AFTRA - American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.

APPLE BOX - a crate used to prop things up on or to raise the height of some object or person.

ART DIRECTOR - A person who decides the "look" of the production. This person chooses such things as set colours, props, and style of the shoot.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - A person who works directly under the main Director, and carries out instructions for him/her. There are usually 3 Assistant Directors (called 1st Assistant, 2nd Assistant & 3rd Assistant) on a production (usually two on commercials)

AUDIO DUBBING - The process in which audio (sound) is transferred to video tape.

AUDITION - This is when the casting process takes place. Actors and actresses read lines from the script in front of the Producer and/or Casting Agent to see if he/she is right for the part.

BACK TO ONE - A term used on the set to reset the action from its original starting point.

BEST BOY - This person assists the electrician on the set or location.

BOOM MIKE - That is the microphone that is placed over the actors' heads. It's handled by a boom operator.

CALL SHEET - This is a sheet that lists the schedule of the shoot. It includes the names of the crew and talent and times they need to start working.

CLAPBOARD - This is a hand held chalkboard (or electronic board) that contains information about the shoot. It is clapped when the director yells "action" so the editor knows when the sound begins.

CLOSE UP - This a very tight shot made with the camera. You probably only see the actors' face in this shot.

CONTINUITY - This is the process of matching everything in a previous scene with everything in the following scene.

CRAFT SERVICES - These are services that provide snacks for the cast and crew during the shoot.

CRAFT TABLE - This is the table where the snacks are set up for the cast and crew.

CUT - This is what the Director yells when he wants the scene to stop and the actors to stop performing

DALLIES - This is the footage the Director previews from that day's shoot. (Also known as RUSHES)

DGA - Directors' Guild of America.

DIRECTOR - This person controls the action on the set - what the actors do. he or she is also in charge of the way the shots are made and the lighting design on the set. He is the top man on set.

ELECTRICIAN - This person in charge of lighting the set.

EXTRA- This is a background actor - they usually don't speak during filming

GAFFER - This is the person who puts the lighting and electrical outlets where the electrician dictates.

GRIP - This is the person on the set who handles objects on the set such as props.

LOCATION - This is a natural place found anywhere - it could be a home, church, park, library, shopping centre, etc. In fact, anywhere outside the studio.

LONG SHOT - This is a camera shot in which the whole scene is captured. It includes full-body shots and the ability to see the nearby surroundings.

M.O.S. - This is a shot which does not include sound.

N.A.B.E.T. - National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians.

OFF-CAMERA - This is when the actors deliver their lines off camera.

PAN - This is when the camera moves across an image from side to side.

PICKUP SHOT - This is when a shot is redone, usually from the middle of the scene, rather than from the beginning.

PRINCIPAL - The actor or actors on a set that have dialogue.

PROP - Furniture, plants, pictures, anything that is used to dress up the set that can be moved around.

ROLLING - This means the camera is filming or taping.

SAG - Screen Actors Guild

SCRIPT SUPERVISOR - This person is in charge of seeing that the actors follow the words according to the written script.

SET - This is usually a sound stage where filming or taping takes place

SLATE -see clapboard

STAGE MANAGER - The person in charge of the stage where filming or taping takes place.

STAND-IN - A person who fills in for the actor. He/she stands in the same place that the actor will stand when the camera is rolling. This helps the camera person set the camera, and the lighting person set the lights.

TIGHT SHOT - An extreme close up shot

TWO SHOT - This is a camera shot using two people in the frame.

VOICE OVER - This is the process of recording dialogue off camera.

WGA - Writers' Guild of America

WILDTRACK - A description of sound that is recorded during filming in order to be used during dubbing and editing. The cameras do not film during this process, only the sound rolls.

WRAP - This is what the Director will say when the day's shoot is completed

ZOOM - This is a camera shot in which the camera lens moves quickly in on the subject being filmed without moving the camera.

Now you've learnt all that, you have all the information you need to become a Production Assistant. Let's finish off by moving on to the final section, titled, THE FINAL WORD