Amateur job titles to avoid

Date: 2011-10-21, 3:09PM PDT

As a service to the clueless masses here's a guide to what positions on set are called, as many of the people offering jobs clearly have never been on set.

Camera Department has a DP (director of photography), Camera Operator, 1st AC, 2nd AC, and Loader

The following terms make you look like an obvious film school undergrad who has no clue what theyre doing:
"Camera Guy"
"Shooter" (my personal favorite)
"Camera Op with own equipment"
"PA that can pull focus"

Sound Department on set has a Sound Mixer, a Boom Operator, and a Utility

The following terms make you look like you watched a David Lynch movie in high school and decided to "become an artist" with no formal education
"Sound Operator"
"Audio...anything"
"Sound Engineer" (when you want a mixer)
"Sound Guy/Man"
"Boom Guy"
"Boom Op with equipment" (Thats a mixer, people)
"PA who is familiar with sound"

Also...anything involving a backslash is just pathetic:

AD/Line Producer
DP/AC
Sound Mixer/Caterer

Thank you for your time, and remember, if you have no idea what youre doing, at least use vocabulary that makes it look like you do.


Location: Los Angeles