Martini Shot
Film crew slang for the very last shot of the filming day, after which the next shot is 'in a glass' — meaning the crew goes to the bar.
Martini Shot
noun | Production & On-Set
Film crew slang for the final shot of the shooting day — the last setup that needs to be completed before the crew is released and the day's production wraps. The name refers to the idea that the next "shot" after this one will be in a glass rather than through a camera — the crew will be heading to the bar. The martini shot is the goal of every shooting day, the endpoint that the entire day's schedule has been working toward.
Quick Reference
| Domain | Production & On-Set |
| Type | Industry slang |
| Also Called | The last shot of the day |
| Origin | The next "shot" is in a glass (a martini) |
| Paired With | Abby Singer (the second-to-last shot) |
| Significance | Marks the end of the shooting day; precedes wrap |
| Related Terms | Abby Singer, Wrap, Take, Action, Shot List |
| See Also (Tools) | Shot List Generator |
| Difficulty | Foundational |
The Explanation: How & Why
The martini shot is a morale concept as much as a technical one. Film sets are long, demanding working environments where the end of the day can feel distant for most of the day's duration. The martini shot represents the visible, achievable goal — when this shot is completed, the day is over. The crew can go home.
How it functions on set:
When the 1st AD calls out "This is the martini shot," the information travels immediately through the crew. The camera department understands this is their last setup; the lighting crew knows this is the last light arrangement; the sound department knows this is the last mix of the day. For the actors, it means their last performance of the day. For everyone, it means the collective effort of the remaining time is concentrated on a single, final goal.
The psychological effect is significant: crews who are tired, who have been working through a long day or into overtime, often find renewed focus and energy when the martini is called. The endpoint is in sight. There is something to work toward.
The sequence:
On a standard professional shooting day, the 1st AD calls "Abby Singer" for the second-to-last shot — signalling that one more setup follows. When the Abby Singer is completed, the 1st AD calls "Martini shot" for the final setup. On completion of the martini, the director calls "Cut" for the last time that day, the 1st AD calls "That's a wrap for today" or "That's a company wrap," and the crew begins the process of striking the set for the day.
The 1st AD's management tool:
The martini shot is a practical management tool as well as a morale device. Experienced 1st ADs use the martini announcement strategically — calling it when they calculate that the remaining schedule can realistically be completed in the available time. If the martini is called too early and the shot runs longer than expected, the crew may feel cheated. If it is called accurately, the announcement creates a focused, energised final push that often produces the day's cleanest and most efficient work.
"Going to a glass":
The phrase "the next shot is in a glass" is the origin of the name, and the martini specifically was chosen as the cocktail reference, possibly because a martini is traditionally considered the "last word" in sophisticated drinking — the drink you have when the day's serious work is over.
Historical Context & Origin
The martini shot is a piece of film industry oral culture whose precise origin is not documented — it belongs to the accumulated slang of the working film set that developed through the studio era. The term is standard across American film and television production and is understood by professionals at every level, from interns to department heads. Its paired term, the Abby Singer (second-to-last shot), has a more specific documented origin — see the Abby Singer entry. The martini shot's longevity reflects the universal human desire to see the end of a long working day, and the specific film set culture of counting down to the final setup.
How It's Used in Practice
Scenario 1 -- Morale Management (1st AD): A long shooting day has run 45 minutes over schedule. The crew is tired. The 1st AD reviews the remaining shots and calculates that two setups are left. They announce the Abby Singer for the current setup and call the martini for the next. The announcement moves through the crew like a current — people stand up straighter, conversations end, the focus sharpens. The final two shots are completed in less time than the preceding four.
Scenario 2 -- Schedule Slip (1st AD / Producer): The day's schedule has fallen behind and the production is running into expensive overtime. The 1st AD and director negotiate which remaining shots on the day's list are truly essential. They agree to cut two planned setups and combine elements, identifying a path to the martini shot that saves 40 minutes of overtime. The decision to call the martini earlier is a production management choice with direct financial consequences.
Scenario 3 -- Crew Tradition (Set): On the final day of principal photography — the last day of the entire production — the martini shot of that final day carries extra significance. Many productions mark the last martini shot with a ritual: the director shakes a cocktail shaker, the cast and key crew gather for a photograph, or a speech is made before "Action" is called for the final time. The martini shot becomes a symbolic moment of completion.
Usage Examples in Sentences
"That's the Abby Singer. One more after this and we're done."
"Martini shot, everyone. Let's make it clean and get out of here."
"The 1st AD called the martini at 7pm. We wrapped at 7:45. The timing was perfect."
"On the last day of the shoot, the director brought an actual martini shaker to set. When they called wrap on the martini shot, everyone got a drink."
Common Confusions & Misuse
Martini Shot vs. Abby Singer: The Abby Singer is the second-to-last shot of the day; the martini is the final shot. They are announced in sequence: Abby Singer first, then the martini. Some productions use only one of the two terms; professional sets typically use both to give the crew a two-shot warning before wrap.
Martini Shot vs. Wrap: The martini shot is the final shot before wrap; wrap is the conclusion of the day's production that follows the martini. The martini is the last creative act; wrap is the administrative and physical process of concluding the day. The sequence is: martini shot completed, director calls "Cut," 1st AD calls "That's a wrap."
Related Terms
- Abby Singer -- The second-to-last shot of the day; announced immediately before the martini
- Wrap -- The conclusion of the shooting day that the martini shot precedes
- Take -- The recorded unit of performance; the martini shot produces the day's final take
- Action -- The cue called to begin the martini shot, as for every other shot in the day
- Shot List -- The planning document that contains the martini shot as its final line for the day
See Also / Tools
The Shot List Generator is the planning tool that determines which shot becomes the day's martini — the final item on the day's shot list is, by definition, the martini shot, and careful shot list planning ensures the martini falls at a practical point in the schedule.
