The Complete Online Filmmaking Reference - Film Distribution ...

Best Boy - There are actually two separate best boy positions -- the best boy/electric and the best boy/grip -who
are second in command to the gaffer and to the key grip. The best boy/grip is in charge of the rest of the
grips and grip equipment. The best boy/electric is in charge of the rest of the electricians and the electrical
equipment.
Betacam - The most common broadcast quality video format.
Billing - Size and placement of the order of names in the movie's title in printed publicity material or opening
credits.
Bin: - A reference to a storage container lined with a cloth bag, into which cut film or sound stock may be
arranged and hung. In digital audio and video terms, this can be related to a film and/or directory from which
stored shots or sound segments are selected for use.
Bio-pic - A biographical film of a famous personality particularly popularised by Warner Brothers in the 1930s.
e.g. The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936), The Life of Emile Zola (1937).
Biographic Picture - A filmed story of a person's life story.
Bit Part/Role - Small unimportant role, usually lasting only one scene.
Bit - A minor acting role in which an actor may only speak a few lines.
Black and White - Films prior to the advent of Technicolor.
Black Comedy - Comedy in which the humor is derived from subjects which are typically considered "serious", or
for which humor is usually considered as unsuitable: death, war, misery.
Black Leader: - Opaque film leader used in conforming original film for A and B roll printing. (Film Editing)
Black Wrap - Black Aluminum foil which is used for wrapping lights, to control light spill, and for making small
flags. (Grip/Lighting)
Blacklisting/Blackballing - List of filmmakers or actors who have either been formally or informally
discriminated against, due to their personal, political, social, or religious beliefs.
Blimped Camera - Camera with internal soundproofing. Camera will say "BL."
Blip Tone - A sync pop. This is usually done by placing a piece of 'toned' tape on a particular frame of film to
establish a 'synch' point. (Film Editing)
Block/Blocking - Rehearsal to determine the position and movement of the camera, actors, and crew during a
particular shot or scene.
Blockbuster - Movie which is a huge financial success; $100 million or more.
Blocking - Plotting actor, camera and microphone placement and movement in a production or scene.
(Production)
Blonde - An open face 2K lighting unit, also known as a 'mighty'. (Lighting)
Bloop - The sound produced in an energized amplifier and speaker system when a film splice passes the photo
cell to which the amplifier is connected.
Blooping Tape - Tape used to cover unwanted portions of sound tracks.
Blooping: - Any method of silencing unwanted noise produced by the passage of a splice through a sound
reproducer. Traditionally, a small opaque tape is fixed over a splice. (Post Production)
Blow-Up - A film enlargement from a smaller gauge of film to a larger gauge (i.e. 16mm to 35mm).
Bobbinet - Black mesh cloth which is used for grip scrims. It also is available in rolls for darkening windows.
(Grip/Lighting)
Body Double - A body which is used for "doubling" the actor's body in certain scenes; i.e.: nudity shot.
Body Make-up Artist - Union rules state that the body make-up artist apply any make-up below the actor's
breastbone, or above the elbow (Also see make-up artist).
Bolex - Swiss made 16mm non-sync camera. Very popular.
Boom Microphone - Long pole with a microphone on the end.
Boom Operator - The boom operator is a sound crew member who handles the microphone boom, a long pole
that holds the microphone near the action but out of frame, allowing the microphone to follow the actors as they
move.
Boom - A telescoping arm for a camera or microphone which might be available in a variety of sizes from the
very small handheld types to the very large, which might be transported as an integral part of a motor vehicle.
(Production)
Bootleg - Unofficial and illegally copied or distributed version of a movie, often of a substandard quality.
Bottom Chop - A flag or cutter which is used to keep light off of the floor or the lower part of a scene.
(Grip/Lighting)
Bounce Card - Silver or white card that is used to bounce light onto a subject.
Box-Office - Measure of the total amount of money paid by movie-goers to view a movie.
Box Rental - A fee or allowance paid to a crewmember for providing his/her own equipment or other specialized
apparatus for use in a production. (Production)
Bracketing - Filming of multiple takes (of the same shot) at different f-stops.
Branch Holder - A pipe-like unit with a locking nut which is used to hold branches, wooden poles, or other items.