On-Set Workflow

What do common film set terms mean?

Film sets use short calls so everyone knows exactly what is happening. "Roll sound" starts the recorder, "speed" confirms it is running, "mark" comes before the clap, "action" starts the performance and "cut" ends it. Terms such as MOS, pickup, wild track and martini describe specific kinds of shots or moments in the day.

True-Slate Guides · updated 1 November 2026

The calls before and after a take

• "Lock it up" / "Quiet please": the set is about to roll. Stop talking and moving.
• "Roll sound": the first AD asks sound to start recording. The reply is "speed".
• "Roll camera": camera starts recording. The reply is "rolling" or "camera speed".
• "Mark it" / "Slate": the second AC calls the slate and claps. See how to use a clapperboard.
• "Background action": extras start moving before the main action.
• "Action": the director starts the performance.
• "Cut": the director stops the take. Only the director (or the first AD for safety) calls cut.
• "Reset" / "Back to one": everyone returns to their starting positions for another take.
• "Moving on": the set-up is finished. The camera team prepares the next one.
• "Check the gate": a film-era call to inspect for dust or hair before moving on. Today it often means checking the recording is clean.

Types of shots and recordings

• MOS: a take with no sound recorded.
• Pickup: re-shooting only part of a take, starting from a line or moment rather than the top.
• Wild track or wild line: sound recorded without picture, such as a line repeated for clarity.
• Room tone: thirty seconds or more of silence recorded in each location, used by sound editors to fill gaps.
• Plate: a shot without actors, recorded for visual effects.
• Insert: a close shot of a detail, such as a hand or a letter, often shot separately.
• Coverage: all the shots needed to cut a scene: wides, mid shots and close-ups from different angles.

Moments in the day

• Call time: when you are expected on set, from the call sheet.
• Blocking: the director and actors work out movement, with key crew watching.
• First positions: actors and camera at their starting marks.
• Last looks: hair, make-up and costume make final checks before a take.
• Abby Singer: the second-to-last shot of the day, named after a famous assistant director.
• Martini: the last shot of the day ("the next shot is in a glass").
• Wrap: the end of filming for the day or the whole production.

Departments and roles

• First AD: runs the set and the schedule, and calls the roll.
• DOP / DP: director of photography, in charge of camera and lighting.
• Gaffer and sparks: chief lighting technician and electricians.
• Grips: rig and move camera support, dollies and cranes.
• Script supervisor: tracks continuity and takes notes for the edit.
• DIT: digital imaging technician, who backs up and checks footage on set.

Etiquette worth knowing

Stay out of the actors' eyeline, keep radios on a single earpiece, never walk in front of a rolling camera, and repeat calls such as "rolling" so the whole set hears them. When in doubt, ask your head of department quietly between takes.

New to slating? Start with our guide to what goes on a clapperboard, or see how True-Slate turns an iPad or iPhone into a timecode slate and shot log.

Common questions

What does speed mean on a film set?

Speed is the reply from sound (and sometimes camera) confirming the recorder is running at the correct speed and ready for the slate.

What is the martini shot?

The martini is the last shot of the day. The shot before it is called the Abby Singer.

What is room tone and why record it?

Room tone is a recording of a location with no one talking. Sound editors use it to fill gaps and smooth cuts in dialogue.

Related reading

• How do you use a clapperboard on set?
• What does a second assistant camera do?
• Digital Clapperboard vs Traditional Slate
• All True-Slate guides