Filmmaking Terms Glossary

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) | Focus Features

Like many careers, filmmakers and film crews have their own set of filmmaking terms
and jargon to define their various jobs, duties, materials, equipment, positions,
organizations, and much more. Here is our thorough list of the terms you may need to
know in your film career.
Filmmaking Glossary and
Film Set Terminology

0-9
10-100 or 10-1: Over the walkie-talkie indicates a bathroom break.

180 Degree Rule: A basic guideline regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between
a character and another character or object within a scene. By keeping the camera on one
side of an imaginary axis between two characters, the first character is always
framed right of the second character. Moving the camera over the axis is called jumping
the line or crossing the line; breaking the 180-degree rule by shooting on all sides is
known as shooting in the round. See also Axis of Action.

180 Degree Rule

24 Frames Per Second: 24 frames per second (fps) is the standard frame rate for movies
shot on film. It refers to the number of frames projected onto the screen per second.
Most modern films come in at 24 frames per second, but in the past, they would be
projected 16 or 18 fps.

30 Degree Rule: A basic film editing guideline that states the camera should move at
least 30 degrees relative to the subject between successive shots of the same subject. If
the camera moves less than 30 degrees, the transition between shots may look like
a jump cut, which could jar the audience and take them out of the story by causing them
to focus on the film technique rather than the narrative itself.

30 Degree Rule

3D Film: Motion pictures are made to give an illusion of three-dimensional solidity,

usually with the help of special glasses worn by viewers. The 3D filmmaking process
involves using a twin-lensed camera for filming, and images from both lenses are
projected into the screens by two different projectors. 3D films work by delivering a
different image to each eye, so your brain perceives the depth of the picture.

3D Glasses: 3D glasses are worn when viewing a 3D film. There are three types of 3D
eyeglasses that correspond to the three ways stereo frames are separated for 3D effects–
anaglyph (Red/Blue or Red/Cyan), polarized and active.

3D Glasses

A
Abby (Abby Singer/Abby Singer Shot): A term for the second-to-last shot of the day
on a shoot.
Above The Line: A budgeting term used to describe professionals who influence the
creative development and direction of a film or television show, such as the screenwriter,
producer, director, and actors.

Above-the-Line Expenses: The major expenses committed to a project before

production begins, including story/rights/continuity, salaries for producers, director,
and cast, travel, living expenses, and production fees (if the project is bought from an
earlier company). Everything else falls under below-the-line expenses.

Abstract Film: Non-narrative films that contain no acting and do not attempt to
reference reality or concrete subjects. They rely on the unique qualities of motion,
rhythm, light and composition inherent in the technical medium of cinema to create
emotional experiences.

Absurd/Absurdism: Focuses on the experiences of characters in situations where they

cannot find any inherent purpose in life, most often represented by ultimately
meaningless actions and events that call into question the certainty of existential
concepts such as truth or value.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS): A professional honorary

organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motion pictures.
The Academy’s corporate management and general policies are overseen by a board of
governors, which includes representatives from each of the craft branches.

Academy Awards: An annual award given to a performer, director, technician,

craftsperson, or musician of the motion picture industry for superior achievement in a
specific category: judged by the voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts
and Sciences and symbolized by the presentation of an Oscar.

Accelerated Montage: Process of shortening the video length or duration and increasing
the speed, in order to transmit the idea of excitement and rhythm.

Accent Light: Focuses light on a particular area or object. It is often used to highlight
art or other artifacts. Common types of accent lighting includes wall sconces,
floodlights, recessed lights, torchière lamps, or track lighting.

Acousmatic: Sound that is heard without an originating cause being seen.

Acoustics: The science of sound wave transmission.

Act: A main division within the plot of a film.

Acting/Actor/Actress: Any person, male or female, who portrays a character in a
performance.

Action: Called out at the beginning of a take to alert the cast and crew that the take has
started and the performance should begin.

Action Cut: Refers to a cut that uses on-screen motion to cover the transition, making
the action appear continuous and uninterrupted.

Action Film: A film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that
typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly
resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life-threatening
situations, a dangerous villain, or a pursuit which usually concludes in victory for the
hero.

Adaptation: The transfer of a creative work or story, fiction or nonfiction, whole or in

part, to a motion picture format. For example, the reimagining or rewriting of an original
non-film work with the specific intention of presenting it in the form of a film.

Additional Camera/ B Camera: An extra camera, is often needed for complicated

action sequences, stunts, or to obtain coverage faster.

Additional Photography/ Reshoots/ Pickups: Focus group or studio reaction to

some shots or scenes may be bad enough to convince the filmmakers to discard them or
add additional or altered scenes. In some cases, actors are recalled and parts of the movie
are filmed again.

Adjusted Gross Deal/ Adjusted Gross Participation/ Gross Deal: A distribution deal
where producers receive an advance in addition to a portion of the net profits of a film.

Ad Lib: A line of dialogue improvised by an actor during a performance; can be either

unscripted or deliberate.

ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement): The process of re-recording dialogue by

the original actor (or a replacement actor) after the filming process to improve audio
quality or make changes to the originally scripted dialogue.

Advance: The distance between a point on the soundtrack and the corresponding image.

Advance/Cash Advance: An amount given before receipt of services or expenditures.

Advance Screener/Screener: A film or television show available via DVD, Blu-ray, or

streaming link sent to film critics and eligible awards voting members.
Aerial Perspective or Atmospheric Perspective: Refers to the effect
the atmosphere has on the appearance of an object as viewed from a distance. As the
distance between an object and a viewer increases, the contrast between the object and
its background decreases, and the contrast of any markings or details within the object
also decreases.

Aerial Shot: A bird’s eye view shot filmed in an exterior location in the air from far
overhead via a helicopter, blimp, balloon, plane, drone or kite. It is a variation of the
crane shot.
Aerial Shot
Against Type: Playing a character whose type is opposite or strikingly different from
that which an actor has played previously and has become associated with by filmmakers
and the audience.

Agency/ Talent Agency: Specialize by creating departments within the agency or

developing entire agencies that primarily or wholly represent one specialty to get their
clients to work. For example, there are film and television production agencies,
modelling agencies, commercial talent agencies, literary agencies, voice-over agencies,
broadcast journalist agencies, sports agencies, music agencies, and many more.

Agent/ Talent Agent: A person who pitches their clients for job interviews, finds them
work, negotiates their contract, and is the go-between for production and the client. In
addition, an agent defends, supports and promotes the interest of their clients. Talent
agents represent actors, writers, broadcast journalists, directors, producers, and key
creatives.

Alan Smithee: The only pseudonym permitted for use by directors who refuse to put
their name on their film when they want to disassociate themselves from the film they
directed.

A-List: Refers to top actors who are paid upwards of $20 million per film. This term can
also refer to producers, directors and writers who can be guaranteed to be greenlit.

Allegory: An extended metaphor; taken in film terms to mean a suggestive resemblance

or correspondence between a visible event or character in a film with other more
significant or abstract levels of meaning outside of the film.

Alliteration: The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or
closely connected words. For example: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Allusion: An implied direct or indirect reference to something or someone else- through

an image or through dialogue.

Alternate Ending: An ending of a story that was considered, or even written or

produced, but ultimately discarded in favour of another resolution.
Ambiance: The feeling or mood of a particular scene or setting.

Ambient Light: The natural light or surrounding light around a subject in a scene; often
soft light.

Ambiguity: The type of meaning in which a phrase, statement or resolution is not

explicitly defined, making several interpretations plausible.

Ambiguous Space: In order to create the idea of depth, you usually have to relate it to
something. Ambiguous space is the removal of those cues so the viewer doesn’t know
what they’re looking at.

American Cinema Editors/ ACE: An honorary society of film editors that are voted in
based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their
dedication to editing. Members use the post-nominal letters, ACE.

American Society of Cinematographers (ASC): An American cultural, educational,

and professional organization that is neither a labor union nor a guild. The society was
organized to advance the science and art of cinematography and gather a wide range
of cinematographers to discuss techniques and ideas and to advocate for motion pictures
as an art form.

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP): A membership

organization founded in 1914 that protects the rights of music creators by collecting and
distributing royalties for the public performance of their works. In the film industry,
ASCAP ensures that composers and songwriters are compensated when their music is
used in movies, television shows, and other media.

American Standards Association (ASA): The original name of the organization that
established a system for rating the sensitivity of photographic film to light, known as
ASA speed (see below). This system, which quantified film speed in numerical values,
later evolved into the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ratings used
in modern photography, filmmaking, and digital imaging to measure sensor sensitivity.

Anachronism: An element or artifact in a film that belongs to another time or place;

often anachronistic elements are deemed as inconsistencies or mistakes.
Anamorphic/ Anamorphic Widescreen: Refers to a method of intentionally distorting
and creating a wide screen image with standard film, using a conversion process or a
special lens on the camera and projector to produce different magnifications in the
vertical and horizontal dimensions of the picture.
Ancillary Rights: Film-related rights such as soundtrack rights, music publishing rights,
novelization rights, stageplay rights, and merchandising rights. Merchandising, in turn,
generally includes interactive games based on the film.

Angle: The perspective from which a camera depicts its subject.

Angle On: To direct, move the camera and focus on a particular subject.

Animatic: The process of animating a storyboard into a moving sequence.

Animation: The photographing and manipulating successive drawings or positions

of puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when a movie is shown as a
sequence.

Animatronics: Refers to mechatronic puppets. They are a modern variant of

the automaton and are often used for the portrayal of characters in films and in theme
park attractions.

Anime: A hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan.

Outside of Japan and in English, anime refers specifically to animation produced in
Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, anime describes all animated works,
regardless of style or origin.

Answer

Print: The first version of a motion picture that is printed to film after colour
correction on an interpositive. It is also the first version of the movie printed to film with
the sound properly synced to the picture.

Antagonist: The main character, person, group, society, nature, force, spirit world, bad
guy, or villain of a film or script who is in adversarial conflict with the film’s hero, lead
character or protagonist. Sometimes termed ‘the heavy’.

Anthology Film: A single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in
itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme,
premise, or author.
Anthropomorphism: The tendency in animated films to give creatures or objects
human qualities, abilities, and characteristics.

Anti- Climax: Anything in

a film, usually following the film’s high point, zenith, apex, crescendo, or climax, in
which there is an unsatisfying and disappointing let-down of emotion, or what is
expected doesn’t occur.

Anti-Hero: The principal protagonist of a film who lacks the attributes or characteristics
of a typical hero archetype, but with whom the audience identifies.
Aperture: The size of a camera lens opening through which light passes. It is calibrated
in f/stops and is generally written as numbers such as 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 and 16.

Aperture

Apple Box: Wooden boxes or crates of varying sizes with holes on each end used
chiefly in film production. These boxes are specialized pieces of equipment belonging to
the grip department, and should not be confused with simple crates, other boxes, or
boxes for apples. There are 4 sizes: full, half, quarter, and pancake.

Apple Boxes- Full, Half, Quarter, Pancake

Arc Shot: A shot in which the subject or subjects are photographed by an encircling or
moving camera.
Archetype: A character, place, or thing, that is repeatedly presented in films with a
particular style or characterization; an archetype usually applies to a specific genre or
type classification.

Arm/ Grip Arm: A metal rod attached to a C-Stand.

Armourer: A member of the shooting crew who handles, maintains, and is responsible
for real and prop weapon safety on set, including firearms, knives, swords, bows, and
staff weapons.

