Production phases & units · Core
Principal photography
Also called: principal shoot
ELI5
The main period in which the project’s primary live-action footage is filmed.
Used in conversation
“The principal photography should be settled before the unit moves to the next stage.”
Pitch context
You may encounter “Principal photography” in production, set safety, stunts & practical effects conversations or materials.
Why it matters: Explains the physical-production roles, plans and safety systems behind the shoot.
Connected terms
- Additional photographyA broad physical-production sequence.
- Pre-productionA broad physical-production sequence.
Sources & evidence · 4
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- ScreenSkills — Online Learning Glossary and Job ProfilesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Directors Guild of America — Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Association of Independent Commercial Producers — AICP Guidelines and Best PracticesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- SAG-AFTRA — Artificial Intelligence ResourcesSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14