Last Updated 5 days ago
Filmmaking Dictionary: Number 1 / 10-2 (Film Set Radio Code)
Definition
10-2, spoken ‘ten-two’, is informal radio shorthand used on some film and television sets for a longer washroom break. It is commonly understood as the counterpart to 10-1, which indicates a brief washroom break.
The code is not used consistently across every production. Some crews rarely say it and use a general washroom call instead. Use the terminology understood by the people you are working with.
The Practical Meaning Is Availability
The important information is that a crew member will be away from their position and may need someone to cover their immediate responsibilities. The code does not promise an exact return time or explain why the break will take longer.
If timing affects an imminent task, give the relevant department contact the information they need in plain language. Do not rely on a slang code to communicate a specific delay that it does not actually define.
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Keeping the Radio Call Useful
- Use the appropriate department contact or channel.
- Identify who is stepping away.
- Make a clear handoff where an assigned position needs coverage.
- Keep private details off an open radio channel.
- Confirm your return when the department is waiting for you.
Good radio communication is brief and understandable. If someone does not know the code, explain it once without turning the exchange into a joke or a prolonged conversation on the working channel.
Example on Set
A crew member needs to leave an assigned position for a washroom break. They inform the person coordinating that position, who arranges coverage. If the crew uses 10-2, the code can communicate that the absence may be longer than a quick 10-1.
If another issue will delay the return, the crew member updates their department directly. Continuing to rely on the original code would leave colleagues making assumptions about availability.
What the Code Does Not Mean
10-2 is not a standard meal-break call, a wrap announcement or a general instruction to stop filming. Other organisations may assign different meanings to similar radio numbers. Film-set usage should not be applied to emergency or public-service radio systems.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 10-2 mean a fixed number of minutes?
No. There is no universal duration attached to the film-set shorthand.
Must I use 10-2 instead of saying washroom break?
No. Clear, discreet language is sufficient when that is the production’s normal practice.
Is 10-2 the same as 10-1?
They both concern a washroom break in this context, but crews using both commonly distinguish a longer break from a brief one.
Related Terms
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