Just recently I was thinking about how unfortunate it is, that my main resource so far has been a book in German (as I will be writing the thesis in English). While starting a glossary for my future work (which obviously will include terms used in production management) I found out that I don’t have a clue what “Pensen” or “Stäbchen” are called in English industry standards. So here’s a short table explaining what each of them are and how they are called in English.
Spoiler: “Stäbchen” are not called chopsticks.
| German | English | Definition |
| Stripboard | Stripboard | A production document looking like a list in which you can organize scenes by using strips. |
| Stäbchen | Strips | Parts of a stripboard used to plan shoots. There are three different types: scene strips, daybreaks and banners. |
| Pensen | Shooting Order | The result after ordering the strips by various parameters like location, actor availability, etc. divided by banners. |
| Daybreak | Daybreak | A black strip that marks the end of a shooting day. All strips above the daybreak will be shot that day. |
| Banner | Banner | Custom strip that represents time which is not meant for shooting. Might be used for breaks, moves, meals, etc. |
| Friedhof | Boneyard | Strips that are non-essential or have been removed due to changes in the skript or delays go to the boneyard. Works like an archive. |
| Drehplan | Film Production Schedule | The plan every production follows to ensure a smooth execution. A breakdown of information necessary for a successful shoot. |
| Drehplan (für einzelne Departments) | Call Sheet | A document distributed to the cast and crew that provides specific details about the shooting schedule for a particular day, including call times, scenes to be shot, locations, and other important information. |
| Day/Night Ext./Int.: | Day/Night Ext./Int. | These abbreviations indicate whether a scene will be shot during the day (Day), at night (Night), or both (Ext./Int.). It helps organize the schedule and allocate resources accordingly. |
| Setwechsel | Unit Move | The relocation of the entire cast and crew from one shooting location to another. It involves the coordination of logistics, transportation, and equipment. |
As the previous table states, this is just the beginning and first attempts at making a glossary. This list will grow over time as I read and learn more about production management.
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Sources
StudioBinder: How to Make a Better Shooting Schedule with a Stripboard. In: StudioBinder Blog, https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/shooting-schedule-stripboard/ (last seen June 22 2023)