A-Roll: Includes all types of footage that feature key plot actions, talking characters, or
interview subjects. A-roll footage is more often known in the industry these days as main
footage, primary footage, hero footage, or principal shots.
Arret: A French word meaning halt or stop, which refers to the in-camera trick of
stopping the camera, then removing or inserting an object, then restarting the camera to
have an object magically disappear or appear. This is one of the earliest techniques of
silent film.
Art Department: The section of a production’s crew concerned with visual artistry.
Working under the supervision of the production designer and/or art director, the art
department is responsible for arranging the overall look of the film

Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800): A labour union and local of the
International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees (IATSE) representing over
3,000 motion picture and television professionals working in the United States. Members
include production designers, art directors, set designers and modelmakers, illustrators
and matte artists, scenic artists, and title and graphic artists.

Art House: A movie theatre that shows independent films, documentaries, experimental
films, foreign films, low-budget films, local films, and or any film considered “high
brow” or an “art film”.

Art House Film: Typically an independent film, aimed at a niche market rather than a
mass market audience.

Articulation Artist: A person who takes an artist’s designs and builds them in a
computer, so that animators can manipulate the figures to tell the story of the film.

Artifact: A visual defect on a film image caused by limitations or the malfunction of

imaging equipment. An artifact is a distortion or imperfection, such as compression
artifacts, digital noise, or aliasing, resulting from limitations or errors in the digital
processing, encoding, or transmission of signals.

Artificial Light: The two main categories of filmmaking light sources include artificial
and natural light. Artificial lights can be either on-camera or off-camera, while natural
light nearly always comes from an outside source such as the sun or a window.

ASA Speed/Rating: ASA Speed was a numerical scale developed by the American
Standards Association (see above) to indicate the sensitivity of photographic film to
light, with higher numbers representing greater sensitivity. This scale was a precursor to
the ISO standard used today in photography to measure the sensitivity of both film and
digital sensors.

Aside: Occurs when a character in a film breaks the ‘fourth wall’ and directly addresses
the audience with a comment.

Aspect Ratio: A dimensionless ratio that defines the proportional relationship between
the width and height of an image or screen, calculated by dividing the width by the
height. Common aspect ratios include 16:9 (widescreen HD), 4:3 (standard definition),
21:9 (ultrawide cinema), and 1:1 (square), each impacting the shape and composition of
visual content across different media formats.
Aspheric Lens: A lens is designed with a non-spherical surface to reduce optical
aberrations and distortions (like barrel distortion), improving image quality and
focusing. This design allows for more precise and compact lens systems compared to
traditional spherical lenses.

Assembly: The assembly edit is when the editor looks through all of the footage and
creates a story outline. The first stage of editing, is when the editor looks through all of
the footage and arranges the shots in script order.

Assistant Art Director: An assistant to the art director working in the art department.
Assistant art director’s responsibilities differ widely depending on what they are hired
for based on their skills and what is needed on a project.

Assistant Camera: A member of the camera crew who assists the camera operator. This
person is responsible for the maintenance and care of the camera, as well as
preparing dope sheets. In smaller camera crews, they may also perform the duties of
clapper-loader and/or a focus puller.

Assistant Director: The role includes tracking daily progress against the
filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets,
checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set.

Assistant Film Editor: Aid the editor and director in collecting and organizing all the
elements needed to edit the film. When editing is finished, they oversee the various lists
and instructions necessary to put the film into its final form.

Assistant Production Manager: An assistant to the production manager in the

production department.

Associate Producer: Someone who works closely with the producer and assists him or
her in putting a TV show or film together. They serve as a producer’s right-hand and are
therefore entrusted to complete a wide range of tasks.
Asynchronous: When sound doesn’t match a film’s visuals. Filmmakers use
asynchronous sound to manipulate emotion and narrative.

Atmosphere: Refers to any concrete or nebulous feeling that contributes a dimensional

tone to a film’s action.

Audio: All sound in a film including diegetic and non-diegetic sound. A strip of film
carrying sound records in addition to the pictures.

Audio Bridge: When audio is carried over the visual transition to tie together two
scenes.

Audition: A sample or test of a performance by an actor, singer, musician, dancer or

other performer.

Auteur/ Auteur Theory: A critical theory that ascribes overall responsibility for the
creation of a film and its personal vision, identifiable style, thematic aspects and
techniques to its film director, rather than to the collaborative efforts of all involved;
an auteur can refer to a director with a recognizable or signature style.

Autofocus (or AF): The feature of a camera that tries to ensure that your chosen subject
is sharp within the photo. Sensors detect how far away the subject is from the camera,
and this information is relayed to the lens, which then uses an electronic motor to adjusts
the focal distance of the lens.

Autofocus

Avail/ Avails/ Availability: A production may ask actors, filmmakers, crew, or agents
for their clients avails while casting or crewing. They are asking whether one is simply
available during the dates specified for production before getting into any further
conversation or consideration for the position. Actors often give their avail to a
production as a courtesy. Avails hold no legal or contractual status in the hiring process.

Available Light: The use of naturally-existing light on location rather than creating
artificial light.

Avant-Garde: Experimental films or avant-garde cinema is a mode of filmmaking that

rigorously re-evaluates cinematic conventions and explores non-narrative forms or
alternatives to traditional narratives or methods of working.
AVID/ Avid Media Composer: A film and video editing software application or non-
linear editing system (NLE) developed by Avid Technology.

Axial Cut: An axial cut is a type of jump cut, where the camera suddenly moves closer
to or further away from its subject, along an invisible line drawn straight between the
camera and the subject. While a plain jump cut typically involves a temporal
discontinuity (an apparent jump in time), an axial cut is a way of maintaining the illusion
of continuity. Axial cuts were fairly common in the cinema of the 1910s and 1920s.

Axis of Action: An imaginary or invisible line (or axis) that passes through two main
subjects being filmed in a scene, who face each other (one is left, the other is right).
Conventionally, the camera must not cross the axis of action and maintains that left-right
relationship or orientation in order to avoid disorienting or distracting the viewer with a
reverse angle shot. See also 180-Degree Rule.

Axis of Action

B
Backdrop/ Backing: Refers to a large photographic backing or painting for the
background of a scene. These large scale photos/paintings are printed/painted, hung, and
lit to give the illusion of the outdoors on set or an extension to the set.
Back End: Profit participation in a film after distribution and/or production costs have
been recouped.

Background: The area behind the middle ground and foreground in a shot that can often
extend far into the distance.

Background Action: The Background actors start their action when this phrase is
called.

Background Artist/ Background Stylist / Background Painter: One who is involved

in the process of animation and establishes the colour, style, and mood of a scene drawn
by an animation layout artist.

Background Lighting: Used to illuminate the background area of a set. The background
light will also provide separation between the subject and the background.

Background Music: A film score may also be called a background score, background
music, film soundtrack, film music, screen composition, screen music, or incidental
music.

Background Performer: A background actor or extra is a performer in a film,

television show, stage, musical, opera, or ballet production who appears in a non-
speaking or non-singing (silent) capacity, usually in the background. For example, an
audience or a busy street scene.

Backlight: The process of illuminating the subject from the back. In other words, the
lighting instrument and the viewer face each other, with the subject in between. This
creates a glowing effect on the edges of the subject, while other areas are darker. The
backlight can be a natural or artificial source of light. When artificial, the backlight is
usually placed directly behind the subject in a 4-point lighting setup.

Back Lot/ Backlot: An undeveloped area on studio property, in an open-air, outdoor

space away from the studio stages, where real-life situations with backgrounds can be
filmed.
Back Projection/ Rear Projection: A photographic technique whereby live action is
filmed in front of a transparent screen onto which background action is projected.

Backstory/ Background Story: A set of events invented for a plot, preceding and
leading up to the plot– the history of characters and other elements that underlie the
situation. It is a literary device of a narrative history chronologically earlier than the
story being told. In acting, it is the history of the character before the drama begins and
is created during the actor’s preparation.
Back to One/ Back to First Marks: After a take, the 1st Assistant Director will instruct
actors, extras, and pertinent crew to go back to one, meaning, to go back to the original
location they started from at the top (beginning) of the scene. Simply stated, it means to
do it again from the top in the same spot at your first marks.
Balance: Within a film’s visual frame refers to the composition, aesthetic quality, or
working together of the figures, light, sound, and movement.

Banned: For nearly the entire history of film, certain films have been banned by film
censorship or review organizations for political or moral reasons or for controversial
content. Censorship standards vary widely by country and can vary within an individual
country over time due to political or moral change.

Barn doors: The black metal folding doors on all four sides of a light that can be bent
back and forth on their hinges to control where the light is directed.

Barney: A blanket or other fabric placed over the camera to reduce the audible noise
from a camera.

Based on a True Story: This means much of the actual story is based on events that
happened in real life. The writer may make both minor or significant changes,
sometimes taking artistic license, but the core of the story remains the same.

Beat: An indication of timing (e.g., one Mississippi) or a moment. A small amount of

action resulting in a pause in dialogue. Beats usually involve physical gestures like a
character walking to a window, removing their glasses, and rubbing their eyes. Short
passages of internal monologue can also be considered a sort of internal beat.

Beat sheet: A document with all the events in a movie script to guide the writing of that
script. The Beat Sheet lays out everything that will need to happen in each act.
Behind-the-Scenes: The off-camera goings-on associated with filmmaking. Featurettes,
documentaries, and fictional depictions of the behind-the-scenes goings-on are also
occasionally made and distributed, sometimes theatrically.

Below the Line: A budgeting term used for professionals who are involved in the
production of the film but do not have a creative influence on the film but still influence
aspects of the film through their departments. Travel expenses and craft services fall
“below the line”.

Below-the-Line Expenses: All physical production costs not included in the above-the-
line expenses, including material costs, music rights, publicity, trailer, and much more.

Best Boy: There are two kinds of best boys: Best Boy Electric and Best Boy Grip. They
are assistants to their department heads, the Gaffer and the Key Grip (lighting and
rigging), respectively. In short, the best boy acts as the foreman for the department. A
woman who performs these duties may be called a best girl. New terminology for this
position is currently being debated.

Billing: Refers to the order and other aspects of how credits are presented for plays,
films, television, or other creative works. Information given in billing usually consists of
the companies, actors, directors, producers, and other crew members. Billing is most
often negotiated through your agent.

Bio: A short biography of actors, directors, producers, and key creatives for use in press
releases and film promotion materials. A PR representative or other marketer for a film
will ask for this from those involved in a project.

Biopic/ Biographical Film: A film that dramatizes the life of a non-

fictional or historically-based person. They differ from docudrama films and historical
drama films in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a single person’s life story or at
least the most historically important years of their lives.

Bird’s Eye View Shot/ Overhead Shot/Elevated Shot: An elevated view of an object
or location from a very steep viewing angle, creating a perspective as if
the observer were a bird in flight looking downwards.
Bit Part: A role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more
than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United
States, or under sixes in British television, or a walk-on part with no dialogue.

Black and White/ B&W/ BW/ Monochrome: A film without colour. Before the
invention of colour film stock, all films were shot in Black and White, or what was also
called Monochrome, which refers to a film shot in one colour. Black and White is often
abbreviated to BW or B&W.
Black Comedy /Dark Comedy: A style of comedy that makes light of subject matter
that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered
serious or too painful to discuss. Writers and comedians often use it as a tool for
exploring vulgar issues by provoking discomfort, serious thought, and amusement for
their audience.

Blacklisting: The action of someone, a group, a member/s of production or a hiring

authority compiling a blacklist of people to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed
unacceptable for employment to those making the list. As a verb, to blacklist can mean
to put an individual or company on such a list.

Blaxploitation: A portmanteau of the words Black and Exploitation. It is a subgenre of

the exploitation film that emerged in the United States during the early 1970s.
Blaxploitation films were originally aimed at a Black audience, but the genre’s audience
appeal soon broadened across racial and ethnic lines. Hollywood soon realized the
potential profit of expanding the audiences of blaxploitation films.

Bleach Bypass: A film process technique used to enhance the colour and contrast of
film by deliberately bypassing certain stages of traditional processing. Developed to give
a distinctive, high-contrast look with vibrant colors, this process involves manipulating
the film’s development to achieve a unique visual style. It is often used to create a
“bleached” appearance, where the film has a washed-out quality with intensified color
saturation and contrast.
Blimp: A fibreglass encasement used to house a camera making an audible noise so that
you cannot hear the sound of the camera while recording sound on a production.

Blockbuster: A work of entertainment typically used to describe a feature film produced

by a major film studio. The term has also come to refer to any large-budget production
intended for blockbuster status, aimed at mass markets with associated merchandising,
sometimes on a scale that means the financial viability of a film studio or a distributor
hangs in the balance.

Blocking: The movements of an actor within a scene; the process of figuring out where
the camera goes, how the lights will be arranged, and what the actors’ positions and
movements will be when the shot happens ‘on the day’.

Block Shooting (episode): Shooting more than one episode per block/day.

Block Shooting (set-up): Using the same set-up for more than one scene before turning
around and shooting the other side of the scenes.

Blooper: A short clip from a film or video production, usually an unused take,
containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error
made during a live radio, TV broadcast, or news report, usually in terms of misspoken
words or technical errors.

Blow-Up: An optical process in which an image or film frame is enlarged. Often refers
to the creation of a 70mm print blown up from a 35mm original print.

Blue Comedy: A comedy film that is off-colour, risqué, indecent or profane, largely
about sex. It often contains profanity or sexual imagery that may shock and offend some
audience members.

Bluescreen: A special effects process whereby actors work in front of an evenly-lit,

monochromatic (usually blue or green) background, screen, or backdrop. The
background is then replaced in post-production by chroma-keying or an optical printer,
allowing other footage or computer-generated images (CGI) to form the background
image; since 1992, most films have used a green screen.

B-Movie: A film which is produced quickly and cheaply and is often considered to have
little artistic value. The term originally meant a supporting film for a double feature,
often considered a genre film, in Hollywood during the 1940s and 50s.

Body Double/ Double: A stand-in for an actor, often used during stunt or nude scenes.
Body Makeup: Makeup applied below the neck or above the wrists.

Bollywood/ Hindi Cinema: The Indian movie industry, based in Mumbai (Bombay)
with motion pictures filmed in the Hindi language. Hindi Cinema was formerly known
as Bombay Cinema.

Bomb/ Box Office Bomb: A movie which is a financial disaster.

Bookend: Refers to scenes at the beginning and end of a film that tie the whole film
together by complimenting each other or finishing up a loose end created at the
beginning of the film.

Boom Microphone: A long pole with a microphone on the end. The boom is extended
out near the actors. Ideally, the microphone at the end should be placed in
the camera’s safe area, above, below, or to the sides of the frame.

Boom Operator: A member of the sound crew who operates the boom microphone.

Boom Shot/ Jib Shot/ Crane Shot: A high angle shot filmed on a mechanical arm like a
crane or jib, sometimes with the camera moving.

Bootleg/ Pirated Film: An illegally made, copied, or sold version of a film or show
sometimes recorded at a private showing, but more often illegally downloaded or copied
from a legal copy of a production. A copy of a production is legal if purchased, rented,
or otherwise obtained via the copyright owner.

Bottle Episode: In episodic television, a bottle episode is produced cheaply and

restricted in scope to use as few regular cast members, effects and sets as possible. Bottle
episodes are usually shot on sets built for other episodes, frequently the main interior
sets for a series, and consist largely of dialogue and scenes for which no special
preparations are needed. They are commonly used when one script has fallen through
and another has to be written at short notice, or because of budgetary constraints. Bottle
episodes have also been used for dramatic effect, with the limited setting and cast
allowing for a slower pace and deeper exploration of character traits and motives.

Bounce/ Bounce Board: Refers to a device or board to reflect light during filming; the
board is usually a large white surface made of foam or poster board.

Box Office/ Gross: Refers to the commercial success of a movie in terms of the
audience size or earnings they command while the film is in theaters. Box office
calculates the total earnings, separating film earning into two categories: domestic gross
and worldwide gross. The opening weekend box office gross is the most important time
of any film’s theatrical release as it will decide the success of the film and how many
more screens a film can be seen.
Bracketing: The technique of shooting several takes of the same shot or scene using
different camera settings- most often adjusting the F-stop. Bracketing is useful and often
recommended in situations that make it difficult to obtain a satisfactory result with a
single setting, especially when a small variation in exposure parameters has a
comparatively large effect on the resulting shot.

Breakdown/ Script Breakdown: A detailed list of all items, people, props, equipment,
etc required for a shoot on a day-by-day basis. Recording such lists aids
in continuity and allows optimization of the time of actors and the crew.

Breakdown: Aging props, wardrobe, sets, set dressing.

Bridging Shot: A shot inserted in a film to indicate the passage of time between two
scenes. For example, a series of newspaper headlines or calendar pages being torn off.

British Academy of Film and Television Arts/ BAFTA: An independent trade

association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television
and video games in the United Kingdom.

British Film Institute/ BFI: A film and television charitable organisation which
promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom.

British Society of Cinematographers/ BSC: A British cultural, educational, and

professional organization that is neither a labor union nor a guild. The society was
organized to advance the science and art of cinematography in the United Kingdom.
B-Roll: Supplemental or alternative footage intercut with the main shot.
Buddy Film: A subgenre of the adventure and comedy film genre in which two people
are put together and are on an adventure, a quest, or a road trip. The two often contrast
widely in personality, which creates a dynamic onscreen pairing.

Building/ Building a Scene/ Building to Climax: Using filmmaking techniques like

increased tempo, speed, rhythm, or emphasis to build a crescendo until the scene hits its
climax.

BVK/Berufsverband Kinematografie/ German Society of Cinematographers:

A non-profit professional association of German freelance cinematographers and
directors of photography and their collaborators, founded in 1980.

Bump: In the film industry, a “bump” refers to an increase in pay or compensation,

often given to crew members for additional responsibilities, higher-level roles, or
increased risk.
Bumper/ Stinger: Refers to short pieces of music or motion graphics usually lasting no
longer than fifteen seconds and are used during intros, outros, and transitions. For
example, the short pre-film segment showing the studio’s logo before the film starts is a
vanity card studio bumper.

Bumper

Butterfly/Butterflies/Butterfly Kit: A large overhead frame with a sheet of fabric used

to shape, control, and diffuse light. This includes flags, nets, and diffusions. In general,
butterflies are used only for very large materials (6′ x 6′ or greater), while smaller sizes
are usually sewn onto portable frames. Butterflies are often called for by their
dimensions, which are standard: 6x 6, 8×8, 12×12, and 20×20.

Butterfly Knot/ Butterfly Loop: A knot used to securely fasten ropes or wires,
providing a reliable connection that maintains the vast majority of the rope’s original
strength. This knot is preferred over typical knots because it offers greater strength and
stability, which is crucial for safely managing rigging and equipment in complex setups.

Butterfly Knot

Buzz: Refers to hype or excitement about a film, television show, director, actor,
producer or other film creative.

Buzz Track: Helps to alleviate any unnatural silences in film. It is a soundtrack that
contains low background noises. This term is not frequently used. It has largely been
replaced by ambient sound or room tone.
C
C-47: A common production term for an ordinary wooden clothespin. Despite its
simplicity, it is an essential tool on set, often used by grips and lighting technicians to
secure gels, diffusion materials, or other items to lighting equipment.

C-74: A less commonly known term, often used humorously or informally, and it
typically refers to a spring-type wooden clothespin with the spring removed. Like the C-
47, it’s used on set, but without the spring, it can serve different, more specific purposes,
such as holding items without the tension that a spring would provide. The term isn’t as
widely recognized as C-47, and its use varies among crews.

Cable: Heavy-duty, insulated wires used to transmit electrical power from generators or
power sources to lighting fixtures, cameras, and other equipment on set. These cables are
essential for distributing electricity safely and efficiently across the production site, and
they come in various gauges and lengths, depending on the power requirements of the
equipment being used.

Cable Television: A system of delivering television programming to consumers via

coaxial or fiber-optic cables, rather than through traditional broadcast signals transmitted
over the air. This method allows for a wide range of channels and services, including
premium content, on-demand programming, and high-definition broadcasts, typically
offered as part of a subscription package.

Call Sheet: A daily page usually sent out by the 2nd Assistant Director that states which
scenes are happening that day and what time specific departments and talent need to be
on set. It also lists other pertinent information needed to run each day smoothly,
including specific needs for the day, the weather forecast, the nearest hospital, and the
projected schedule for the next day.

Call Time: The time that each person is expected to start work on a film set, as seen on
the call sheet.

Cameo/ Cameo Role/ Cameo Appearance: A small character part in a play or movie,
played by a distinguished actor or a celebrity. These roles are generally small, mostly
non-speaking ones, and are commonly either appearances in a work in which they hold
some special significance (such as actors from an original movie appearing in its
remake) or renowned people making uncredited appearances.

Camera: A device for recording images.

Camera Angle: The camera angle marks the specific location at which the movie
camera or video camera is placed to take a shot. A scene may be shot from several
camera angles simultaneously. This will give a different experience and sometimes
emotion.

Camera Blocking: The movement of the camera within the scene.

Camera Crew: A group of people who are involved in the operation of a film camera. A
camera crew captures the action.

Camera Movement: Alters the relationship between the subject and the camera frame,
shaping the viewer’s perspective of space and time and controlling the delivery of
narrative information. The camera height and angle, the distance to a subject, and the
composition of a shot may change during camera movement, as the framing travels
above, below, around, into, and out of space. Types of camera movement are
distinguished by their direction and the equipment used to achieve motion.

Camera Operator: A professional operator of a film camera or video camera as part of

a film crew. The DP may operate the camera themselves or enlist the aid of a camera
operator or second cameraperson to operate it or set the controls.

Camera Right/Camera Left: These refer to the direction from the way the camera is
facing. This means that if a prop needs to be moved “camera left” and you are facing the
camera, you actually need to move the prop to the right.

Camp/ Campy: Absurdly exaggerated, artificial, or affected in a usually humorous way.

Camp aesthetics disrupt many of modernism’s notions of what art and film can be and
what can be classified as high art by inverting aesthetic attributes such as beauty, value,
and taste through an invitation of a different kind of apprehension and consumption.
Camp art is related to and often confused with kitsch, and things with camp appeal may
be described as cheesy. John Waters is a good example of someone known for their
campy films.

Can/ In the Can/ Reel: A dated term from when films were only/mostly shot of film
stock carried on reels stored in round, metal or plastic film canisters. The colloquial
term, In the Can, means the scene, shot, or film is completed, recorded, and canned.

Canadian Production Design Association: A non-profit Canadian trade organization

that aims to advance the art and craft of production design in Canada.

Canadian Society of Cinematographers: A non-profit Canadian trade organization

with over 500 members whose mission is to promote artistic creativity and required
skills for cinematography.
Candlelight: Lighting that is provided by candlelight to provide a warm hue or tone and
connote intimacy, romance, and harmony through its soft light.

Capsule Review: A capsule review or mini-review is a form of appraisal, often

associated with film journalism, that offers a relatively short critique of a specified
entertainment production.

