Abby Singer
Film industry term for the second-to-last shot of the day, named after production manager Abby Singer.
Abby Singer
noun | Production & On-Set
The second-to-last shot of the shooting day. When the 1st AD calls "Abby Singer" (or "This is the Abby Singer"), the crew knows that after this shot there is only one more (the martini shot) before wrap. The call serves as a heads-up to every department: grip, electric, camera, sound, art, makeup, and wardrobe. Each department needs to know the day is almost over so they can begin breaking down equipment, organising their gear, and preparing for wrap without being caught off guard.
Quick Reference
| Domain | Production & On-Set |
| Named After | Abby Singer (1917-2015), American production manager |
| Position in Day | Second-to-last shot |
| Followed By | Martini shot (the final shot of the day) |
| Called By | 1st AD (First Assistant Director) |
| Purpose | Heads-up to all departments to begin wrap preparation |
| Related Terms | Martini Shot, Wrap, Call Sheet, Shot List, Production Assistant |
| See Also (Tools) | Shot List Generator |
| Difficulty | Foundational |
The Explanation: How & Why
The Abby Singer call is a production management tool. On a professional film set, wrapping the day is not a single action. It is a coordinated process that involves every department simultaneously. The grip department breaks down stands, flags, and rigging. The electric department wraps lights, cable, and distribution. The camera department breaks down the camera, stows lenses, and secures media. The art department strikes set dressing. Makeup and wardrobe remove appliances and costumes from actors. Sound collects lavaliere microphones and cables.
If all of these departments do not start wrapping until the last shot is finished, the wrap takes 30 to 60 minutes after the final "cut." If they start wrapping during the second-to-last shot, the wrap is nearly complete by the time the martini shot finishes. The Abby Singer call saves 20 to 40 minutes of crew time per day. Across a 30-day shoot, that is 10 to 20 hours of saved labour, which translates directly to budget savings.
The call also has a psychological function. The crew's energy and morale shift when they hear "Abby Singer." The end of a 12-hour day is in sight. Departments that have been holding off on breaking down equipment now have permission to begin. The pace of work changes: focused, deliberate wrap preparation replaces the sustained attention of active shooting.
The sequence of end-of-day calls:
- "Abby Singer" (or "This is the Abby Singer"): The 1st AD announces the second-to-last shot. Departments begin wrapping non-essential equipment.
- "Martini" (or "This is the martini shot"): The 1st AD announces the final shot of the day. Only equipment needed for this shot remains set up.
- "Wrap": The 1st AD announces the day is over. All departments complete their wrap and depart.
Historical Context & Origin
Abby Singer (born Abner E. Singer, 1917-2015) was a production manager and assistant director who worked in Hollywood from the 1950s through the 1990s. Singer worked on numerous television series including The Twilight Zone, Route 66, Wagon Train, and Love, American Style, and on films including The Wild Bunch (1969) and Network (1976). The story, as told by Singer himself and confirmed by the DGA, is that during his time as a production manager he developed the habit of calling the second-to-last shot of the day so that the crew could begin wrapping equipment. Before this practice, crews were caught off guard when the day ended suddenly, leading to slow, disorganised wraps. Singer's call gave departments the heads-up they needed to wrap efficiently. Other ADs adopted the practice, and the term "Abby Singer" became standard industry vocabulary. Singer was a member of the Directors Guild of America and received the Frank Capra Achievement Award in 1985 for his contributions to the industry. He passed away on March 13, 2015, in Santa Monica, California, at age 97.
How It's Used in Practice
Scenario 1 - Standard Day (1st AD): The shot list has 12 setups for the day. The crew is on setup 11. The 1st AD radios all departments: "This is the Abby Singer, setup 11 of 12." The grip department begins breaking down the flag that will not be needed for the final setup. The electric department wraps two lights that are no longer required. The camera department pre-packs the lens cases that will not be needed for the martini shot. By the time setup 12 begins, most of the wrap is already done.
Scenario 2 - Running Late (1st AD / DP): The day is running 90 minutes behind schedule. The 1st AD and DP agree to cut the last two setups from the shot list, leaving only one more shot after the current one. The 1st AD calls "Abby Singer" on the current shot. The crew, already tired from a long day, gets a morale boost. The departments begin wrapping aggressively because they know the martini shot is a simple close-up that will take 15 minutes. The day wraps 20 minutes after the martini, not 60.
Scenario 3 - Company Move (1st AD / Transport): The Abby Singer is the last shot at the current location before the company moves to a second location. The transport coordinator hears the call and begins staging the trucks for departure. The craft service team starts packing food. The location manager notifies the location owner that the company will be departing soon. The Abby Singer call triggers not just wrap preparation but move preparation across multiple departments.
Usage Examples in Sentences
"Abby Singer. One more after this. Start wrapping non-essential gear."
"The moment the 1st AD calls Abby Singer, the lighting crew starts thinking about which fixtures come down first."
"Abby Singer was a real person. He kept calling the wrong shot the last one, and his name stuck to the second-to-last shot forever."
"Abby Singer, then martini, then wrap. That is how the day ends."
