I'm trying to find out the model of the shotgun mic that the big boys use when shooting a motion picture. It's the big grey looking one, i'd say about 9 inches in diameter(estimated), and rounded on both ends. Anyone know the make and model?

What you're talking about sounds like a prop and certainly not a shotgun. Shotguns are usually 1/2" diaphrams or less and the capsules and extension tubes are between 19 and 25mm in diameter (25.4mm = 1 inch) The shotguns range from 7" in length for the Sanken CS-1 to 12 or so inches for the short guns. The long neumann, sennheiser MKH70,AKG CK69 all run 15 or 16 inches long.

Most shows that use the old large diaphram, side address condenser only use it as a prop. The talent is wired and boomed.

The Schoeps MK41 and the Sennheiser MKH50 hypercardoid, are the popular mics for dialog. they, like the CS-1 are 7" or less.

I know of the prop mics, I guess the grey thing is some sort of mic housing for wind, etc....

A rycote wind shield (http://www.rycote.com/products/windshield/windshield.htm) certainly isn't 9" in diameter. Maybe a stereo rig with a windjammer (merkin) mounted on it.

That's for the info Bryan, that's exactly what it is. I posted a thread on trying to record audio for my film projects using a powerbook. Any insight on how it may or may not work?