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The On-Set Cadence: Script for Calling a Shot
By Staff
posted Oct 10, 2009, 17:50
The film within the film scene. Here is a brief script that you can use on your shoots to make your Assistant Director and crew look truly professional when rolling the camera on shoots.
Check out this article in the print edition of StudentFilmmakers Magazine, October 2006. Click here to get a copy and to subscribe >>
The On-Set Cadence
Script for Calling a Shot!
by Michael Corbett
We have all seen it in movies hundreds of times like in Living in
Oblivion or The Player. The film within the film scene. The crew is
there, and they begin to shoot. Here is a brief script that you can
use on your shoots to make your Assistant Director and crew look
truly professional when rolling the camera on shoots.
The sound mixer should slate each scene verbally using a mic set
up near the mixing console during the lull between takes or, at the
very latest, after the tape gets up to speed, and then call �Speed!�
We want to avoid slating verbally while film is rolling through the
camera because we don�t want to waste any film this way. The
camera need only roll just long enough to capture the slate closing
and then set for the scene. (Pictured Right: Michael Corbett calls a shot on the set of Captiva Island.)
The shoot cadence goes like this:
Fade in:
On the first AD. The First AD keys the transmit button on his/her radio.
First Assistant Director
Roll sound.
Every production person, all AD�s and all PA�s
within ear shot of the First AD or on walkie
talkie sing out in a loud chorus...
The Production team
ROLLING!
The word rolling can be heard everywhere on the
set as it echoes into a thundering silence as
the highly trained professional crew stops all
conversations and work while the scene is being
shot.
Cut to:
Close on the sound mixer as the DAT recorder is
turned to record. When the deck locks on speed,
the sound mixer slates the scene verbally if it
has not already been slated. The boom person
points the mic at the mixer and away from the
slate.
Sound Mixer
Scene 6, take 3, [or whatever]
The mixer can steal a few seconds of room tone
here by delaying the announcement of speed.
Sound Mixer
Speed.
The boom person points the mic back toward the
slate but keeps it at a distance so that the
slate closing sound does not distort.
Cut to:
Close on the First Assistant Camera operator as
the camera is switched on. When the camera is
up to speed (almost instantly) he nods or points
at the second AC or the person who is doing the
slate.
Cut to:
Medium shot of the second assistant camera
operator as he/she calls �marker� and then
closes the slate.
Second Assistant Camera Operator
Marker.
The slate is closed, the 2nd AC clears the set,
and the boom man repositions the mic for the
take. The director takes a beat and then�
Director
And, action.
The scene is played out. At the end of the
scene the director�
Director
Cut.
Cut to:
On the first AD. The First AD keys the transmit
button on his/her radio.
First Assistant Director
And that’s a cut.
Every production person, all AD’s and all PA’s within ear shot of the First AD or on walkie talkie sing out in a loud chorus...
The Production team
That’s a cut!
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