. They combine painting, photography, projection, and sometimes 3D layout while matching perspective, lens, light, scale, depth, weather, and story so the environment integrates seamlessly with the plate and camera move.

• Matte painting

  A painted or assembled image creating or extending an environment for compositing.

• Maximum SPL

  The highest sound-pressure level a microphone or device is specified to handle within stated distortion criteria.

• Meal break

  A scheduled work interruption for a meal under the production’s applicable labor rules and operating plan.

• Meal buyout

  A payment provided instead of a catered meal under an applicable agreement or tour policy.

• Meal penalty

  Additional compensation or another contract remedy triggered when a covered meal-period requirement is missed.

• Mechanical Effects Engineer

  A Mechanical Effects Engineer designs, calculates, prototypes, tests, documents, and supports mechanisms used to create controlled physical motion or transformation for camera. They may develop actuators, linkages, pneumatics, hydraulics, controls, breakaway interfaces, or moving scenery while accounting for loads, failure modes, guarding, emergency stops, maintenance, performer interaction, and the production’s approved effect methodology.

• Media Archivist

  A Media Archivist identifies, inventories, preserves, describes, stores, retrieves, and manages the lifecycle of film, tape, audio, digital media, documents, and related production assets. They maintain provenance and rights information, assess physical and digital condition, plan migration and backup, control access, fulfill research or restoration requests, and document every movement so valuable originals and masters remain findable and trustworthy.

• Media Digitizer

  A Media Digitizer converts analog, tape-based, optical, or otherwise inaccessible picture and sound into managed digital files. They identify source formats, configure playback and capture paths, calibrate levels, record complete material, label and checksum files, document defects and provenance, and quality-check sync, framing, cadence, channels, and completeness so editorial or archive teams receive usable, traceable media.

• Media offload

  The controlled transfer of recorded media from camera cards to verified production storage.

• Media server

  A system that stores, processes, maps, and plays video or pixel content for a live event.

• Media-server output

  A rendered video feed generated by a media server for screens, projection, or compositing.

• Medical plan

  A written arrangement for first aid, medical response, transport, communication, and escalation during production.

• Medium close-up

  A framing commonly showing a performer from chest or shoulders upward.

• Medium shot

  A framing commonly showing a performer from roughly the waist upward.

• Medium wide shot

  A framing wider than a medium shot but closer than a full environmental view.

• Menace arm

  A cantilevered rig that projects a fixture or modifier horizontally from a supported stand or structure.

• Merchandise settlement

  The post-show accounting of merchandise sales, taxes, venue commissions, card fees, inventory, and cash.

• Mezzanine codec

  A high-quality codec intended for editing, interchange, mastering, or intermediate generations.

• Mezzanine master

  A high-quality intermediate master retained for downstream versions, distribution, or archive.

• Microphone diaphragm

  A thin membrane in a microphone element that moves in response to changes in sound pressure.

• Microphone dip

  The unintended appearance of a microphone or boom within the recorded frame.

• Microphone level

  The relatively low electrical signal level produced by a microphone before preamplification.

• Microphone maximum SPL

  The highest specified sound-pressure level a microphone can accept before exceeding a stated distortion limit.

• Microphone polar pattern

  A diagram or description of microphone sensitivity versus sound-arrival direction.

• Microphone self-noise

  The equivalent acoustic noise level produced by a microphone and its internal electronics when no intended sound is present.

• Microphone sensitivity

  A specification relating microphone output voltage to a stated sound pressure.

• Microphone shock mount

  An elastic or engineered suspension that reduces vibration transmitted from a boom, stand, or camera.

• Microphone split

  A device or system that sends one microphone signal to multiple destinations such as front of house, monitors, and recording.

• Microphone transducer

  The microphone element that converts acoustic energy into a corresponding electrical signal.

• Midrail

  The intermediate member of a guardrail system that reduces openings below the top rail.

• Military Advisor

  A Military Advisor helps a production portray military organization, behavior, terminology, uniforms, equipment, protocol, tactics, history, and culture with appropriate accuracy and context. They review scripts and designs, explain realistic options, train performers, advise blocking or action, identify safety and legal concerns, and distinguish factual guidance from the Director’s final creative choices and the authority of qualified weapons or stunt personnel.

• Minimum guarantee

  A guaranteed advance payable by a distributor or sales agent against future exploitation receipts.

• Minor work permit

  A jurisdiction-specific authorization required for eligible minors to work in entertainment.

• Minus green gel

  Magenta color-correction media used to reduce a green cast in a light source.

• Mirror board

  A reflective board used when a production needs a more specular bounce than foam or fabric provides.

• Missing-person plan

  A procedure for reporting, searching, escalating, and documenting an unaccounted worker, minor, or participant.

• Mix automation

  Recorded changes to faders, pans, mutes, sends, plugins, and other mix parameters over time.

• Mix-effects bus

  A switcher processing bank that creates transitions, keys, and layered program compositions.

• Mix-minus

  A feed containing the program mix with one contributor’s own signal removed.

• Mix-room calibration

  The alignment of monitor level, frequency response, timing, routing, and listening position to an agreed standard.

• Mobile scaffold

  A supported scaffold mounted on wheels or casters for relocation on suitable surfaces.

• Modeling Artist

  A Modeling Artist builds three-dimensional characters, creatures, props, vehicles, environments, or set extensions from concept art, photography, scans, measurements, and design direction. They create accurate form, scale, topology, detail, and construction logic so assets can be textured, rigged, animated, simulated, lit, rendered, and revised efficiently.

• Mold exposure

  Potential respiratory or skin exposure from fungal growth in damp buildings and materials.

• Momentary loudness

  A short-window loudness measurement showing rapid changes in perceived programme level.

• Monitor hood

  A shade surrounding a display to reduce ambient light and reflections during viewing.

• Monitor mix

  A live audio mix created for performers or operators to hear the signals they need during a show.

• Monitor mix position

  The work area where performer monitor mixes and stage-audio systems are controlled.

• Monitor world

  The position or system that creates performer monitor mixes and manages stage monitoring.

• Monopod

  A single-legged camera support that reduces carried weight while retaining mobility.

• Mood reel

  A short reference edit conveying atmosphere, rhythm, texture, color, or emotional direction.

• MOS

  A take recorded without synchronized production sound; the abbreviation’s origin is disputed.

• Mother grid

  A primary overhead support grid carrying secondary trusses, points, or production systems.

• Motion tracking

  The analysis of image movement so graphics, effects, or corrections can follow an object or camera.

• Motion-vector pass

  A rendered data pass describing screen-space movement for pixels or objects.

• Motivated light

  Lighting designed to appear consistent with a visible or implied source in the story world.

• Motorcycle safety

  Specialized controls for riding, towing, mounting, or filming motorcycles and similar powered cycles.

• Motorized line set

  A stage batten and lifting system driven by powered machinery rather than a manual purchase line.

• Movement order

  A detailed instruction sheet for a production move, travel day, or unit relocation.

• Moving light

  A remotely controlled luminaire with motorized parameters such as pan, tilt, color, beam, focus, or framing.

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