Caricature: A character appearing ridiculously out of proportion because of one

physical, psychological, or moral trait that has been grossly or broadly exaggerated; a
caricature often portrays a character in an unrealistic, stereotypical fashion.

Cartoon: A motion picture or television show using animation techniques to photograph

a sequence of drawings rather than real people or objects.

Cash Cow: A film that makes a lot of money over a long period of time for the company
that sells it, often money that is used to support the company’s other activities. Often,
it’s a type of franchise that’s been popular for so long that they seem to be grandfathered
into the industry and always turn huge profits, including those made from significant
merchandising sales. For example, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Indiana Jones would be
considered cash cows.

Cast: The group of actors who make up a film or television show, or other entertainment
production.

Casting/ Casting Call: In the performing arts industry such as theatre, film, or
television, casting, or a casting call, is a pre-production process for selecting a certain
type of actor, dancer, singer, or extra for a particular role or part in a script, screenplay,
or teleplay.

Casting Couch: The casting couch is a euphemism for the practice of soliciting sexual
favours from a job applicant in exchange for employment in the entertainment industry,
primarily in acting roles. The practice is illegal and is now most closely associated with
the illicit activities of Harvey Weinstein, who is now serving time in prison for his
behaviour.

Casting Director: Most films employ a casting director to find actors to match the roles
in the film. The job of a casting director is to know a lot about a lot of actors so that they
can advise and present to the director the best of the available talent. Casting directors
are highly influential and are usually on the project because the director trusts their
judgement; they are also the ones who decide who the director sees for the role.
Casting Society of America (CSA): Founded in 1982 as a professional society of about
1,200 casting directors and associate casting directors for film, television, theatre, and
commercials in Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and the United States. The
nonprofit organization announced the name change from Casting Society of America to
Casting Society in February 2022. Members use the post-nominal letters CSA when
credited for their work.

Catchphrase: A phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases

often originate in popular culture and in the arts which typically spread through word of
mouth and a variety of mass media. Some become the trademark or signature of the
person or character with whom they originated, and can be instrumental in the
typecasting of a particular actor.

Caterer: A person or company who provides the main meals for cast and crew either
on set or on location.

Catharsis: During a film’s climax, the audience may experience a purging or cleansing
of emotional tension, providing relief or therapeutic restoration.

Cautionary Tale: A literary term referring to a narrative that follows the same structure
as tales told in folklore to warn its listener of a danger. There are three essential parts to
a cautionary tale, though they can be introduced in a large variety of ways. First, a taboo
or prohibition is stated: some act, location, or thing is said to be dangerous. Then, the
narrative itself is told: someone disregarded the warning and performed the forbidden
act. Finally, the violator comes to an unpleasant fate, which is frequently related in
expansive and grisly detail.

Cel/ Cel Animation: A transparent sheet on which objects are drawn or painted
for traditional, hand-drawn animation. Actual celluloid (consisting of cellulose
nitrate and camphor) was used during the first half of the 20th century, but since it was
flammable and dimensionally unstable it was largely replaced by cellulose acetate. With
the advent of computer-assisted animation production, the use of cels has been all but
abandoned in major productions. Disney studios stopped using cels in 1990
when Computer Animation Production System (CAPS) replaced this element in their
animation process, and in the next decade and a half, the other major animation studios
phased cels out as well.

Celluloid: A class of materials produced by mixing nitrocellulose and camphor, often

with added dyes and other agents. Once much more common for its use as photographic
film in filmmaking before the advent of safer methods came to be.

Censorship: The process of determining what can or can not be viewed by the public.
Film censorship is carried out by various countries to differing degrees, often by a
ratings board, sometimes as a result of powerful or relentless lobbying by organizations
or individuals. Films that are banned in a particular country change over time.

Certificates/ Ratings: Various countries or regions have film classification boards for
reviewing movies and rating their content in terms of its suitability for particular
audiences. For many countries, movies are required to be advertised as having a
particular certificate or rating, forewarning audiences of possible objectionable content.

CGI: Computer Generated Imagery or Images; a term referring to the use of 3D

computer graphics and technology to create filmed images, special effects and the
illusion of motion.

Character: A person or other being in a narrative. The character may be entirely

fictional or based on a real-life person, in which case the distinction of
a fictional versus real character may be made.

Character Actor: Largely a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting,

or eccentric characters. The term, often contrasted with that of leading actor, is
somewhat abstract and open to interpretation. In a literal sense, all actors can be
considered character actors since they all play characters, but the term more commonly
refers to an actor who frequently plays a distinctive and important supporting role.
Character actors are generally well-known and recognizable by the audience, by
appearance if not by name.

Character Colour-Coding/ Character Colour Motif: When a creator of a work

introduces a large number of characters at once, such as at the beginning of a work, they
have to find a way to distinguish them and make them memorable in the audience’s
mind. Sometimes by giving each character a specific color motif, the audience can
quickly associate one color with a character and tell the characters apart with only a
glance.

Character Study: The analysis or portrayal of the traits of a character or an individual

in a creative work where the plot and narrative come secondary to the character. Also
referred to as a brief narrative or sketch devoted primarily to the underlying study of a
character.

Checking the Card/Medium/Drive: Checking the playback to confirm the image was
recorded.

Checking The Gate: Taking off the camera lens and examining the film plan for
scratches; this happens after every camera set up and is usually done by the 1st AC.
Chemistry/ Screen Chemistry/ On-Screen Chemistry: A way of saying two actors
show sparks of apparent attraction, or are perceived to be well paired by the audience.
There is a certain extra thrill from watching such pairings on screen. For example,
Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were said to have great chemistry in the 2018 film A
Star Is Born.

Chiaroscuro: the combination of the two Italian words for “clear/bright” and “dark”;
refers to a notable, contrasting use of light and shade in scenes; often achieved by using
a spotlight; this lighting technique had its roots in German Expressionistic
cinematography.

Chick Flick: A slang term, sometimes used pejoratively, for the film genre catered
specifically to women’s interests, and is marketed toward women demographics. They
generally tend to appeal more to a younger female audience and deal mainly with love
and romance. Although many types of films may be directed toward a female audience,
the term “chick flick” is typically used only in reference to films that contain personal
drama and emotion or themes that are relationship-based (although not necessarily
romantic, as films may focus on parent-child or friend relationships). This term is often
considered derogatory and is now used sparingly.

Child Actor: Generally applied to a child acting on stage or on-screen. An adult who
began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a former child
actor.

Chimera/ Softbox: The Chimera Softbox are designed to handle such large-scale
lighting jobs as commercials and motion pictures. Their increased depth allows the full-
flood beam of a large Fresnel fixture to fill the front diffusion screen of the Lightbank
and deliver a beautiful, translucent quality of light.

Choreographer: A choreographer conceives, creates, and directs dance and movement

in a wide range of performance contexts, including dance, theater, film, television,
opera, and live events. The choreographic process may employ improvisation for the
purpose of developing innovative movement ideas.

Choreography: The art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical

bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. Aspects of
dance choreography include the compositional use of organic unity, rhythmic or non-
rhythmic articulation, theme and variation, and repetition. In general, choreography is
used to design dances that are intended to be performed.
Chroma Key: A visual effects and post-production technique for compositing (layering)
two images or video streams together based on colour hues (chroma range). The
technique has been used in many fields to remove a background from the subject of a
photo or video, particularly in the newscasting, motion picture, and video game
industries. A colour range in the foreground footage is made transparent, allowing
separately filmed background footage or a static image to be inserted into the scene.

Chyron: A text-based graphic that overlays video content, such as broadcast news,
television shows, and movies. Chyron is the general name for any graphic that is
superimposed over a video or live broadcast. While a chyron is usually placed at the
bottom of a frame, it can appear anywhere within the frame.

Chyron

Cineaste: Refers to a film/movie enthusiast or devotee.

Cinema: A place where screenings occur. Also refers to film itself as an art form.
Cinema Audio Society: The Cinema Audio Society was formed in 1964 for the purpose
of fostering community among mixers, educating and informing the general public and
the motion picture and television industry about good and effective sound usage, and
achieving deserved recognition for sound mixers as major contributors to the field of
entertainment.

CinemaScope: A cinematographic process in which special lenses are used

to compress a wide image into a standard frame and then expand it again during
projection. It results in an image that is almost two and a half times as wide as it is high.
Cinematographer/ Director of Photography/ DOP: The person responsible for the
photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-
action piece. The cinematographer is the head of the camera and lighting crew and
would normally be responsible for making artistic and technical decisions related to the
image and for selecting the camera, film stock, lenses, and filters. The study and practice
of this field is referred to as cinematography.

Cinematography: The art of motion picture and television photography.

Cinematic: Relating to, suggestive of, or suitable for motion pictures or the filming of
motion pictures.

Cinema Verité: A method or style of documentary and narrative filmmaking with long
takes, no narration, and little or no directorial or editing control exerted over the finished
product; used to refer to a documentary-style film or minimalist cinema loosely;
popularized in the 1950s French New Wave movement; now widely used (often
inappropriately) to refer to the popular, artsy trend of using hand-held camera
techniques.

Cinerama: A process in which three synchronized movie projectors each project one-
third of the picture on a wide, curving screen. Many viewers believe that the screen,
which thus annexes their entire field of vision, gives a sense of reality unmatched by the
flat screen.

Clamps: A grip tool. A clamp is a brace, band, or clasp used for strengthening or
holding things together. These are often called spring clips. They come in 4 sizes, #.5,
#1, #2 and #3. They are an essential tool for everything a grip has to do.

Clapboard/ Clapperboard: A device used in filmmaking and video production to assist

in synchronizing picture and sound.

Claymation: An animation technique using movable clay characters and stop-motion

recording. It’s a film style often seen in children’s films and cartoons. It’s a meticulous
process, with some feature-length films taking months – or even years – to shoot.

Clean Audio: Audio without noise or imperfections.

Clean Dialogue: Dialogue without noise and background imperfections.

Clear the Eyeline: Said usually by the 1st AD to keep the actor’s eyeline/line-of-sight
clear of anything distracting.
Cliffhanger: A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction characterized
by scenes of great tension, danger, adventure, suspense, or high drama, often climaxing
at the end of a film or at the end of a multi-part serial episode, where the plot ending and
the fate of the protagonist(s) are left unresolved. A cliffhanger is hoped to incentivize the
audience to return to see how the characters resolve the dilemma. Some serials end with
the caveat, “To Be Continued” or “The End?” In serial films and television series, the
following episode sometimes begins with a recap sequence.

Climax: The highest point of anxiety or tension in a story or film in which the central
character or protagonist faces, confronts, and deals with the consequence(s) of all their
actions or faces the antagonist in a climactic battle or final engagement; a crisis often
leads to a climax; also called the film’s high point, zenith, apex, or crescendo; an anti-
climax or denouement may follow a climax.

Clip/ Film Clip: A short section of film removed from a movie and often exhibited; a
part of a film, and sometimes a complete scene or sequence, taken from a film, similar to
an excerpt.

Closed Captioned: Closed captions are a text version of the spoken part of a television,
movie or computer presentation. Closed captioning was developed to aid deaf and hard
of hearing people, but it’s useful for various situations.

Close-Up: A shot taken from a close distance in which the object’s scale is magnified,
appears relatively large and fills the entire frame to focus attention and emphasize its
importance. For example, a person’s head from the shoulders or neck up is a commonly
filmed close-up.

Coda: Coda means “tail” in Italian and usually refers to musical selections; in film, it
refers to the epilogue, ending or last section of a film (often wordless) that provides
closure, a conclusion, or a summary of the preceding storyline.

