Film, Television and Theater Abbreviations
63 abbreviations · part of Arts & Entertainment Abbreviations
Abbreviations from movie and TV production, screenwriting, visual effects, content ratings, awards, streaming business models and the stage. They appear on call sheets, in screenplays, on posters and streaming menus, and in trade publications such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Rating labels such as PG-13 and TV-MA are set by industry bodies, and their exact meanings are explained on each page.
| Abbreviation | Stands for | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 12A | 12A | British film rating meaning the film is suitable for ages 12 and over, but younger children may see it in a cinema if accompanied by an adult. |
| AD | Assistant director | Crew member who manages the shooting schedule and keeps the set running on time, calling out "rolling" and "quiet on set." The first AD is the director's right hand… |
| ADR | Automated dialogue replacement | Process of re-recording an actor's lines in a studio after filming to replace unusable production audio or change a line. |
| AMPAS | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Professional honorary organization of film industry members that presents the Academy Awards, or Oscars, each year. |
| ASM | Assistant stage manager | Member of the stage management team who works backstage during performances, running scene changes, tracking props and helping actors with entrances and quick changes. |
| AVOD | Advertising-based video on demand | Streaming model in which viewers watch for free and the service earns revenue from ads, as with YouTube and Tubi. |
| BAFTA | British Academy of Film and Television Arts | Organization that presents the British Academy Film Awards and Television Awards, the UK's leading screen honors. |
| BBFC | British Board of Film Classification | Independent body that classifies films, videos and some streaming content in the United Kingdom, issuing the age ratings U, PG, 12A, 12, 15, 18 and R18. |
| BTS | Behind the scenes | Content showing how something was made, such as a photo shoot, film, concert or business, posted on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. |
| CGI | Computer-generated imagery | Images created with computer graphics software, used in films, television, advertising and games for creatures, environments, crowds and effects that would be… |
| CU | Close-up | Shot framing a subject tightly, typically an actor's face from the chin to the top of the head, to capture emotion or detail. |
| DCEU | DC Extended Universe | Shared universe of DC Comics superhero films from Man of Steel (2013) to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), produced by Warner Bros. |
| DCU | DC Universe | Shared universe of DC films and series produced by DC Studios under James Gunn and Peter Safran, which began with the animated series Creature Commandos in December… |
| DIT | Digital imaging technician | Crew member who manages digital camera data on set: backing up footage, checking exposure and focus, and applying preliminary color looks so the director and DP see an… |
| DP | Director of photography | Head of the camera and lighting departments on a film or TV production, responsible for the visual look of each shot, working closely with the director. |
| DS | Downstage | Part of the stage closest to the audience. |
| DTV | Direct-to-video | Film released straight to home video, television or streaming without a theatrical release. |
| EGOT | Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony | Distinction for winning all four major American entertainment awards, in television, music, film and theater. |
| EP | Executive producer | Credit for a producer who oversees financing, packaging or the creative direction of a project rather than day-to-day production. |
| EXT. | Exterior | Screenplay scene-heading prefix indicating an outdoor scene, as in "EXT. |
| FAST | Free ad-supported streaming television | Internet-delivered linear TV channels that stream scheduled programming for free with ads, like traditional cable channels. |
| FPS | Frames per second | Number of individual images displayed or recorded each second in video, film and games; higher values give smoother motion. |
| G | General Audiences | MPA film rating meaning all ages are admitted; the film contains nothing most parents would consider offensive for children, though it is not necessarily made for kids. |
| HFPA | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Former organization of Los Angeles-based journalists for international outlets that voted on the Golden Globe Awards from 1944 until it dissolved in 2023. |
| IMAX | Image Maximum | Large-format film and projection system using very large screens, high-resolution cameras and powerful sound. |
| INT. | Interior | Screenplay scene-heading prefix indicating that a scene takes place indoors, followed by the location and time of day, as in "INT. |
| LD | Lighting designer | Theater, concert or TV professional who designs the lighting for a production, choosing fixtures, colors and cues to create mood and focus. |
| MCU | Marvel Cinematic Universe | Shared fictional universe of interconnected superhero films and series produced by Marvel Studios, beginning with Iron Man in 2008. |
| MPA | Motion Picture Association | Trade association of major US film and streaming studios, which lobbies for the industry and runs the voluntary film rating system (G, PG, PG-13, R and NC-17) through… |