Common Confusions & Misuse
Abby Singer vs. Martini Shot: The Abby Singer is the second-to-last shot. The martini shot is the last shot. They are always consecutive: Abby Singer, then martini, then wrap. The distinction matters because departments begin wrapping during the Abby Singer but must keep essential equipment running until the martini is complete.
Abby Singer vs. "Window" (or "Last Looks"): "Window" means there is a limited time remaining before the company must move or the location must close. "Last looks" is a call for the makeup and hair departments to check actors before the camera rolls. Neither of these is the same as the Abby Singer, which specifically identifies the second-to-last shot.
Abby Singer on Multi-Camera Shows: On multi-camera sitcoms shot with three or four cameras simultaneously, the concept of "shots" is different. The Abby Singer call may refer to the second-to-last scene rather than the second-to-last camera setup. The 1st AD adapts the call to the production format.
Variations by Context
| Context | How the Term Varies |
|---|---|
| US Film/TV | "Abby Singer" is the standard term. Called by the 1st AD over radio and in person. |
| UK Production | The term is understood but less commonly used. UK crews may say "second-to-last shot" or "one more after this." |
| Multi-Camera Sitcom | May refer to the second-to-last scene rather than the second-to-last camera setup, since multi-camera shows record entire scenes in one pass. |
| Commercial Production | Shorter shoot days and smaller crews mean the call is less formal. The 1st AD may simply say "one more after this." |
| Student/Independent | The term may not be used at all on small productions with minimal crew, but learning it is part of professional socialisation. |
Key People & Films
Abby Singer (1917-2015) was the production manager whose habit of calling the second-to-last shot gave the term its name. He worked on The Twilight Zone (1959-1964), The Wild Bunch (1969, directed by Sam Peckinpah), Network (1976, directed by Sidney Lumet), and Love, American Style (1969-1974). The DGA honoured Singer with the Frank Capra Achievement Award in 1985, recognising his contributions to assistant directing and production management. The term "Abby Singer" appears in numerous production memoirs and behind-the-scenes accounts, and was featured in the DGA's centennial celebrations. The 2003 documentary The Last Shot references the term in its title, and the term is taught in film school production courses as standard vocabulary.
Equipment / Tools Reference
The Abby Singer call does not involve specific equipment, but it triggers the wrap process for all departments. Grip departments break down C-stands, combo stands, flags, nets, and rigging using grip trucks or carts (doorway dollies, western dollies). Electric departments wrap lights (ARRI SkyPanel S60, Aputure 600D), cable, and distribution boxes onto electric trucks. Camera departments break down the camera body, stow lenses in Pelican or SKB cases, and secure media cards. Walkie-talkies (Motorola CP200d) are the communication tool used by the 1st AD to broadcast the call. Production assistants use radios to relay the call to departments that may not be on set.
Standards & Specifications
The Abby Singer call is not governed by any formal standard or specification. It is an oral tradition of the film industry, transmitted through on-set experience and professional socialisation. The DGA (Directors Guild of America) includes the term in its training materials for assistant directors, and the IATSE craft unions recognise the call as a standard part of the end-of-day protocol. The call is a professional convention rather than a contractual requirement, but on union productions it is expected practice. The DGA Basic Agreement governs working conditions including wrap time and turnaround, making the efficient wrap triggered by the Abby Singer call a practical necessity for compliance with union rest requirements.
Common Questions / FAQ
Q: Who was Abby Singer?
A: Abby Singer (1917-2015) was a Hollywood production manager and assistant director who worked from the 1950s through the 1990s. He developed the habit of calling the second-to-last shot of the day so crews could begin wrapping equipment. The practice was adopted by other ADs and became standard industry vocabulary. Singer received the DGA's Frank Capra Achievement Award in 1985.
Q: Why is it called the Abby Singer and not just "second-to-last shot"?
A: Film sets develop shorthand for efficiency. "Abby Singer" is three syllables and universally understood by professional crew. "Second-to-last shot of the day" is seven words. In radio communication where brevity matters, the shorthand is preferred. The name also carries the cultural weight of industry tradition.
Q: What comes after the Abby Singer?
A: The martini shot (the final shot of the day), followed by wrap. The sequence is: Abby Singer (second-to-last), martini (last), wrap (day is over). Some productions add informal calls like "lunch is on us" or "we are wrapped" after the martini.
Q: Does the Abby Singer call guarantee the day is almost over?
A: Not always. The director may extend the Abby Singer shot with additional takes, or the DP may request lighting changes. The call means the crew should begin wrap preparation, but the actual time until wrap depends on how quickly the remaining shots are completed. Experienced crew know that "Abby Singer" means "probably 30 to 45 minutes until wrap," not "the day is over."
Related Terms
- Martini Shot - The final shot of the day, always following the Abby Singer
- Wrap - The call that ends the shooting day, following the martini shot
- Call Sheet - The production document that lists the day's shots; the Abby Singer is typically near the bottom of the shot list
- Shot List - The ordered list of setups for the day; the Abby Singer is the second-to-last item
- Production Assistant - PAs relay the Abby Singer call to departments that may not be on set
See Also / Tools
The Shot List Generator helps the 1st AD plan the day's setups so that the Abby Singer and martini shots are clearly identified in advance, allowing departments to prepare for wrap efficiently.