Cold Open: A cold open (also called a teaser sequence) is a narrative technique used in
television and films. It is the practice of jumping directly into a story at the show’s
beginning before the title sequence or opening credits are shown.

Colour Consultant: A film credit from yesteryear. At the beginning of filmmaking in

colour, Technicolor had to maintain high standards through all stages of production and
printing to offer a consistent and quality product. In addition to cameras, cameramen,
and on-set technicians, the “Technicolor package” included a colour consultant to advise
on appropriate colours for makeup, costumes, and set design.
Colour Film/ Colour Stock: Colour film is a type of photographic film that can capture
images in colour. It’s made of a plastic base coated with layers of chemicals. These
chemicals react when they’re exposed to light, recording the image you see through your
camera lens.

Colour Temperature: Colour temperature is a system that uses numerical values to

measure the colour characteristics of a light source on a spectrum ranging from warm
colours to cool colours. The numerical values are referred to as degrees Kelvin (K). The
two common standard colour temperatures for film and video lighting are “Tungsten” at
3200K and “Daylight” at 5600K.

Colour Timing: Colour timing is an analog laboratory process for manipulating colour
in photochemical film workflows. This process changes the amounts of red, green, and
blue light used to create a film positive (or print) from a film negative.

Colourization/ Colorization: The film-altering process whereby a black and white film
is digitally changed to include colour; popularized but controversial in the 1980s.

Colourist/ Colorist: Colourists are involved in the very final phases of post-production.
After a film’s edit is locked, the final cut is sent to the Colorist. A colourist usually starts
work on a scene by correcting the issues with exposure and colour on a wide shot. They
will then adjust the other clips within the scene to match the look of the first shot. At the
end of this process, all of the shots within the scene will be correctly exposed with a
neutral colour balance.

Comedian: An actor who sometimes specializes in genre films that are designed to elicit
laughter from audiences; also known as a comic.

Comedy Film: A film which elicits laughter or humour by celebrating or showing the
eternal ironies of human existence; types include screwball, dark/black
comedies, farce, slapstick, deadpan, parody, and romantic comedy.

Comic Relief: A humorous or farcical interlude in a dramatic film, usually provided by

a buffoonish character, intended to relieve the dramatic, built-up tension or heighten the
emotional impact by means of contrast.

Coming-of-Age Film: A subgenre of film associated with difficult teen rites of passage
(from adolescence to adulthood), the onset of puberty, the loss of naive innocence and
childhood dreams, the experience of growing up, and achieving sexual identity.

Command Performance: A commanding performance generally refers to an amazing

performance given by an actor. Most of the time, this performance has come right before
the actor’s death.
Completion Bond: A Completion Bond is a Film Investor Insurance. Some call it a
“Completion Guarantee” or “Bond”. In the Entertainment Industry, it protects a Film.
The Insurance Product acts as a financial guarantee. This security benefits the providers
of a film’s finances.

Composer: A Composer is the musician who creates a movie’s score. This is in contrast
to a conductor, who directs the orchestra playing the score, and a lyricist, who writes the
lyrics to a song.

Composite Print/ Synchronized Print: A composite print is a viewing print with sound
and image. It is a positive film with both picture and corresponding sound on the same
film, which may be in editorial or projection synchronism. A composite release print
contains picture and sound records in projection synchronism on the same film.

Compositing: Compositing is the process or technique of combining visual elements

from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those
elements are parts of the same scene. Live-action shooting for compositing is variously
called “chroma key”, “blue screen”, “green screen” and other names.

Composition: Refers to the arrangement of different elements (for example, colours,

shapes, figures, lines, movement, and lighting) within a frame and in a scene.

Compositor: Compositors create the final image of a frame, shot or VFX sequence.
They combine all the digital materials used (assets), such as computer-generated (CG)
images, live-action footage and matte paintings, and combine them to appear as one
cohesive image and shot. Compositors consider the visual aspects of a scene.

Computer Animation Production System/ CAPS: A proprietary collection of

software, scanning camera systems, servers, networked computer workstations, and
custom desks developed by Disney and Pixar in the late 1980s. Although outmoded by
the mid-2000s, it succeeded in reducing labour costs for ink and paint and post-
production processes of traditionally animated feature films. It also provided an entirely
new palette of digital tools to the filmmakers. Today, most animations are made with
computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Concert Film: A concert film is a movie that records a live musical performance of a
band, singer, or stand-up comedian. It can take footage from a single performance or
stitch together footage from multiple concerts.

Construction Coordinator: Construction Coordinators supervise the construction of

sets and stages for film productions. They coordinate the entire process of set building,
from initial planning through to the final coat of paint on the finished sets.
Contemporary Film: Contemporary films are modern and relate to the present time.

Continuity: Continuity is one of the responsibilities of the Script Supervisor to make

sure elements are consistent from shot to shot and scene to scene. When there is a
mistake, such as an actor wearing different clothing within the same scene, it is referred
to as a ‘continuity error.’

Continuity Report: Continuity reports are detailed records of each day’s shoot,
including camera settings, screen direction, weather, props, and any possible deviations
from the script. Continuity reports are a great way to ensure that everything—even the
sound quality—is consistent from shot to shot.

Contrast: Refers to the difference between light and shadow, or between maximum and
minimum amounts of light, in a particular film image; it can be either high contrast(with
a sharp delineation between the bright and dark areas) or its opposite low contrast.

Convention: The expected elements in a type of film, without question, thought, or

judgment.

Coogan’s Law: Refers to landmark legislation in the late 1930s designed to protect a
child actor’s earnings by depositing some of the minor’s earnings in court-administered
trust funds that the child receives when they reach the age of majority; named after the
child actor Jackie Coogan.

Co-Producer: A co-producer is someone who works alongside the producer to oversee

and manage various aspects of the film production process. Key players in the producing
process may be dubbed a co-producers when they are instrumental in either funding the
production or providing other benefits like services or special equipment.

Copyright: A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the
exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually
for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or
musical form. Copyright is intended to protect the original expression of an idea in the
form of a creative work, but not the idea itself. Copyright is subject to limitations based
on public interest considerations, such as the ‘fair use’ doctrine in the United States, and
known as ‘fair dealing’ in Canada. Copyright has become a very muddy territory in the
process of filmmaking and it is always best to consult your production lawyer when you
have a question who may also give approvals to the production team on what is fair use
and/or cleared for use.

Costume: Refers to the garments or clothing worn by actors/performers in a film.

Costume Designer: Researches, designs, and selects the costumes to be appropriate to
the film’s time period, the characters, their location, and their occupations.

Costume Drama: A costume drama is a film set in a particular historical time period,
often with elaborate costuming.

Costume Supervisor: Costume supervisors work with the costume designer to ensure
costumes or outfits are of the standard they require, ready and prepared in time for
fittings, rehearsals, recordings or live shows. During filming, they supervise the
continuity of outfits, the cleaning, maintenance and any repairs or adjustments.

Costumer/Set Costumer: A Set Costumer is responsible for assembling the costume of

the actor on set and making sure the Costume Designer’s vision is realized. Set
Costumers will track clothing to ensure that they are loaded and unloaded safely and
without causing damage or stains.

Coverage: The process of making sure that every scene has a variety of shots to make
sure that the editor has enough film to be able to cut the scene together.

Cowboy Shot: In modern filmmaking, a “cowboy shot” refers to a shot that frames a
character from the head to the hip or mid-thigh. Because this angle is perfect for
showcasing a gun holstered to a cowboy’s hip, it quickly became a staple in classic
Western films—hence the name.

Craft Services: Provides food and drinks to the crew on set, not to be confused with
catering, which refers to the hot meals given to the crew.

Crane Shot: A camera shot taken from a large camera dolly or electronic device (an
apparatus, such as a crane), resembling an extendable mechanical arm (or boom), that
can raise the camera up in the air above the ground 20 feet or more; the crane allows the
camera to fluidly move in virtually any direction (with vertical and horizontal
movement), providing shifts in levels and angles; crane shots usually provide some kind
of overhead view of a scene.

Crawl: Refers to superimposed screen titles or text intended to move across, up, down,
or diagonally on the screen.

Creative Consultant: A Creative consultant is a credit that is given to people who have
consulted on a film or television screenplay. Those given this credit in the television
field work closely with an executive producer and head writer/showrunner. They are
involved in the writing process (proposing and editing story outlines/scripts).
Creator/Series Creator: The person who developed a significant part of a TV show’s
format, concept, characters, and pilot script. They have sequel rights to the material as
well usually. Often, the creator is also the showrunner or a producer. Sometimes it is a
writer of the series bible or writers’ guidelines.

Credits: The text appearing before or after a film detailing the cast, production crew,
and technical personnel who worked on a movie. Each person listed receives credit for
the position they filled in the making of the film or show.

Crew/Crewmembers: Refers to those involved in the technical production of a film

who are not actual performers.

Crew Has the Floor: The cast and director leave the set so the lighting, set, dressing
and camera departments can work. Stand-ins are used.

Crisis: The period of highest tension just before the climax of a film (there can be more
than one); the point at which events reach their highest level of tension.

Critic: An individual who writes and/or publishes a review of a film from either an
artistic or entertainment point of view. Film reviews often analyze and discuss a film’s
details, its content and characters, a critique of the performances, camera work,
directing, editing, production, and script; film critics are usually more philosophical and
theoretical than film reviewers or commentators.

Cross-Cutting: The editing technique of alternating, interweaving, or interspersing one

narrative action (scene, sequence, or event) with another – usually in different locations
or places, thus combining the two; this editing method suggests parallel action (that
takes place simultaneously); often used to dramatically build tension and suspense in
chase scenes, or to compare two different scenes; also known as inter-cutting or parallel
editing.

Cross-Fade: Refers to a fading technique that occurs in two stages: (1) fade to black,
and then (2) fade to the next scene; a cross-fade always involves a black or blank screen,
whereas a dissolve does not.

Crossing: A warning or courtesy said by anyone who must cross in front of a camera
during set up. It alerts the camera operator.

Cross-Over: A film or production that is made for one audience but may easily ‘cross-
over’ to another unexpected audience; also refers to a film, actor, or production that
appeals to different demographic groups or age groups and can move between two or
more distinct franchises.
Crowd Shot: A shot or image of a large group of people (often extras) in a film; CGI is
often used to film large crowd shots to avoid huge costs associated with hiring extras.

C-Stand: A C-stand is a sturdy light stand that has three different legs that can be
adjusted to accommodate steps, a long metal “arm,” and a round clamping head called a
gobo.

Cucoloris: A Cucoloris is a type of flag with shapes cut into it that creates the look of
tree branches, window shades, etc.

Cue: A cue is the signal for an actor to start performing. Typically, a cue will be one
actor’s last line of dialogue, signalling to the other person in the scene to start. However,
a cue can also come from the director or from within the script.

Cue Card: A device (cards, scrolling screen, teleprompter, or other mechanism) with
dialogue provided to help talent recite their lines; an electronic cue card is called a
teleprompter.

Cult Film: Usually a non-mainstream film that attracts a small but loyally-obsessed
group of fans and remains popular and worshipped over many years. Cult films have
limited but special appeal and often have unusual or subversive elements or subject
matter; they are often replayed for repeat viewings and audience participation (and group
identification) as midnight movies, not to be confused with B-films.

Cut: An abrupt or sudden change or jump in camera angle, location, placement, or time
from one shot to another; consists of a transition from one scene to another (a visual cut)
or from one soundtrack to another (a sound cut); cutting refers to the selection, splicing
and assembly by the film editor of the various shots or sequences for a reel of film, and
the process of shortening a scene; also refers to the instructional word ‘cut’ said at the
end of a take by the director to stop the action in front of the camera; cut to refers to the
point at which one shot or scene is changed immediately to another. Also refers to a
completely edited version of a film (e.g., rough cut).