| MPAA | Motion Picture Association of America | Name used from 1945 to 2019 by the organization now called the Motion Picture Association. |
| MS | Medium shot | Shot showing a subject from about the waist up, balancing facial expression with body language and some surroundings. |
| NC-17 | No One 17 and Under Admitted | MPA film rating meaning nobody 17 or younger may be admitted. |
| O.S. | Off-screen | Screenplay notation for dialogue spoken by a character who is physically present in the scene but not visible in the shot, such as someone in the next room. |
| OTS | Over-the-shoulder shot | Shot framed from behind one character, with part of the shoulder and head in the foreground, looking at the other character. |
| OTT | Over-the-top | Services delivered over the internet directly to users, bypassing the traditional control of telecom carriers or cable operators, such as WhatsApp for messaging and… |
| PA | Production assistant | Entry-level crew member on film and TV sets who handles errands, lockups, paperwork, walkie-talkie relays and general support. |
| PG | Parental Guidance Suggested | MPA film rating indicating that some material may not be suitable for children and parents should decide whether to let them watch. |
| PG-13 | Parents Strongly Cautioned | MPA film rating warning that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. |
| POV | Point of view | On TikTok and Instagram Reels, a caption format ("POV: you're the teacher on the last day of school") that places the viewer in a scenario acted out by the creator. |
| PPV | Pay-per-view | Model in which viewers pay a one-time fee to watch a specific live event or program, most often boxing, MMA and wrestling. |
| R | Restricted | MPA film rating meaning viewers under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. |
| SFX | Sound effects | Recorded or synthesized sounds added to film, TV, radio, games and theater, from footsteps and doors to explosions and creature roars. |
| SL | Stage left | Left side of the stage from the actor's point of view facing the audience, which is the audience's right. |
| SM | Stage manager | Theater professional who runs rehearsals and every performance, calling light, sound and set cues from a script known as the prompt book. |
| SNL | Saturday Night Live | Long-running NBC late-night sketch comedy and variety show, broadcast live from New York with a weekly guest host and musical guest. |
| SR | Stage right | Right side of the stage from the performer's point of view facing the audience, the audience's left. |
| SVOD | Subscription video on demand | Streaming model in which viewers pay a recurring fee for unlimited access to a library, as with Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max. |
| THX | THX | Certification standard and company for cinema and home audio and video quality, created by Lucasfilm in 1983 for the release of Return of the Jedi. |
| TV-14 | Parents Strongly Cautioned | US TV rating indicating a program contains material many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14, such as intense violence, strong language or sexual… |
| TV-G | General Audience | US TV rating for programs that most parents would find suitable for all ages, with little or no violence, no strong language and little or no sexual dialogue. |
| TV-MA | Mature Audience Only | US TV rating for programs designed for adults and possibly unsuitable for anyone under 17, with graphic violence, explicit sexual activity or crude language. |
| TV-PG | Parental Guidance Suggested | US TV rating indicating that a program contains some material parents may find unsuitable for younger children, such as moderate violence, some suggestive dialogue or… |
| TV-Y | All Children | US TV Parental Guidelines rating for programs designed to be appropriate for all children, including those ages 2 to 6. |
| TV-Y7 | Directed to Older Children | US TV rating for children's programs designed for ages 7 and up, which may include mild fantasy or comedic violence that could frighten younger children. |
| TVOD | Transactional video on demand | Model in which viewers pay per title to rent or buy films and episodes, through stores such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and Google Play. |
| U | Universal | British BBFC film rating meaning suitable for all audiences, generally ages 4 and over. |
| UPM | Unit production manager | Production executive who manages a film's budget, schedule, crew hiring and logistics, reporting to the producers. |
| US | Upstage | Part of the stage farthest from the audience. |
| VFX | Visual effects | Imagery created or altered in post-production, including CGI, compositing, digital set extensions, de-aging and green-screen work. |
| VO | Voice-over | Narration or speech heard over the picture without the speaker appearing on screen speaking it, used for narrators, inner thoughts and commercials. |
| VOD | Video on demand | System letting viewers choose and watch programs when they want rather than at a broadcast time, through cable boxes, streaming services or hotel systems. |
| WS | Wide shot | Shot showing the full subject and much of the surroundings, often used to establish a location or show action and movement. |
| X | X rating | Former MPAA film rating, used from 1968 to 1990, meaning no one under 17 admitted. |