Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde: An Insider's Guide to Film Slang [Paperback]

Dave Knox (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 23, 2005

Everything You Need to Know to Become a Film-Industry Insider

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a gaffer and a grip? Or what makes the best boy so great? In Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde,* Dave Knox, a top camera operator and longtime veteran of the film industry, gives you the inside story on the lingo and slang heard on the set. This is an A-to-Z guide to making a movie: the equipment, the crew, and the sometimes hilarious terminology—everything you need to know to sound like a seasoned pro.

* Remove the small spotlight from the set and switch off the two-kilowatt quartz light.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“What a lively and entertaining guide to movie lingo! I learned a lot of terms I never knew before . . . but then, I’ve never killed a blonde, either.” —Leonard Maltin, film critic and author of the New York Times bestselling Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guides

“Now you can sound like you know what you’re talking about—even when you don’t. In other words, you’re ready to work in the movies.” —David Duchovny, actor and director (X-Files, House of D)

“You too can speak ‘film-ese.’ Thanks to Dave Knox, what was once ‘insider information’ is now available to all who want to speak the lingo of the film industry. It fits nicely on the shelf between my Oxford Dictionary and Roget’s Thesaurus.” —Jamie Lee Curtis, author and actress (Freaky Friday, Halloween, True Lies, A Fish Called Wanda)

About the Author

Dave Knox has twenty years of experience in film production, including work on major motion pictures such as The Silence of the Lambs, Big Daddy, Scent of a Woman, The Age of Innocence, Hitch, and many more. He lives in New York with his wife and children.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; First Edition edition (August 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1400097592
• ISBN-13: 978-1400097593
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Slang & Idioms

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Light the Blonde on This Really Cool Book! March 3, 2006

By Barbara Rose VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

The film industry, especially being on the set, is near and dear to my heart. Being with the crew (the people who make the movie possible) was always one of my favorite things in life, which is what drew me to this cool book.

The industry has a language all of its own. Due to saving time, especially during long shoots, the lingo actually saves time (and money) to get things done properly, without a long explanation. Thus this book is awesome to learn the lingo shortcuts when you're on the set.

Any actor, producer, writer, film student, new Inde production company should have this in their library, both for reference, and to know what the crew are actually talking about while on the set. It saves time, and if you're in the industry, you really need to know what the terms mean.

A good analogy would be a medical student in training to be a surgeon would need to know the lingo in an operating room. It's that important.

I loved reading this awesome and incredibly accurate book. It made me feel super nostalgic wanting to be on the set again. Being on the set is either in your blood or not. If you love the industry, you'll definitely LOVE this book!

(FYI) "Kill the Blonde" means to turn off the 2,000 watt spotlight. That's why I titled this review: "Light the Blonde on This Really Cool Book!" It's awesome!

Barbara Rose, Ph.D. author of Stop Being the String Along, Know Yourself, and If God Hears Me, I Want an Answer!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Strike the Baby ... is a dictionary of film making slang. March 13, 2006

By Donald D. Mclaren

Format:Paperback

I just love the title. It takes some guts to buy this in a bookstore as the checkout person might think you're a bit wierd. I recommend that if you are sensitive to this sort of thing then buy the book on the Internet.

The book is a clever, wonderful listing of terms in alphabetical order and each term is defined by the author in a style that is slightly flippant, which I find sometimes annoying, but also seems to bring some real life experience to the definitions that an academic would never impart. The book lacks pictures of the items being defined but that inclusion would increase the book size and cost. This book sells for a very reasonable cost. Who is this book for? Any film student or PA that wishes to break into the film industry should memorize almost all these terms. Above and below the line people, now in the industry, might find quite a few terms that they did not yet hear or understand. For some film professionals, some of the terms may be part of their passive vocabulary and now one can now discover how close or distant their prior understanding was to the book's more "exact" meaning. This book should be a second text for some film classes. Instructors in those classes should require definitions be understood as part of the course in filmmaking. For the non-professional film buff that wants to dabble in understanding this field, this book should be within easy reach of the porcelain throne for brief reads. I think the level that this book is written is at high school level. I strongly recommend that high school or even middle school students consider this book to impress their peer group. For everyone else, the book is a treat.

5.0 out of 5 stars As Advertised August 6, 2012

By Sid B.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book was advertised as a definition (dictionary)of movie slang. It is exactly that and a very good one as well. Arrived on time and in perfect condition. It don't get no better. As a matter of fact I haven't received a bad product since I have been purchasing thru Amazon. So far so good.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Humorous Education July 28, 2010

By DJ Thompson

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A very well written glossary of movie industry terminology, if you like your doses of information concise and loaded with humor! I liked it well enough that over the past few years I've bought 11 copies as gifts for friends.

5.0 out of 5 stars nice and timely May 2, 2010

By Eddie Jae Kim

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

great, it came in a timely manner and was in great condition, packaging was appropriate. overall good performance. thanks

5.0 out of 5 stars A dictionary for filmmakers. April 28, 2006

By Gabe Shedd

Format:Paperback

Anyone who works in the industry knows that they and their co-workers live in their own little world. Film is filled with things specific to the industry... The average person probably thinks that N.Y.P.D. Blue is just a TV show, has no idea what a stinger is, thinks a lollipop is just a piece of candy on a stick, and "C47" most likely means nothing to them.

I found this to be one of the most valuable books I've ever purchased. It's a handy reference manual that I keep in my tool box at all times - Proving itself to be a priceless addition.

A lot of people will find it cheesy - And to a degree, some of the things covered are, but it's 10% cheese and 90% awesomeness.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Does Not Deliver And Not All That Funny, Either March 20, 2011

By Shelby H. Swatek

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A well done book along these lines is sorely needed for students of film. Unfortunately "Strike the Baby and Kill the Blonde" does not deliver. Knox seems to think he's clever and humorous, starting with his catchy title, but his efforts to be those things get irritating quickly. If this book was at least well researched and accurate, one could overlook this shortcoming. Reads like he sat down and wrote it over a few weekends. Not recommended.