Cut: Stop rolling (camera and/or sound) when this is called on set during a take.

Cutaway Shot: A brief shot that momentarily interrupts a continuously filmed action by
briefly inserting another related action, object, or person (sometimes not part of the
principal scene or main action), followed by a cutback to the original shot, often filmed
from the POV of the character and used to break up a sequence and provide some visual
relief, or to ease the transition from one shot to the next, or to provide additional
information, or to hint at an impending change; reaction shots are usually
cutaways; cross-cutting is a series of cutaways and cutbacks indicating concurrent
action; a cutaway is different from an insert shot.
Cyberpunk: A sub-genre of science fiction derived from combining the
terms cybernetics and punk and related to the digital or information technology society
(referring to the proliferation of computers, the online world, cyberspace, and
‘hacking’); this sub-genre also incorporates classic film-noir characteristics into its style
including alienation, dehumanization, the presence of counter-cultural anti-heroes,
darkness, dystopia, and corruption.

Cyclorama/ Cyc: The curved, seamless, floor-to-ceiling backdrop or background used

in studio sets.

D
Dailies/Rushes: The immediately processed, rough cuts, digital files or exposed film,
without edits for the director, producer, or key crew to review to see how the film came
out after the day’s (or the previous day’s) shooting; more commonly in the form of
digital dailies; aka rushes used to determine whether there is a need to re-shoot.

Dark Horse: A little-known movie that becomes a massive hit either financially or on
the awards circuit. Moonlight was the dark horse winner for the Best Picture Oscar
over La La Land.

Day-for-Night: A technique for using shots filmed during the day to appear as moonlit
night shots on the screen by using different lenses, filters, special lighting and
underexposure.

Day Player: An actor or crew labour position who is in for one day only.

Deadpan: A comedic device in which a performer assumes an expressionless

demeanour to deliver comedic lines or performances. Leslie Neilsen and Buster Keaton
had famous deadpan deliveries.

Deep Focus Shot: A cinematography technique portraying great depth of field. Wide-
angle lenses are used with small lens apertures to create a sharp focus in both distant and
nearby planes within the same shot.

Deep Space/Deep Staging: A cinematic style in which several significant elements of

an image are positioned at various points both near to and distant from the camera. This
means that the characters in the shot have a large spatial scope, so that they sometimes
even seem to disappear within the wide area. Deep space can be achieved by establishing
a very long z-axis that opens the available stage. More often than not, deep space is
combined with deep focus, which requires that elements placed along very different
depth planes of the image (i.e. foreground, middle ground and background) be in focus
at the same time. However, for deep staging, these objects do not necessarily have to be
in focus. Staging in deep space is the opposite of staging in flat space.

Deleted Scene: Refers to a scene that was edited out of a film’s final cut for several
possible reasons: the scene was poorly done, the scene was unnecessary, the film’s
running time needed truncation, the film was avoiding an R or NC-17 rating, the film’s
studio disapproved of it, etc.

Denouement: The point in a film that immediately follows the climax when everything
in the plot has been resolved. It’s typically the final scene in a movie and is also known
as the resolution.

Depth of Field: The depth of a shot’s focus in relation to the foreground, middle-ground
and background. Shallow depth of field might keep only one of those planes in focus,
while deep depth of field would keep all of them in focus.

Depth of Focus: Depth of Focus is directly related to depth of field. It refers to making
an adjustment so that a camera shot keeps its deep focus throughout all of the various
planes.

Desaturation: Refers to colours of less luminosity and vividness. Desaturated colours

have a reduced amount of their initial colour (hue) due to the addition of their
complementary colour. Complementary colours are colours that face each other on the
colour wheel. When mixed with each other, two complementaries reduce each other’s
saturation towards grey; in other words, they desaturate each other.

Development: The process of working on fleshing out a script in hopes that it will be
greenlit for production.

Deus Ex Machina: The resolution of a plot by what is basically a force from God. It
usually refers to a clumsy, contrived, or illogical intervention that alleviates the tension
through something other than a character’s actions. The bacteria in War of the
Worlds could be considered a deus ex machina, one of many cliches to avoid.

Dialect Coach: A person who helps train an actor in diction and/or using accents to suit
the character an actor is playing.

Dialogue: Any spoken lines in a film by an actor, usually based upon a script, may be
considered overlapping if two or more characters speak simultaneously.

Dialogue Editor: A sound editor who specializes in editing dialogue.

Diegetic Sound: Means realistic or logically existing, such as the music that plays on a
character’s radio in a scene; more generally, it refers to the narrative elements of a film
(such as spoken dialogue, other sounds, and action) that appear in, are shown, or
naturally originate within the content of the film frame.

Diffuser: A special effect camera filter or lens that softens the appearance of subjects
and generates a kind of dreamy haze.

Diffusion: The softening or reduction of a light’s intensity. This is achieved through a

translucent sheet made from silk or lace or through a diffuser before the light source to
cut down on shadows.

Digital Imaging Technician/DIT: A person who provides on-set quality control, image
manipulation & colour correction, production continuity, troubleshooting and
consultation to assist in fulfilling the requirements and vision of the cinematographer.

Directing the Eye: In cinematographic terms, using light and dark lighting and
composition to emphasize what is important within the frame.

Directionality/Screen Direction: The direction in which characters and objects move in

the scene in relation to the frame. In describing screen direction.

Director: The principal creative artist on a movie set. A director is usually (but not
always) the driving artistic source behind the filming process and communicates to
actors how they would like a particular scene played. A director’s duties might also
include casting, script editing, shot selection, shot composition, and editing. Typically, a
director has complete artistic control over all aspects of the movie, but it is not
uncommon for the director to be bound by agreements with either a producer or a studio.
In some large productions, a director will delegate less important scenes to a second unit.

Director of Photography/Cinematographer: The person responsible for the

photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-
action piece. The cinematographer is the head of the camera and lighting crew and
would normally be responsible for making artistic and technical decisions related to the
image and for selecting the camera, film stock, lenses, and filters. The study and practice
of this field is referred to as cinematography.

Director’s Cut: A version of a movie a director is able to make without any studio
interference. This is the version the director would like audiences to see. Arguably, the
most famous director’s cut is that of Blade Runner, which audiences and critics alike
seemed to agree was superior to the theatrical version.
Director’s Guild of America/DGA: A labour organization representing the creative and
economic rights of directors and members of the directorial team working in film,
television, commercials, documentaries, news, sports and new media.

Director’s Guild of Canada/DGC: A national labour organization that represents over

6,000 key creative and logistical personnel in the screen-based industry covering all
areas of direction, production design, accounting, production and editing.

Direct Sound: The technique of recording sound simultaneously with the recording of
the image.

Disney-fication: Refers to the making of an adapted, sanitized, ‘family-friendly’ version

of a book or play by removing objectionable elements (such as crude language,
sexuality, or violence) and modifying plot elements to make the tale more acceptable,
entertaining, predictable and popular for mass consumption by audiences, as first
exercised by the Disney studios in the 50s; now used as a derogatory term for how
popular culture has been homogenized and cultural diversity minimized.

Dissolve: A transitional edit between two scenes, shots, or sequences in which the image
of one shot is slowly replaced, blended, or superimposed with a different image. It’s
usually done to suggest a passage of time.

Distributor: The organization responsible for coordinating the distribution of the

finished movie to exhibitors, streamers, and other media versions of movies.

Documentary: A non-fiction narrative without actors. Typically, a documentary is a

journalistic record of an event, person, or place.

Dogme 95: The filmmaker collective founded by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg
in 1995 established a clear set of rules and philosophy that rejected contrived camera
work and special effects in lieu of “honest” and “truthful” storytelling. Some of the other
rules included shooting on location and using hand-held cameras.

Dolby Stereo: The stereo-sound process for movies developed by Dolby Laboratories,
Inc. to enhance sound quality. 35mm prints of films have dual optical soundtracks, while
70mm films have six magnetic tracks and multi-channel playback.

Dolly/Dolly Shot: A piece of equipment on wheels or a track that creates fluid camera
movements. A dolly could be anything as low-tech as a wheelchair or as high-tech as a
studio dolly using hydraulics. Usually, the camera operator and assistant ride on the
dolly; the crew member who operates it is called a dolly grip.
Dolly Grip: Builds and maintains all of the equipment on which cameras are mounted
on a film set. They must work with a camera dolly, which holds the camera on a track,
for moving or tracking shots.

Dolly Track: A set of tracks upon which a camera can be moved.

Dolly Zoom: An in-camera effect where you dolly towards or away from a subject while
zooming in the opposite direction. This shot creates a sense of unease in the viewer,
simulates a spatial warp, and can either shrink or extend distances based on the choice of
direction.

Dope Sheet: A list of scenes from the script that have already been filmed or a list of the
contents of an exposed reel of film stock. An accurate dope sheet is the responsibility of
the assistant cameraperson.

Double/Body Double: An actor who stands in for another actor in certain scenes, some
of which may involve dangerous circumstances or require special skills (e.g. a stunt
double). Sometimes, body doubles are used in scenes that call for nudity or intimacy.
Double Exposure: The process of exposing one frame twice so that elements of the two
images are visible within the final product. It results in an effect similar to
superimposition. It is commonly used to create a “ghostly” effect.

Dovetail Plate: A dovetail plate, or a sliding plate, is the basis of most camera support
systems used in feature film productions. It is a metal (usually aluminum) plate with a
specific, finely machined profile upon which various accessories can be attached or
supported.

Dramaturgy: Dramatic narrative and its representation on the screen.

Draughtsman/Draftsman/Set Designer: A person who creates the renderings and

construction plans for set construction.

Dub/Dubbing: A dub is the process of inserting a new soundtrack into a movie or

adding a new soundtrack of music, sound effects, or dialogue following production. A
dub will match the lip movements and actions of the filmed shots to make it seem
natural. This contrasts direct sound, where sound is recorded on the scene and synched
with the shot.

Dutch Angle/Dutch Tilt: A shot with the camera tilted to one side, along the horizontal
axis, producing a diagonal angle. It is typically done to create a sense of unease within
the viewer.
Duvetyne: Fire-retardant black duvetyne is commonly used for curtains, for scenery,
and to control light spills. Many commercial lighting flags are made from duvetyne.

Dynamic Frame: A photographic technique meant to mask the projected image shape
and size to any ratio that is seen as appropriate for the scene. An example of this would
be the aspect ratio narrowing when an actor walks through a narrow passageway.

Dystopia/Dystopian: An imaginary, wretched, dehumanized, dismal, fearful, bad,

oppressive place or landscape, often initiated by a major world crisis (post-war
destruction) coupled with an oppressive government, crime, and unusual behaviour.

E
Easter Egg: A reference to a movie, person, or event that is intended to be too subtle to
be noticed on the initial viewing.

Easy Rig: A camera rig system developed for handheld work. It suspends the camera
from a centralized arm that is mounted to a waist belt for support.

Edge Numbers: Numerical markings printed along the edges of film stock at regular
intervals, typically every foot or half-foot. These numbers serve as reference points for
editors, colorists, and negative cutters to accurately identify and match specific frames
during the post-production process, aiding in tasks like syncing sound, creating cuts, or
ensuring continuity in visual effects.

