Filmclusive Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
Film production roles, equipment, workflows, and terms.
BG
A common production abbreviation for background performers or for action and elements placed in the background of the frame.
Bid
A supplier’s priced proposal to perform a defined scope of production work or provide specified goods.
Bid comparison
A like-for-like review of vendor proposals against the same scope and commercial assumptions.
Big close-up
A tighter-than-standard close-up emphasizing a face or a major portion of it.
Billing
The prominence, placement, order, and presentation of a performer or contributor’s name in credits and advertising.
Billy Bitzer
G. W. “Billy” Bitzer was a pioneering American cinematographer whose long collaboration with D. W. Griffith helped develop early film lighting, close-ups, mattes, tracking shots, and continuity techniques.
Billy clip
Set slang for a locking plier or vise-grip fitted with flat plates for gripping scenic or rigging material.
Biological hazard
A microorganism, body fluid, waste, animal material, or toxin capable of causing harm.
Bird’s-eye shot
A steep overhead view looking down on subjects and their spatial pattern.
Bit depth
The number of digital values available to represent each sampled image or audio component.
Black burst
An analog standard-definition video reference signal used to synchronize compatible video equipment.
Blackout
A cue or condition extinguishing designated performance lighting, often rapidly.
Blackout curtain
Opaque stage drapery used to block light, mask space, or divide backstage areas.
Blackwrap
A heat-resistant black foil used to flag, mask, or shape light around a fixture or accessory.
Blank ammunition
A cartridge designed without a projectile but still capable of hazardous pressure, flame, debris, and noise.
Blimp windscreen
A rigid basket surrounding a microphone to create still air and reduce outdoor wind noise.
Block shooting
Scheduling and filming multiple scenes, episodes, or related material together because they share locations, cast, sets, or production resources.
Blocking
The rehearsal and planning of actor movement, camera position, and spatial relationships before a take.
Blonde light
Traditional name for a 2,000-watt open-face tungsten fixture, especially an Italian-made design used for broad, hard output.
Blood rig
A concealed tubing, reservoir, pump, or release system used to deliver theatrical blood on cue.
Bloodborne-pathogen control
Precautions preventing occupational exposure to blood and potentially infectious body fluids.
Blown highlight
An image area exposed or processed beyond useful highlight detail, often described as clipped or blown out.
BNC cable
A bayonet-lock coaxial cable used for video, reference, timecode, and other production signals.
Boat safety
Controls for production work aboard, alongside, or filming from powered or unpowered watercraft.
Bobbinet
A fine open mesh, commonly black, used in nets and overhead fabrics to reduce light with limited change to beam quality.
Body Paint Makeup Artist
A Body Paint Makeup Artist designs or applies approved color, texture, markings, tattoos, fantasy finishes, camouflage, or coverage across larger areas of a performer’s body. They test products and removal, protect skin and privacy, plan modesty and access, match continuity, coordinate costumes and prosthetics, manage transfer and drying, and maintain safe sanitary application through long shooting days.
Body-mounted camera support
A vest-and-arm system that transfers handheld camera weight to an operator’s torso.
Bolt-type shackle
A shackle secured by a bolt, nut, and retaining pin for longer-term connections.
Bone
Dated crew slang meaning to obstruct, inconvenience, or create a problem for another person, usually heard in a negative construction.
Book light
A bounced-and-diffused lighting arrangement that creates a large, soft source close to the subject.
Book rights
Screen adaptation rights licensed or acquired from the owner of a literary work.
Boom cradle
A support attached to a stand or cart that safely rests a boom pole between takes.
Boom Operator
A Boom Operator positions a directional microphone close to performers but outside the camera frame to capture clear, natural dialogue. They study blocking and lens coverage, choose microphone and placement, rehearse movement, avoid shadows and noise, manage the pole and cable or transmitter, and communicate sound problems to the Mixer.
Boom pole
A telescoping pole used to position a microphone near performers while remaining outside the frame.
Boom shadow
An unintended microphone or pole shadow visible within the photographed image.
Boom up
An instruction to raise a microphone boom, camera boom, crane, or similar supported arm; the intended device must be clear from context.
Bottle episode
An episode designed to use a limited cast, few standing sets, and constrained production resources while still serving the series story.
Bounce
A reflective surface used to redirect and enlarge a light source for softer illumination.
Boundary microphone
A microphone designed to operate on or near a large surface, reducing certain reflected-path cancellations.
Box rental
An agreed allowance paid when a crew member supplies personally owned tools or equipment required for production work.
Branch circuit
The conductors between final overcurrent protection and connected production loads or outlets.
Break the neck
Informal grip or lighting instruction to angle the top of an overhead frame so it redirects light or reduces wind loading rather than remaining flat.
Breakaway
A prop, scenic element, or material engineered to break predictably with less force and reduced injury risk during rehearsed action.
Breakaway-glass safety
Controls for selecting, preparing, rigging, rehearsing, and cleaning up glass substitutes or specially prepared breakable glazing.
Breakdown element category
A standardized grouping used to classify script requirements such as cast, props, vehicles, or effects.
Breakdown sheet
A scene-level planning record listing cast, elements, location, story day, pages, and production notes.
Bridge plate
A rigid camera-bottom interface that provides standardized support and rod positions for professional accessories.
Bring in the meat
Dated and dehumanizing set slang telling the assistant-director team to bring performers to set.
Broad light
A broad-beam open-face fixture or, contextually, a lighting direction that illuminates the side of a face turned toward camera.
Broadcast Wave Format
A WAV-compatible audio format carrying professional metadata such as timestamps and origin information.
Broom it
Informal set direction meaning remove, dismiss, or abandon an object, setup, or idea.
Budget top sheet
A summary of major production budget categories used to understand the financial shape of a project.
Bullet-hit effect
A practical or visual effect simulating a projectile striking a person, object, or surface.
Bump
Informal production term for additional pay triggered by specified work, conditions, equipment, wardrobe, hazards, or an upgraded performer classification.
Burn-in timecode
Visible timecode characters rendered into a viewing copy for reference.
Busking
Operating live lighting or media by making responsive manual choices instead of following only a prebuilt cue stack.
Butterfly frame
A large collapsible frame used to hold a fabric modifier over or beside a subject.
Butterfly lighting
A frontal portrait-lighting pattern with the key placed high and near the camera axis, producing a small shadow beneath the nose.
C-stand
A three-legged grip stand with a column and arm for positioning flags, reflectors, and small fixtures.
C47
A wooden clothespin used to hold diffusion, gels, or small fabric pieces without transferring heat like metal can.
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