Set lingo has definitely cleaned up, partly due to technology -- the old "horse cock" cable is no longer in use -- but mostly due to a growing societal sensitivity to the impact words can have. When I first started, it was routine to hear "tilt that lamp up an R.C.H." on set -- meaning tilt the light up a tiny amount. "R.C.H." stood for "red cunt hair," which -- presumably -- is thinner than pubic hair of a darker hue. Set lighting was a man's world back then, with all that implies, but as women came into the rank and file, things had to change. Still, sometimes a line had to be drawn: at one point, word came from On High that we should no longer refer to diagonal wire-cutters (which all grips and juicers carried on set) as "dikes," a term that has been around forever. Instead, we were to use "wire cutters." This, naturally, came from some pinhead administrative studio drone concerned that "dikes" might somehow be confused with "dykes," but even the female grips and juicers laughed at that ... so that idiotic order was universally ignored.
Great story!
I had been wondering if set lingo has been forced to clean itself up in the general 'woke' zeitgeist we're in. I'm guessing not. 😉
Set lingo has definitely cleaned up, partly due to technology -- the old "horse cock" cable is no longer in use -- but mostly due to a growing societal sensitivity to the impact words can have. When I first started, it was routine to hear "tilt that lamp up an R.C.H." on set -- meaning tilt the light up a tiny amount. "R.C.H." stood for "red cunt hair," which -- presumably -- is thinner than pubic hair of a darker hue. Set lighting was a man's world back then, with all that implies, but as women came into the rank and file, things had to change. Still, sometimes a line had to be drawn: at one point, word came from On High that we should no longer refer to diagonal wire-cutters (which all grips and juicers carried on set) as "dikes," a term that has been around forever. Instead, we were to use "wire cutters." This, naturally, came from some pinhead administrative studio drone concerned that "dikes" might somehow be confused with "dykes," but even the female grips and juicers laughed at that ... so that idiotic order was universally ignored.
Dikes was actually one of the terms I had in mind. Also, wasn't there a cutter called black mambo or something? Anyway I'm glad things are changing!
The irony is well drawn Michael. Congrats on the seeing and the telling.
Well done, Mike...from the "real" Full Monty.