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Walk and Talk
The walk and talk, probably made most popular by The West Wing, is a shot when two or more characters are walking and talking in the scene. It can be used to get characters to a secondary location or, more commonly, as a visually interesting way to have the characters exchange information.
Walk-On Role
A minor role in a film or television show that usually has no lines.
Walkie / Walkie-Talkie
Two-way radios used for communication on set, especially by ADs, PAs, and department heads.
Walkie Check
The quick call to confirm radios are working, usually at the start of the day. Example: “Walkie check, channel 1.”
Walla
Walla or Walla Walla is the background noise of a crowd used in the earlier days of filmmaking. The background performers would be asked to mumble words or phrases such as “walla walla” to create the effect of crowds speaking.
Wall Break (Fourth Wall)
When an actor acknowledges the audience or camera directly, “breaking the fourth wall.”
Wardrobe
Wardrobe refers to the clothing/costumes that characters wear throughout a production. The wardrobe department works with the director to create the look of the costumes. The department can consist of the wardrobe supervisor, costume supervisor, costumer, costume designer, wardrobe assistant, etc.
Wash Light
Broad, even lighting that covers large areas of a set or stage.
Watermark
A faint identifying mark placed on screeners, workprints, or previews to deter piracy and unauthorized sharing.
Western Dolly
A western dolly is similar to the doorway dolly, but is larger and can handle a heavier load.
Wedges
Wooden wedges commonly used by the grip department. Wedges can be used to level dolly track and other gear, and also by set dec to level props and furniture.
Wet Down / Wetdown
The act of spraying streets or surfaces with water to enhance reflections and cinematic texture. Common in night shoots to create a more reflective look.
Wet Gate
A film projection/transfer technique using liquid to temporarily fill in scratches, making them less visible.
WGA (Writers Guild of America)
The union for writers working in the United States.
WGC (Writers Guild of Canada)
The union for writers working in Canada.
Whip Pan
A quick pan of the camera that causes motion blur.
White Balance
A camera setting that adjusts color temperature to ensure whites appear neutral under different lighting conditions. Proper white balance has to take into account color temperature.
White Script
The final shooting draft of a script, before colored revision pages are issued.
Wide Shot
A wide shot is captured with a wide-angle lens, allowing for a wider range of view and greater depth of field.
Wides
Slang for wide shots in coverage, usually filmed first before moving into closer coverage shots.
Widescreen
Aspect ratio where the width is greater than the height, such as 16×9. Also refers to feature film formats like 1.85:1 or 2.39:1.
Wild Line
Wild lines or wild sound are recordings of additional dialogue or sounds after the cameras stop rolling. They are recorded separately and without an image.
Wild Track
Unsynced audio recorded on set for later use, often natural sounds or ambient effects.
Wild Wall
A set wall built to be removable so the camera can shoot from behind it.
Window Shot
- The “Window” is what you call the final shot of the day. The term comes from the early days of filmmaking when the crew went to the window at the end of the day for their pay. Also known as a Martini shot.
- A framing technique where a subject is shown through a physical window, often symbolically.
Wind Machine
A fan used to simulate wind on set.
Winnie
Winnie is a nickname for a Winnebago. Winnies are commonly used on lower-budget projects as honeywagons, wardrobe trailers, production offices, etc.
Wipe
An editorial transition used between two scenes. The use of this transition results in one scene being “wiped” away by another. Rarely used in modern filmmaking.
Wire
Another term for a lavalier mic. A wire is attached to a performer and mixed with the audio recorded from the boom mic.
Wire Removal
A VFX process used to digitally erase safety harnesses, wires, or rigging.
Wobble Cam
A handheld style used to create a chaotic or unstable effect.
Work-for-Hire Agreement
A contract where creators agree the production owns all rights to their work.
Workprint
A rough version of a film or television episode, used during the editing process. The workprint usually contains the sound recorded on set, stock footage as placeholders for missing shots or effects, and animation tests or sequences.
Work Trucks
Trucks parked close to set and used most often. Generally these will be the grip and lighting trucks, camera truck, props truck, etc.
Working Title
A working title is the temporary name given to a production while it is being worked on. A different or official title may be given to the production upon release.
Wrap
This refers to the end of the filming day or the end of the production. It comes from the acronym Wind, Reel and Print, but has become the common term for the end of any part of a production, such as meetings, scouts, shoot days, etc.
Wrap Out
The process of striking a set, returning gear, and closing down production.
Wrap Party
A celebration held by the cast and crew after production wraps.
Wrangler
There are generally two types of wranglers: animal and vehicle. These are the people responsible for the use of these things on set. They are usually specialists in their area and are brought onto set only when animals or vehicles are required.
That wraps up our Film & Television Dictionary – Letter W entries. This glossary is a living resource—new terms and updated definitions are added regularly as the industry evolves. If you have a suggestion or notice a term we’ve missed, feel free to reach out and share your input.
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