Film & Television Dictionary – Letter T
Tail Slate: When the slate does not occur at the top of the camera roll you tail slate. Before the camera cuts at the end of a take, tail slate is called out and the slate comes into frame, the slate is held upside down to indicate it is the end of a take and not the beginning.
Take: A take is the moment that is captured between when the director calls action and cut. A director can ask for multiple takes of the same moment until they get what they are looking for. Takes are noted by the script supervisor and turned over to the editor so they have all of the relevant information about each take. If a take is bad it is marked NG (no good).
Talent: Talent refers to the performers in a film or series.
Teaser: A teaser is a short video of clips that teases a film or television show for an audience.
Tech Survey: A tech survey is when all department heads visit each location for a shoot and determine all of the requirements from their department on the day of filming.
Teleprompter: A monitor that feeds the dialogue to the host. Commonly used in live television events or newscasts, the intended lines for the host or anchor appear on the telepromptor and scroll up as they speak.
Third Assistant Director (3rd AD): The 3rd AD is an assistant to the 1st and 2nd. Their main job is to deal with talent. They are responsible for any talent related paperwork, getting talent into hair, makeup and wardrobe as well as escorting them to set when they are called for.
Tight: Refers to a shot, a tight shot is very close on something.
Tilt: Refers to moving the camera up or down.
Time Code: The time reference used for syncing and editing footage.
Time Lapse: Filming at a slower frame rate over a longer period of time to show a change, such as time passing.
Tracking Shot: A moving shot, the camera is mounted on a dolly and pushed along track to achieve a smooth tracking movement with the camera.
Trailer: A trailer can refer to the place that talent goes to rest, prepare for scenes, get in hair and makeup etc. or it can be the promotional video made up of clips from the project to entice the audience.
Trainee Assistant Director (TAD): The TAD’s job is to assist all assistant directors. They help with paperwork, cueing extras, distributing call sheets, making sure talent has everything they need, etc.
Transport Captain: This person supervises all transportation needs on a set.
Transport Coordinator: The transport coordinator is responsible for all the vehicles and drivers on a set, they determine when and where they need to be and make sure they get there.
Treatment: A treatment usually refers to a document that outlines the project, it is not a script. It is made up a character descriptions, scene outlines and sometimes samples of dialogue.
Tungsten: Light filament that is orange is color.
Turnaround: This is the time between the end of a work day and the start of the next. Unions stipulate the amount of time that should pass between the two, usually 8-10 hours. Non-union productions should still try to adhere to this rule to keep their crew rested and at their best.
Turn Over: Means the same as rolling. To turn over means to start rolling sound and camera.
Turtle Base: The three legged base of a C-stand.
Two Shot: A shot that has two actors in the frame.
