>Crossing

20th November 2004

Here's a question out of random curiosity.

Why do people always say "crossing" on set? If it's such a big deal, why are they crossing in the first place? Usually the person will say it as they cross, so why bother saying it at all?

I'm guessing this is a practice that originated in the film world as a way to warn not to waste film because someone was about to compromise the frame, but that's just a guess.

Dan "Craft Servicing..." Coplan
Cinematographer/Editor/DVD Authoring
www.dancoplan.com

"Crossing" is a courtesy announcement that a person is about to walk in front of the camera, temporarily blocking the frame.

DPÂ´s, Camera Ops, Production Designers, Directors, and whomever else are constantly looking at lighting and framing and set and props and whatever other issues during setup time either through the eyepiece or via tap monitor, and to have a person who is not part of the scene suddenly cross through frame can be disorienting, distracting and just plain annoying. But people do need to do their jobs so when they need to cross in front of camera they announce it as a courtesy warning.

If someone calls "crossing" during a shot while camera is rolling then it's likely their first & last day!

Mitch Gross
NYC DP

Dan Copland wonders :

>"Why do people always say "crossing" on set? If it's such a big deal, >why are they crossing in the first place?"

It's akin to saying "excuse me" while stepping around somebody.

On a set it can get a bit chaotic with all the rushing around and dozens of jobs trying to be accomplished at the same time.

This came out of the film world, pre-video assist, where the camera is always the centre of attention while being attended to like a queen bee by the DP, the operator, up to 2 AC's, a gaffer, the dolly grip, the director, set folk...all vying for a peek through the lens so they can view their little world. Having somebody cross in front of the lens can be distracting and annoying. Others still have their jobs to do and with the shortest distance between two points being a straight line...sometimes that line is in front of your camera.

What I hate are those who yell "flashing" as they are taking a still instead of before they take it.

A strobe flash on the set can be scary to those who are working around the electrical department because to them a flash could be sparks flying and they instinctively jump back and sometimes off the ladder.

Allen S. Facemire
DP/Director
SaltRun Productions,inc.
Atlanta

>What I hate are those who yell "flashing" as they are taking a still >instead of before they take it.

Also people who turn on a light and then say "watch your eyes."

Blain Brown
DP
LA

Also people who turn on a light and then say "watch your eyes."

"Watch Your Eyes"????? What a weird phrase.

Kind of like..... "Believe You Me" !!!

Jack Cummings
Buffalo