A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Z

Ladders: High stands for hanging lanterns at the side of the stage. Not for climbing!
Lamp: The part of a lighting instrument that emits the light; the "light bulb" of the instrument.
Lantern: What in normal English we call a light, in the theatre is called a lantern. Actually, it's a slightly old-fashioned expression: instrument is used more often nowadays.
Lap Dissolve: (See Dissolve.)
Left: Stage left, or the LHS as you face the audience. Also called the Prompt Side or PS.
Legs: Narrow Curtains or cloth that hang vertically on the sides of the stage to mask the backstage area. Also called Tormentors.
Leko: A type of lighting instrument that emits a hard-edged circle of light. Known by it's brand name. Usually called an Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS) or Profile Spot.
Library Shot (stock shot): Any shot not taken for a particular film but used in it.
Lift: Process of taking a sequence from one commercial to create all or part of another commercial. Sometimes called a "mechanical lift".
Light Board: The console that controls all the lighting instruments. Also called the Dimmer Board.
Light Plot: A drawn-up plan that designated the placement of lighting instruments relative to the set.
Lighting Designer: Responsible for designing, focusing and plotting the lighting for a production. In the professional theatre he is not normally responsible for operating the lighting, although he will usually do that in the amateur theatre. Responsible to the Director, not the Stage Manager. Works in close co-operation with the Designer .
Lighting Tree: A vertical pipe that is placed on the side of the stage to hold lighting instruments. Also called Boom.
Lime: See Follow Spot
Line level: Sound term, referring to non-microphone inputs: CD, tape, MIDI.
Lines: Cords hung from the grid, used to fly scenery and stage equipment.
Lip Sync: (See Dubbing.)
Living in the Moment: Plays happen in the present. A character does not know what is going to happen next, and an actor must not reveal what going to happen next, the character must discover it.
Load-in/out: The time a show goes into or out of a theatre. Large crews are usually assembled just for this period.
Local Music: Music originating within a scene and audible to both the characters in the film and the audience.
Location: A place outside-the studio sound stage where shooting occurs.
Long Lens: Any lens with a focal length greater than normal; a normal focal length approximates the size relationships seen by the human eye, while a long focal length creates a narrower angle of vision, causing a larger image. A long lens alters perspective by flattening a subject into its background. (See telephoto.)
Loop Film: A film with ends joined, creating a loop that can be run continuously through a projector.
Looping: An in-studio technique matching, synchronizing voice to picture.
LORT: League of Resident Theatre. A group of Equity theatres around the U.S. that have joined together and created a specific LORT contract. The theatres categorize themselves into LORT A, B+, B, C, and D, according to their box office receipts. Each LORT level has slightly different rules.
Low-Angle Shot: A shot taken from below a subject, creating a sense of "looking up to" whatever is photographed.
Low-Key: light provides dim lighting, usually with heavy, dark shadows.
LX: Electrics. The title is given to the lighting department, and the Chief Electrician is known as the Chief LX.