Walkie-Talkies

They are such a necessity but can cause so many screw-ups that it’s important to know what you are dealing with.
When walkies are your responsibility:
• Make sure the walkies and any spare batteries have been charged.
• Check your gear. Make sure that if it says 12 walkies & 12 spares on the outside of the case, that’s what is inside the case.
• Use a walkie signout sheet. You should know who has walkies with what accessories.
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Using the walkie
• Always test your walkie when you first turn it on, and any time you put on a new battery. Hold down either the walkie bar, or the bar on the handset(when using one) and say “radio check”. Release the bar and listen for the response “good check”.
• Make appropriate volume adjustment to your surroundings. Be aware of sleeping neighborhoods at the crack of dawn, know when a shot is recording sound (so your walkie won’t interfere) and turn down the volume if you are near the director.
• Use a headset or a handset. Attach the handset to your shirt close to your ear. A walkie doesn’t do you any good if you can’t hear it.
• Speak clearly, don’t ramble and remember everyone can hear you.
• The walkie-talkie that you are assigned in the morning is your responsibility. Sometimes, there are not enough walkies for everybody, so your walkie may be reassigned to someone else during the day. Make sure you get the name and position of the person you give your walkie to and have them sign their name on the walkie sign out sheet. That way, if the walkie is missing at the end of the day, it’s on them, not you.

Walkie Etiquette
• Channel one is the main production channel and needs to be kept clear for the AD to communicate with the crew. If you need to talk with someone about production logistics, or anything not directly related to the set and the AD, there is a “go to” channel assigned by the AD department (usually channel two). Make sure you “go to” that channel and keep the main production channel clear from excess talking.



WALKIE TALK & SET LINGO

Rolling Camera is on, filming starts.
Action Filming and performance begins.
Cut Filming and performance stops.
What’s your 20? Where are you?
Do you copy? Do you hear me?
Copy that I understand.
Hold traffic Don’t let cars or people pass.
Release traffic Let cars and people pass.
Go to # . Switch walkie to channel # .
Back to 1 Switch walkie back to channel 1 (when on another channel)
Back to original positions. (when said by director or AD)
Watch your back Get out of the way.
10-100 In response to What’s your 20… it means you’re in the bathroom.
New Set-up
New Deal Everyone prepares for a new shot.
Going on to a new set-up.
Hot set a set that must remain exactly the wat it is for further shooting
Checking the gate This particular scene is wrapped and the interior of the camera is checked to make sure there are no hairs or other debris inside the camera that would damage the film. If the gate is good, then we move on to the next scene or wrap for the day.
Room tone Ambient sound being recorded. Be still and quiet.
Flash Say before taking a Polaroid or flash picture. This is so the elctricians will know it isn’t one of their lights that has blown. Never take a flash picture while the camera is rolling.
Crossing Say before walking in front of the camera while a shot is being set up.
We’re on the move Company moving to a new location.
Martini shot Last shot for the day
That’s a wrap The shooting day is done.

SHOOT DAY CHECKLIST

Immediately upon arrival:
• Sign out walkies, turned on and on the correct channel
• Help set up Craft Service
• Use cones, caution tape and barricades as needed to secure the location.
• Unload trucks:
• Set up Camera area as directed by AC
• Prepare wardrobe area. Make sure this a table in this area. Set up any equipment (i.e. racks, steamer, etc.) Get the electricians to put a work light and an electrical line in this area. Be prepared to help the wardrobe stylist load-in all the wardrobe.
• Unload props as needed.
• Prepare hair & make-up area. Make sure there is a table for the make-up kit and chairs for the actors. Get the electricians to put a work light and an electrical line in this area.
• Production into production office and plug in computers, battery chargers, etc.
• Set up for the Home Economists or any specialty department the specific job requires.
• Deliver anything else you picked up to the appropriate department
• Organize all expendables in one place (make sure crew members use expendables owned by the production company first)
• Set up Shooting Boards on a C-stand on set
• Put director’s chairs on set for the director and the script supervisor
• Put director’s chairs on set for “video village”
• Put out Butt Cans: 1000 empty film cans with sand or cat litter in them
• Put toilet paper, liquid soap, paper towels, and garbage bags into all usable bathrooms (including motorhomes)
• Distribute garbage bags to other areas
• Set up staging areas for extras
• Make sure all vehicles (including crew cars) display either parking permits or “crew vehicle” signs in their windows (see: Vehicles section)
• Double-check on Craft Service
• After everything is done, then it is OK to eat breakfast

All Day:
• At least one PA on set (that is, one plus the person doing slates...)
• Move pop-up tents as the sun moves
• Pick up litter and trash as you find it
• Double-check on Craft Service
• Check in with Production to see if we need anything

Camera Position Change:
• All PA’s should report to the First AD
• Immediately shift video village to its new position
• Move shooting boards and tall directors chairs
• Move camera cooler as needed

Before Lunch:
• Set up tables and chairs for lunch
• Put tablecloths on tables (tape down, if needed)
• Move coolers to lunch area
• Put out garbage bags in lunch area
• Check with Production to see if there is a plan for all the garbage
• Assign someone to watch the camera and any other high-security areas during lunch
• Change all walkie batteries at lunch time

After Lunch:
• Put away tables and chairs, clean up area (hold off if there might be an evening meal)
• Fill gas tanks of vehicles as needed
• Double-check on Craft Service
• Fill out your time cards and get your petty cash up-to-date

Before Camera Wrap:
• Get a jump on wrapping the truck. As you load returns, make sure all things going back to the same place are on the same truck.... LOAD FIRST IN, LAST OUT; LOAD NEATLY AND SAFELY.

After Camera Wrap:
• Keep walkies on through the entire wrap and the retrieve them and count them
• If required for next shoot day, designate one PA to charge camera batteries and walkie batteries - either left plugged in on set or taken home, charged and brought back
• Load Wardrobe, Props, Camera, Expendables, etc., onto trucks
• Load Production (but do not pester us, we’re going as fast as we can....)
• Police location for litter and get rid of garbage
• Do an idiot check