Editing: The process (performed by a film editor) of selecting, assembling, arranging,

collating, trimming, structuring, and splicing/joining together many separate camera
takes (including the sound) of exposed footage (or daily rushes) into a complete,
determined sequence or order of shots that follow the script. The choice of shots has a
tremendous influence on the film’s final appearance.

E Fan: Short for Electric Fan. An E Fan is a powerful, electrically operated fan used on
film sets to create wind effects. These fans can vary in size and strength, and they are
often used to simulate natural wind, enhance the movement of fabrics or hair, or add
dynamic elements to a scene. E Fans are an essential tool for special effects and
atmospheric control in filmmaking.

Egg Crate: A lighting accessory used in the film industry to control and direct the
spread of light from softboxes or large light fixtures. It consists of a grid-like structure
that fits over the front of the light source, allowing light to pass through while limiting
its spill and focusing it more precisely on a specific area or subject. This helps create a
more controlled, softer light with reduced shadows and glare.

Electric: The person or grip in charge of and familiar with the electrical equipment on
the set.

Elephant Door: Refers to a large, oversized door found in sound stages or studios,
designed to accommodate the movement of big set pieces, equipment, or even vehicles
in and out of the stage. The name comes from the door’s ability to allow even something
as large as an elephant to pass through, making it essential for the logistics of setting up
and striking large-scale productions.

Elliptical Cut: The shortening of the plot duration of a film achieved by deliberately
omitting intervals or sections of the narrative story or action in the edit; an ellipsis is
marked by an editing transition (a fade, dissolve, wipe, jump cut, or change of scene) to
omit a period or gap of time from the film’s narrative.

End Credits/Closing Credits: Credits appearing at the end of a film, aka end titles.
Enfant Terrible: A French word meaning “terrible baby.” It refers to a young director
who is brash or egotistical. This is often a director who is innovative but uses
unorthodox techniques.

English Brute: Refers to a 225 amp carbon arc Fresnel light, a powerful type of lighting
fixture used in older film productions. These lights produce intense, daylight-balanced
illumination by creating an electric arc between carbon electrodes. They were commonly
used for large-scale exterior scenes or to simulate sunlight. The term “English brute”
denotes a particular style or origin of these robust and heavy-duty lights, which have
largely been replaced by modern HMI and LED technologies.

ENR: Stands for “Enhanced Negative Density Reduction,” a Technicolor process used
to increase the contrast of film negatives. This process enhances the visual impact of the
film by reducing the density of midtones and shadows, resulting in a more pronounced
and dynamic image. ENR is particularly used in color film production to achieve a
richer, more vivid look by modifying the negative’s contrast characteristics.

Ensemble: A film with a large cast without any true leading roles, and usually with
multiple plotlines regarding the characters; it also literally means ‘the group of actors
(and sometimes directors, designers, and crew) who are involved in a film.

Epic: A film with a large dramatic scope or requiring immense production.

Epilogue: The short scene at the end of a movie that concludes the film. Often, the main
characters will be older, reflecting on the events just witnessed. The Notebook ends with
such an epilogue.

Epiphany: A moment of sudden spiritual insight for the protagonist of a film, usually
occurring just before or after the climax.

Establishing Shot: A long shot that shows the location from a distance. It is often an
aerial shot, informing the audience of the time and locale of the setting. It helps orient
the viewer so that they know where the next scene takes place.

EVF/Electronic Viewfinder: An electronic viewfinder attaches to your digital camera

so that you can see the frame.

Executive Producer: The individual/s responsible for overseeing a movie’s financing.

The Executive Producer/s may also help arrange various elements of a film’s production,
such as a writer and actors.

Exhibitor: A term meaning a movie theatre owner.

Experimental Film: Refers to a film, usually a low-budget or indie film not oriented
toward profit-making, that challenges conventional filmmaking by using camera
techniques, imagery, sound, editing, and/or acting in unusual or never-before-seen ways.

Exploitation Film: A sensational, often trashy B-film aimed at a particular audience and
designed to succeed commercially and profitably by appealing to specific psychological
traits or needs in that audience without any fuller analysis or exposition; often refers to
films with extremely violent or sexual scenes; not necessarily a derogatory term.

Exposition: The conveyance of vital background information, either through actions or

dialogue, to further the events of a story. It could also set up a movie’s story. It can
include information about the main problem or what’s at stake for the characters.
Writing exposition is particularly tricky when weaved into the script organically.

Exposure Index (EI): Refers to the measure of a film stock’s or digital sensor’s
sensitivity to light, which is used to set the correct exposure settings during filming. It is
closely related to ISO, but EI can be adjusted based on the specific lighting conditions or
creative intent, allowing cinematographers to either underexpose or overexpose the film
or sensor relative to its rated ISO for artistic effect.

Expressionism: The movie technique that involves reality distortion through sets,
costumes, editing, and lighting. It’s meant to reflect the inner emotions of the characters
or the filmmaker. It was popularized in Germany in the 1920s and ’30s, often
characterized by dramatic lighting, grotesque shots and dark visual images.

Exterior/EXT.: Used in a slug line as EXT., it indicates that the scene occurs outdoors.

Extra/Background Performer: An actor who appears in a movie in a non-speaking,

unnoticed role, such as part of a crowd or a patron in a restaurant. Extras generally do
not receive a screen credit and are now called Background Performers.

Extreme Close-Up: A close-up shot that films the subject incredibly closely. In many
cases, the outer portions of the subject will be cut out of the frame. Extreme close-ups
are typically done on actors to showcase their eyes, mouth, or another singular part of
the body.

Extreme Long Shot: This may serve as an establishing shot and is taken from quite
some distance. This can create a voyeuristic feel like someone is watching, spying, or
observing.

Eye Level Shot: A shot that portrays a subject’s view of another subject or object in the
film, taken at the subject’s eye level.

Eyeline: Anything within the sight of an actor. Where the actor will be looking during a
scene.

Eyeline Match: An eyeline match is a cut in filmmaking between two shots that shows
an illusion that the character, presented in the first shot, is looking at an object, presented
in the second shot.

F
Fade: A transitional tool that consists of a slow change in the intensity of a sound or
image. A normally-lit scene will transition to black or vice versa. This also applies to
sound and how it fades in and out of a scene.

Farce: Refers to a light-hearted, gleeful, often fast-paced, crudely humorous, contrived

and ‘over-the-top’ comedy that broadly satirizes, pokes fun, exaggerates, or gleefully
presents an unlikely or improbable stock situation often characterized by slapstick,
pratfalls, and other physical antics.
Fast-Cutting: A movie editing technique consisting of multiple fast consecutive shots.
These are known as staccato shots that only last for a brief duration of time, each to
create a fast-paced effect.

Fast Motion: A camera device or effect to compress reality and highlight a scene or
cause a dramatic effect, created by filming a scene with the film running at a rate less
than the normal 24 frames per second and then projecting it back at standard speed,
thereby creating the effect of moving faster than normal; generally used for comic effect.

Favour On: When the camera focuses or highlights a certain subject or action within a
shot.

Featured Background: A term used to describe the performers who are placed in
prominent positions in the background of the major action of a scene.

Feature Film: A “full-length” motion picture, one greater than 60 minutes in length, but
usually about 90-120 minutes.

Featurette: A term often used before the 1970s to refer to a 20 to 45-minute film,
usually a “making of” or “behind the scenes” mini-documentary or an extended trailer,
which was usually displayed by theatre owners to “sell” a film for exhibition in their
cinemas. In the 1990s and early 2000s, these featurettes were exclusively released on
DVDs. Now, these special featurettes are largely released on YouTube as promotion for
a film on its way to streaming platforms and VOD.

Feel Good Film: Usually, a light-hearted, upbeat comedy or romance that ends with an
audience-pleasing conclusion. Sometimes, this term is used in a derogative manner.

Femme Fatale: A term used to describe a character in a movie, literally translated from
French to “deadly lady.”

Film Conventions: Many elements within a film (the use of music, audio, sets,
costuming, scripting, camera angles, framing, shot duration, a character’s actions, etc.)
speak a ‘language,’ ‘grammar,’ or code that, when used by the filmmaker helps the
viewer understand more about the plot and its characters.

Film Gauge: Refers to the measurement of the width of a film strip (in millimetres) used
in a camera.

Film Grain: A light-sensitive material that exists in a film’s emulsion or coating. It

results in a fine-grained aesthetic, which requires more light to film, or a coarse
aesthetic, which is preferable for low-light scenes.
Filmmaker: A collective term used to refer to a person(s) who have a significant degree
of control over the creation of a film: directors, producers, screenwriters, DOPs,
production designers, and editors.

Film Noir: A French word meaning “black film.” It was a popular genre in the 1940s
with dark subject matter, downbeat tones, and low-key lighting. Often, the protagonist
was an anti-hero or private detective. The Maltese Falcon is an example of a film noir.

Filmography: A comprehensive (often chronological by year) listing of films featuring

the work of actors, directors, or other crew members; it may also be a list of films for a
specific genre or topic.

Film Stock: Refers to a film’s gauge or size and the film speed. It can also refer to the
unused, unexposed film where photographic images will later be stored. The different
types of film stock include tungsten and daylight.

Film Within a Film: A particular story-telling approach, literally, to have one film
within another; in some cases, the characters are aware of the ‘film-within-a-film,’ and
break the fourth wall and enter into or interact with it, aka a subset film or picture within
a picture.

Filter: A plastic, glass, or gelatinous substance placed behind or before a camera lens.
This changes the character and effect of the lighting within the frame of the film.
Final Cut: The last edited version of a film as it will be released.

Finals/Final Touches/Last Look: Make-up, Hair and Wardrobe departments touch up

the actors right before rolling the camera.

First Assistant Camera/Focus Puller: A member of the camera crew who adjusts the
camera’s focus during filming.

First Marks/ First Positions: Each person and camera goes back to where they started
for the take.

First Person View (FPV): A perspective in which the camera or viewpoint simulates
the direct line of sight of a character or object, allowing the audience to see exactly what
the subject sees. In filmmaking, this technique is often used to immerse viewers in the
character’s experience, making them feel as though they are seeing the world through
the character’s eyes. FPV is also commonly used in drone piloting and video games,
where the operator or player controls the action from the viewpoint of the drone or
character, enhancing the sense of immersion and control.
First Team: Refers to the primary actors who appear in the scenes being shot. The term
is used by the assistant director or other crew members to call the lead actors to the set
when they are needed for rehearsals or filming. “First team” contrasts with “second
team,” which usually refers to stand-ins or doubles who take the place of “first team”
during lighting setups or camera rehearsals.

Fish-Eye Lens: An extreme type of lens that films subjects at super wide angles. It also
has an incredibly short focal point, in addition to a practically infinite depth of field that
distorts the linear dimensions of the image. This results in a more curved image.

Fish-Out-of-Water Story: A film (usually humourous) in which the main charac

ter faces ‘culture shock’ by being placed in unfamiliar or new surroundings or situations.
Flag: A black, light-absorbing cloth (duvetyne) stretched on a metal frame and used to
block out areas of light in all different sizes.

Flashback: A technique used in filmmaking where the natural order of the narrative is
interrupted to show what happened in the past. Many times, this flashback has occurred
prior to the first frame in the film. It provides a backstory on the events and actions
presently taking place.

Flash-Forward: The opposite of a flashback. It interrupts the natural order of the story
to show what will happen in the future. A flash-forward can also go from the past to the
present.

Flash Frame: A quick or brief shot (or image), sometimes as short as a single frame,
that is inserted between two other shots that can barely be perceived or are subliminal,
with the intention of producing a shock or sudden dramatic effect.

Flashing: A warning or courtesy given when using a flashing camera on set.

