Martini Shot

Martini shot in a film camera lens

What is a martini shot?

A martini shot is film slang term for the last set-up of the shooting day. Usually called out by the first assistant director (1st AD), the martini shot announcement helps crew plan pack down and travel arrangements in time. No one knows how many takes the martini will require, and it can easily take a couple of hours, but it’s call is always a morale booster at the end of a long day.

The origins of the term are unclear, but the general consensus is that it is named like that because the following shot comes in a glass. Another theory suggests that the stars would sometimes sneak a martini during the last shot of the day. While nowadays beer is the most that can be found around set after wrap, the martini shot is a callback to the more glamorous Hollywood days of old.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *