WHAT IS GOOD WALKIE TALKIE ETIQUETTE? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Walkie Talkies / Photo Credit: Amherst Walkie Talkie Centre

WHAT IS GOOD WALKIE TALKIE ETIQUETTE? (In the Entertainment industry.)

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

WHAT IS GOOD WALKIE TALKIE ETIQUETTE?

Knowing how to use your Walkie will be a vital component to your job. Always use your name to identify yourself and identify who you are trying to contact, wait for their response before asking the question. Remember, there is always someone listening so keep it concise and please don’t mess about. Here are some key phrases and information you should know for when you're handed your first walkie-talkie:

Lock-off the... You will hear this all day long. If working in a studio, someone will ‘shush’ those hanging around outside the studio door and flick on the red light and ring the bell. If working on location, you can be placed in a road halting pedestrians so they do not enter the shot. This is the most important call to listen for on your Walkie talkie.

Walkie channels.  Channel 1 on the Walkie talkie is usually for production, while channel 2 is for private conversations. The rest of the channels will be assigned by department. Make sure you get a list of the assigned channels on your first day, keep it safe.

Rolling/turning or turning over. Wherever you've been placed when the 1st calls for the camera to turn over, you will be required to ‘echo’ the 1st AD when they announce it. This makes other crew members aware of what is going on, even if you are far away from set.

Before you can give yourself a Walkie talkie code name, you got to speak the radio lingo. Think of this list as a Walkie talkie dictionary: 

• 10-1 – “I need to go the bathroom” (number 1)…
• 10-2 – “I need to go the bathroom” (number 2)…
• 10-4 – “I understood the message”…
• 20 – Location; as in, “What’s your 20?”…
• Copy – “I heard and understood the message”…
• Go Again – “I did not understand the message, please repeat”.  You can also say “come back on that”…
• Eyes on… – When someone or something is spotted; as in, “I’ve got eyes on Spielberg” or “Does anyone have eyes on my lunch box?”…
• First Team - The principal actors in in a scene, as in: “walking first team to set"…
• Second Team - the stand-ins for the principal actors…
• Lock it up – “Don’t let anyone through”.  This is usually an instruction to a PA who was told of a door or area they must block…
• Flying in – When someone or something is en route; as in, “I’m flying in masking tape.”…
• On it – When you understand the request and are actively working on it.  Use only if you have started the work…
• Ethan for Nicky – ‘Ethan’ being your name, ‘Nicky’ being the person you want to reach…
• Go for Nicky – The response. “I heard you call for me, what’s up?”…
• Walkie Check – When you first turn on your Walkie talkie. Someone will reply with “Good Check” so you know your Walkie talkies working….
• Keying – When someone is accidentally holding down the “talk” button on their Walkie.  Someone will catch it and say “keying” or “someone’s keying.”…
• Going off Walkie – When you’re taking off your Walkie talkie or can’t talk anymore…
• Spin that, please – When something is said on channel 1 that needs to be passed along to other channels.  This is usually assigned to a key set PA or 2nd 2nd AD before the shoot…
• Standby – “I hear you, but I’m too busy to reply.”…
• Standing by – “I’ve completed the task and am awaiting further instruction.”…
• Strike (or 86) – When something needs to be removed; as in “Strike that prop” or “86 those C-stands from staging”…
• Kill – When something needs to be turned off; as in “Kill the fog machine.”… 

Film set slang is as infinite as it is weird. Now that we’re past ‘What’s your twenty,’ here’s some film crew terminology you could hear on a channel: 

• Martini shot – The last shot of the day. The next shot is "Tequila."…
• Choker – A tight close-up of eyes only, as in: “Flying in Mr. Depp for the choker.”…
• Baby legs – The legs of a camera tripod…
• Bogey – Sometimes “Bogie.” It’s someone not supposed to be on set…
• Four-banger – A large trailer with four doors, a production room, a dressing room, and a crew bathroom…
• Hot Brick - A battery with a full charge…
• There’s obviously more Walkie talkie lingo beyond that, but it gets kind of random… 

13 GENERAL RULES OF WALKIE TALKIE ETIQUETTE:

• Give up your Walkie talkie if someone higher than you runs out of battery…
• Speak slowly, clearly, and at a moderate volume…
• Cut back on jokes and other non-sequiturs…
• Learn your crew’s voices to avoid constantly asking who you're speaking with…
• Be brief and to the point. Bluntness is best…
• Think before you speak. Concise your point into Walkie talkie codes. Are you saying something offensive? Just think…
• Wait a beat before you begin to speak. Don’t hit the button right when you speak. You’ll have to repeat yourself…
• Be aware of your Walkie talkie’s buttons. Don’t accidentally switch your dials on, or turn down the volume and miss important instructions…
• Ask twice when needed. While it’s always best to say “10-4 over and out,” if you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask again. Repeating instructions back can help this…
• Check your channel often to make sure you didn't forget to switch back…
• Think about buying your own surveillance earpiece.  These are cheap and may be in short supply when you get to the set…
• Keep your mic a good distance from your mouth while speaking.  You don't want your voice to be too loud.  3-5 inches away should be good enough…
• Make sure your mic wires are underneath the back of your shirt.  Loose wires are a danger to yourself and others…
• Learning radio etiquette is a matter of experience.  But more often than not, treating a Walkie talkie as a powerful instrument of communication rather than a toy resolves most issues… 

Now you that you the most common Walkie talkie codes, it’s time to turn to the channels. While it can vary from set to set, the most common Walkie talkie channels are: 

• Channel 1 – Production…
• Channel 2 - Open, for one-on-one conversation…
• Channel 3 – Transportation…
• Channel 4 - Open, for one-on-one conversation…
• Channel 5 - Open, for one-on-one conversation…
• Channel 6 – Camera…
• Channel 7 – Electric…
• Channel 8 – Grip… 

CHECK THE CALL SHEET FOR WALKIE TALKIE CHANNELS

Every film set is different. No two Walkie talkie codes are alike. Before you walk on set, ready to sling radio lingo left and right, review the call sheet. The Walkie talkie channels being used may have changed.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, Careers Hub, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Blurb, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Chron, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, How Stuff Works, WGA, BBC, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Bright Hub, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, UCAS, Frankenbite, Realty 101, Liberty Me, Careers Hub, Sokanu, Raindance, Film Connection, My Job Search, Prospects,

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Walkie Talkies / Photo Credit: Amherst Walkie Talkie Centre