SET ROLES/CREW — DEFINITIONS & ABBREVIATIONS
(American / International Film Set Standard)
Below is an overview of the primary positions on a professional F2X film set.
Each role includes:
The title
The common abbreviation
A clear, detailed explanation suitable even for crew members new to film production.
1. DIRECTING DEPARTMENT
Director — DIR
The creative leader of the film.
The Director is responsible for the overall vision of the story, including performance, tone, pacing, and how each scene supports the narrative. All departments follow the Director’s creative direction.
Works closely with: DP, ADs, Script Supervisor, Producers.
Assistant Director — AD
The AD manages set operations, timing, schedule, and communication.
There are typically multiple ADs:
1st Assistant Director — 1st AD
The primary manager of the set.
Runs the set during filming
Calls roll (“Quiet on set”, “Rolling”, “Cut”)
Ensures safety, timing, and order
Communicates between Director and all departments
Keeps the shoot on schedule
2nd Assistant Director — 2nd AD
Handles off-set logistics and paperwork.
Creates call sheets
Manages actor movements
Coordinates tomorrow’s logistics
Communicates between 1st AD and departments
2nd 2nd Assistant Director — 2nd 2nd AD
Additional support on large sets.
Helps with background actors
Helps manage cast flows
Oversees secondary elements
2. CAMERA DEPARTMENT
Director of Photography — DP / DoP
Head of the camera and lighting team.
Responsible for the visual look of the film: composition, camera movement, lensing, lighting style, and exposure.
Collaborates with Director and Gaffer/Key Grip.
Camera Operator — OP
Operates the camera physically.
Executes the DP’s visual plan while maintaining the framing and movement.
1st Assistant Camera — 1st AC / Focus Puller
Responsible for the camera’s technical function.
Pulls focus during shots
Maintains and builds the camera
Handles lens changes, filters
Ensures everything is clean and functional
One of the most technical jobs on set.
2nd Assistant Camera — 2nd AC / Clapper Loader
Handles all media, slating, and camera reports.
Manages the slate
Loads/unloads media cards
Keeps records for post-production
Assists the 1st AC with camera builds
Digital Imaging Technician — DIT
Works closely with the DP to manage digital capture.
Adjusts camera settings
Manages live color LUTs
Ensures consistent color pipeline
Oversees data integrity from the camera to the Dailies/DIT cart
Data Wrangler — DIT Assistant / Loader
Transfers and backs up footage safely to multiple drives.
Verifies backup integrity (checksums)
Maintains a clear folder/data structure
Never deletes media unless authorized
3. LIGHTING DEPARTMENT
Gaffer — GF
Head of lighting.
Executes the DP’s lighting plan.
Designs lighting setups
Controls exposure, shadows, contrast
Supervises the electricians
Best Boy Electric — BB Electric
The Gaffer’s main assistant and department coordinator.
Manages gear, cables, power distribution
Handles crew assignments
Troubleshoots electrical issues
Electricians — Sparks / Electrics
General lighting crew.
Rig and aim lights
Run cables and power
Follow Gaffer and Best Boy instructions
4. GRIP DEPARTMENT
Key Grip — KG
Head of the grip team.
Responsible for camera support and non-electrical light control.
Supervises rigging, dollies, cranes
Handles shaping light with flags, diffusion, bounce
Works closely with DP and Gaffer
Best Boy Grip — BB Grip
Second in command to the Key Grip.
Manages gear, trucks, scheduling
Assigns tasks to grips
Grips
General crew for rigging and shaping light.
Operate dollies
Build camera rigs
Set up diffusion, flags, stands, clamps
5. SOUND DEPARTMENT
Production Sound Mixer — MIX
Head of production sound.
Records all on-set dialogue
Manages all microphones (boom, lavs, plant mics)
Adjusts levels and mixes live audio
Delivers sound reports
Boom Operator — BOOM / BO
Holds and operates the boom mic.
Captures the cleanest possible dialogue
Stays aware of framing, lighting, shadows
Coordinates with mixer and camera
Utility Sound — UT
Assists sound department.
Helps place lav mics
Manages batteries, cables
Helps with quieting props and costumes
6. PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT
Producer — PROD
Oversees the entire production from financing to delivery.
Budgets, hires crew, books locations
Supervises all departments
Ensures the film can be completed on time and budget
Line Producer — LP
Manages daily operations and budget control.
Monitors spending
Approves rentals, contracts, overtime
Coordinates logistics with ADs
Production Manager — PM
Operational manager on set.
Supervises transportation, equipment, crew
Solves logistical issues
Works closely with ADs
Production Assistant — PA
Entry-level role.
PAs support any department with small tasks.
Locking up set
Running cables
Moving small gear
Distributing call sheets
Helping wherever needed
7. ART DEPARTMENT
Production Designer — PD
Visual architect of the film’s worlds.
Designs overall look of sets
Supervises props, set dressing, locations
Works with Director and DP
Art Director — AD (Art)
(Important: not the same as Assistant Director.)
Manages construction and execution of the Production Designer’s concepts.
Props Master — PROP
Manages all props handled by actors.
Prepares, maintains, and resets props
Ensures continuity
Ensures safety (especially with weapons)
Set Dresser
Places and arranges set decoration.
Preps sets before shooting
Resets continuity between takes
8. WARDROBE & COSTUME
Costume Designer — CD
Creates character wardrobe based on script and director’s vision.
Wardrobe Supervisor — WS
Runs the costume department on set.
Maintains continuity
Manages fittings and daily looks
Costume Assistants
Handle dressing actors and maintaining outfits.
9. HAIR & MAKEUP
Key Makeup Artist — MU
Leads makeup looks for actors.
Makeup Assistants
Support MU.
Key Hair Stylist — HS
Responsible for all hair styling.
Hair Assistants
Support the head stylist.
10. SCRIPT & CONTINUITY
Script Supervisor — Script / Scripty
Tracks all continuity, dialogue, and camera notes.
Logs every take
Notes performance issues
Ensures scenes match across shots
Informs the editor of “good” and “bad” takes
11. SFX / VFX DEPARTMENTS
Special Effects Supervisor — SFX SUP
Handles physical (practical) effects.
Blood rigs
Smoke, rain, wind
Explosions
Fire gags
Mechanical rigs
VFX Supervisor — VFX SUP
Handles digital effects.
Works with DP on VFX plates
Ensures shots are captured with proper tracking data
Oversees green screen, markers, HDRI, clean plates
12. ACTION / SAFETY
Stunt Coordinator — STUNT COOR
Plans and supervises all stunt work and fights.
Ensures actor and crew safety.
Intimacy Coordinator — IC
Supervises intimate scenes.
Ensures safety and consent
Creates choreography for intimacy
Protects actors emotionally and physically
13. LOCATIONS
Location Manager — LM
Finds and secures shooting locations.
Handles permits
Manages neighbors, access, and logistics
Location Assistant — LA
Assists LM with on-set location needs.
14. TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Captain — TC
Manages all vehicles, drivers, and equipment transportation.
15. VIDEO DEPARTMENT
Video Assist / VTR
Records and plays back takes for the Director, DP, and Script Supervisor.
16. ADDITIONAL CREW
Behind-the-Scenes Camera — BTS
Captures behind-the-scenes material for marketing and social media.