boom

The boom is a traveling or moveable counter-balanced pole (also called fishpole or fishing rod), arm, or telescoped extension device upon which a microphone, light or camera can be suspended overhead above a scene and outside the frame during filming (by a boom operator or boom man). For example, a microphone (mic) boom, a camera boom, or a light boom. The most common film mistake is the appearance of the boom mic (or its shadow) in the frame. A mechanical boom mic is known as a "giraffe."