You sure it comes from "cucaloris"? at DVinfo.net

Robert Martens · March 7th, 2004, 02:42 PM

I'm sorry to ask such a trivial question, but it's something that's been bugging me for the longest time, and the search function has revealed no answer to my query.

I just want to know if "cucaloris" is one of those "cable-stretcher" things the vets tell the new guys, just for fun. For all the reading I've done on the subject of lighting, I gather that the term "cookie" is SUPPOSED to have come from "cucaloris". According to the glossary in John Jackman's "Lighting for Digital Video & Television", however, the word is NOT ancient Greek, and he isn't sure where it came from.

It looks like nobody knows what the heck cucaloris really means. Or if it's even a real word.

Taking these things into consideration, along with that Occam's Razor thing, it seems to me the more likely origin of "cookie" is that in the film world, they are patterns, used to create interesting shadows in a scene, which are cut out of a larger sheet of material, such as plywood, in much the same fashion that a cookie is cut out of a larger sheet of dough with a cookie cutter, to make crazy shapes.

I like that explanation better. Am I wrong?

Or do gaffers say "cucaloris" just because it sounds funny? Sorta like your tweenies, betweenies, and inbetweenies? Lighting designers love their cute nicknames, it seems...:)

Richard Alvarez · March 7th, 2004, 05:53 PM

Robert,
It's really cucaloris. Honest,
ANd there really are right handed sky - hooks. I know the guy who makes them.

And it's okay to hand wash gels...

And down in Australia... there really really are "Roo-bars" on the front of their cars.

Richard,

(Who writes from the land of Jackelopes)

Rick Bravo · March 8th, 2004, 08:21 AM

Cucalorus, (cookie):

Lighting accessory consisting of random pattern of cutouts that forms shadows when light passes through it. Used to imitate shadows of natural lighting.

Yes, it is a real word. And yes, it does sound funny!

Al Osmond · March 8th, 2004, 11:56 AM

> Or do gaffers say "cucaloris" just because it sounds funny?
> Sorta like your tweenies, betweenies, and inbetweenies?
> Lighting designers love their cute nicknames, it seems...

So, it seems, do grips.

Why are paganinis called ... paganinis?

Al

March 7th, 2004, 02:42 PM	#1
Robert Martens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 820	You sure it comes from "cucaloris"? I'm sorry to ask such a trivial question, but it's something that's been bugging me for the longest time, and the search function has revealed no answer to my query. I just want to know if "cucaloris" is one of those "cable-stretcher" things the vets tell the new guys, just for fun. For all the reading I've done on the subject of lighting, I gather that the term "cookie" is SUPPOSED to have come from "cucaloris". According to the glossary in John Jackman's "Lighting for Digital Video & Television", however, the word is NOT ancient Greek, and he isn't sure where it came from. It looks like nobody knows what the heck cucaloris really means. Or if it's even a real word. Taking these things into consideration, along with that Occam's Razor thing, it seems to me the more likely origin of "cookie" is that in the film world, they are patterns, used to create interesting shadows in a scene, which are cut out of a larger sheet of material, such as plywood, in much the same fashion that a cookie is cut out of a larger sheet of dough with a cookie cutter, to make crazy shapes. I like that explanation better. Am I wrong? Or do gaffers say "cucaloris" just because it sounds funny? Sorta like your tweenies, betweenies, and inbetweenies? Lighting designers love their cute nicknames, it seems...:)

March 8th, 2004, 08:21 AM	#3
Rick Bravo Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 574	Got milk? Cucalorus, (cookie): Lighting accessory consisting of random pattern of cutouts that forms shadows when light passes through it. Used to imitate shadows of natural lighting. Yes, it is a real word. And yes, it does sound funny! __________________ "The future ain't what it used to be." Yogi Berra. www.rbravo.com

March 7th, 2004, 05:53 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Robert, It's really cucaloris. Honest, ANd there really are right handed sky - hooks. I know the guy who makes them. And it's okay to hand wash gels... And down in Australia... there really really are "Roo-bars" on the front of their cars. Richard, (Who writes from the land of Jackelopes)

March 8th, 2004, 11:56 AM	#4
Al Osmond Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Thame, United Kingdom Posts: 42	> Or do gaffers say "cucaloris" just because it sounds funny? > Sorta like your tweenies, betweenies, and inbetweenies? > Lighting designers love their cute nicknames, it seems... So, it seems, do grips. Why are paganinis called ... paganinis? Al