Flag
Definition
A Flag is a rectangular piece of opaque black material (typically mounted on a metal frame) used to block, shape, or control light on a film set. Flags are used to prevent light from spilling onto areas where it is not wanted, to cut light off the camera lens to prevent flare, to create shadows, and to shape the light beam. They come in a variety of sizes (4x4, 2x3, 18x24 inches) and are typically mounted on C-Stands or other grip equipment. A "cutter" is a long, narrow flag used to cut a sharp line of light.
Contextual Usage
The DP asks the key grip: "I need a flag on the left side of the key light to cut the spill off the background wall. I want the light to fall only on the actor, not on the wall behind them. Can you position a 4x4 flag on a C-Stand to cut that spill?"
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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