Flash in the Pan/ Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Transitory, impermanent success or
recognition derived from panning for gold experience. Pop artist/painter Andy Warhol,
in the late 1960s, predicted that everyone could be famous for 15 minutes and experience
a moment of ‘crowning glory.’

Flat: A section of a studio’s set consisting of a constructed wooden frame covered with
materials that plywood is treated or covered with fabric, metal, paint, or wallpaper, etc.
Flood Light: A lamp that provides general diffuse lighting on a set.
Flop/Bomb: A film that fails at the box office.

Focus: The degree of distinctness or sharpness in an image. As a verb, it relates to the

adjustment or manipulation of a lens to create a far sharper image. You can have
shallow, deep, or soft focus.
Foil: An acting role that is used for personality comparison or contrast, usually with the
protagonist or main character, as a means to show and highlight a character trait.

Foley: The art of recreating incidental sound effects (such as footsteps) in

synchronization with the visual component of a movie. Named after early
practitioner Jack Foley, foley artists sometimes use bizarre objects and methods to
achieve sound effects, for example, snapping celery to mimic bones being broken. The
sounds are often exaggerated for extra effect. Loud foley-added thuds and slaps almost
always accompany fight sequences.

Foley Artist: An individual who works during the editing and post-production phase of
a movie’s production. This person adds or creates incident sounds and noises, such as
gunshots, footsteps, and punches, to synchronize with the finished product.

Foley Mixer: A sound mixer who works with a Foley Artist to record sound effects.

Following Shot/Tracking Shot: A shot with framing that shifts to follow and keeps a
moving figure or subject onscreen.

Follow-up: Refers to a cinematic work that comes after, regardless of whether it is a

sequel or a prequel.

Footage: Any sequence, portion, or length of the film, either shot or soon-to-be shot,
that is measured in feet. It also refers to a specific sequence of events depicted in the
movie.

Forced Perspective: A visual technique that creates the illusion that objects or
characters are larger, smaller, closer, or farther away than they actually are. This effect is
achieved by manipulating the camera’s viewpoint and carefully positioning objects of
varying sizes at specific distances from one another, creating the illusion of objects
fading into the distance or making a space appear much larger than it is. This technique
allows filmmakers to depict dramatic scale differences and vast landscapes without
relying exclusively on digital effects or extensive full-size sets.

Foreground: The opposite of a background. Any action or object closest to the camera.
Foreground Miniature: A practical effect technique where a scaled-down model or
miniature is placed close to the camera to blend seamlessly with a full-scale background
or live-action scene. This technique creates the illusion that the miniature is part of the
larger set or environment, allowing filmmakers to depict large structures, landscapes, or
other elements without building them at full scale.

Foreign Film/International Film: A feature-length motion picture with a

predominantly non-English language dialogue track.
Foreshadowing: A literary device that is utilized to give a hint or indication of a future
event in the story. It can be a very effective tool for developing curiosity, suspense, and
even narrative harmony at the end of a film or novel.

Format: The size or aspect ratio of a film frame.

For Your Consideration/FYC: A phrase often used in special trade advertisements that
studios pay for to promote “Oscar-worthy” films (and their actors and filmmakers) to
create Oscar buzz for Academy Award nominations, especially for borderline films
and/or lesser-known indie efforts and lesser-known performers that would probably be
overlooked without the additional publicity.

Four Banger: Refers to a trailer with four dressing rooms or small living quarters for
cast members. Each room is usually equipped with basic amenities and is used on set to
provide actors with private space for relaxing, getting ready, or changing costumes
between takes.

Fourth Wall: The illusory, imaginary plane through which the audience is able to watch
the film. It is possible for characters or the narrative to break the fourth wall, letting the
audience know they are, indeed, watching a movie.

Frame: A frame is a single image. It is the smallest compositional unit you can have in a
film’s structure. A series of frames will be shown rapidly to make up the moving picture.

Frame Rate/ Frame Per Second Rate/ FPS: A measure of how many individual
frames or images are displayed in one second of video or film. The FPS rate affects the
smoothness and quality of the motion on screen. Common FPS rates include 24 FPS for
most films, 30 FPS for television, and higher rates like 60 FPS or more for certain video
games and high-definition content, which provide a smoother visual experience.

Framing: Refers to the way a shot is composed and the manner in which subjects and
objects are surrounded (‘framed’) by the boundaries or perimeter of the film image or by
the use of a rectangle or enclosing shape (such as a shadow, mirror, door or hallway)
within the film image. Camera angles such as low-angle and high-angle shots contribute
to the framing; reframing refers to short panning or tilting movements of the camera to
adjust to the character’s movements and keep them onscreen, centred, and in the frame.

Fraturday: A term used in the film and television industry to describe a workday that
begins on Friday and extends into the early hours of Saturday. This usually happens
when there is a night shoot, or a production schedule runs late, leading to a shift that
spans across two calendar days, often resulting in long, grueling hours for the crew.
Freeze Frame: An optical printing effect in which a single frame image is identically
repeated, reprinted or replicated over several frames; when projected, a freeze frame
gives the illusion of a still photograph in which the action has ceased; often used at the
end of a film to indicate death or ambiguity, and to provide an iconic lasting image.

Fresnel: A hard-lensed light that comes in different sizes. Each size of fresnel has a
different nickname.

Front Projection: A film process developed in the 1950s in which actors and
foreground objects were filmed before a projection screen, with a previously filmed
background projected onto it.

F-Stop: The scale measurement of the size of the opening of the iris (the opening that
lets light in) on a lens; common f-stops are 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, and 22; the
smaller the number, the larger the opening, and the more light that is allowed.

G
Gaffer: The head electrician in the film crew on a movie set. This individual is
responsible for the design and final execution of the production’s lighting on the set.

Gaffer Tape: A strong fabric-backed tape that is easily removed when no longer
needed. Used for all kinds of things on set.

Gag-Based Comedies: These are comedy films that are often non-sensical and literally
filled with multiple gags and are designed to produce laughter in any way possible, often
with comic or spoof references to other films.

Gauge: Refers to the measurement of the width of a film strip (in millimetres) used in a
camera.

Gate: A mechanism inside a camera or projector that holds the film steady as it passes
by the lens. “Checking the gate” is a phrase used when someone on the camera crew
makes sure no dust or particles obstruct the exposure of the film.

Gaze Shot: A shot showing a character staring at something or someone that is typically
outside of the frame offscreen. Gaze shots are often used in combination with a
following point-of-view shot, which has the effect of putting the viewer into the position
of a character for a short moment.
Gel: A material sheet that is heat resistant and translucent and intended to be placed in
front of a light source to either alter its colour, quantity or quality of light.

Gel Holders: These are wire or metal frames that hold the gel in place so that it does not
touch the hot surface of the globe or the lens.

General Release: The widespread distribution and simultaneous exhibition of a movie.

This contrasts with a limited release, where a movie only plays at select theatres for its
initial run.

Generator: A mechanical engine which produces electricity from fuel. Frequently used
for location shooting, either due to the unavailability or insufficient quantities of
electricity locally available.

Genre: A French word meaning “type” or “kind.” It refers to a specific film class, such
as science fiction or musical. All films in a given genre share common, distinctive
thematic or artistic elements.

Gimbal: This is a remote head that can be operated in handheld mode or mounted to a
dolly or crane. It stabilizes the image, keeps the perfect horizon and enables the camera
to move in ways never really achieved before. The most common Gimbals are the MoVi
Pro and the Ronin 2.

Gold Mount: An Anton/Bauer proprietary mount that enables the battery to be mounted
to the camera with three mounting posts. This is the industry standard in the United
States.

Gothic: A literary or film style characterized by dark and dreary influences, such as
ghouls, the supernatural, the grotesque, deathly forces, and the mysterious. Settings
include old mansions, castles, and a threatened heroine. Often used in reference to horror
films with these characteristics to increase the film’s prestige.

Grace/ Calling Grace: Refers to a brief extension of the workday beyond the scheduled
meal break, typically lasting 10 to 15 minutes which everyone must agree to before the
call is made. This period is granted to allow the crew to finish a shot or scene before
breaking for a meal without incurring a meal penalty. While “grace” is intended as a
short-term solution to avoid disrupting production, it should be used sparingly, as it can
impact crew morale and working conditions.

Greenlight: A term used when a film has received the go-ahead to go into production.
This contrasts with a red light, where a film remains stuck on a shelf, not to enter
production.
Greensman: A crew member who procures, places, and maintains any vegetation on
a set.

Grindhouse: A Grindhouse was originally a burlesque theatre, often in a red-light

district, showing exploitation and B-films. They became popular in the 1960s and ’70s,
and Grindhouse films today are those that carry on that aesthetic.

Grip: A crew member who sets up dolly tracks, moving props, camera cranes, and other
pieces of equipment. The key grip is the head grip, which coordinates all of the duties
with the other grips in the crew. The head grip receives direction from the gaffer.

Grip Clips/Grip Clamps: A grip tool. A clamp is a brace, band, or clasp used
for strengthening or holding things together. These are often called spring clips. They
come in 4 sizes, #.5, #1, #2 and #3. They are an essential tool for everything a grip has to
do.

Green-screen: A special effects process whereby actors work in front of an evenly-lit,

monochromatic (usually blue or green) background, screen, or backdrop. The
background is then replaced in post-production by chroma-keying or optical printer,
allowing other footage or computer-generated images (CGI) to form the background
image.

Gross: The total box office take. The total amount of money a movie brings in during its
theatrical release. It does not include earnings from DVD/Blu-Ray sales, or VOD rentals.
Grotesque: A term originally coined by Federico Fellini to describe the bizarre-looking
or deformed background characters in his films; grotesque is a live-action caricature
with exaggerated features, but not necessarily to be viewed as frightening or sinister.

Guerrilla Film: A low-budget film made without acquiring filmmaking permits and
often using non-SAG actors. Escape From Tomorrow is a guerrilla film shot without
permission in Disneyland.

Guilty Pleasure Films: An escapist film that engenders low expectations that the public
enjoys despite or, more likely, because of its flaws are often quite personal film choices
that are sometimes embarrassing to admit. Universally-loved ‘guilty pleasure’ films
become cult films.
H
Hairstylist: A person responsible for maintaining actors’ hairstyles during filming.

Handheld Shot: A shot is captured through a handheld camera deliberately designed to

look wobbly, shaky, or unstable. It’s often used in documentary films or cinéma
vérité works.

Hard Light: The term “hard” refers to the quality of the light. A hard light quality
creates harsh borders (as if drawn with a ruler) between lit and shady areas. Overall, it
produces a bright illumination and thus reveals many details.

Hardtop: Slang term for a normal indoor theatre.

Hays Code: The Hays Code is a series of censorship restrictions imposed in the 1920s
and enforced until the late 1960s. The code stated what could and couldn’t be shown in
films, such as nakedness, methods of crime, illegal drug use, alleged sexual perversion,
and other taboo subjects at the time. Named after Will Hays, chairman of the MPPDA,
the organization in charge of regulating censorship in Hollywood.

Head-On Shot: A shot is where the action comes directly to the camera. It works to
increase the audience’s feeling of participating in the film. It works particularly well for
3D movies.

Head Room: The room between the top of the frame and the top of the subject.

Helicopter Shot: A helicopter shot is a moving shot, often used as an establishing shot
taken from a bird’s eye view. It is generally taken from a helicopter, allowing it to weave
through a landscape.

Helm: Another word to refer to the director of a film. For example, “The film was
helmed by —.”

Hero/Heroine: Refers to the major protagonists in a film with whom the audience
identifies and sympathizes. Character traits often include being young, virtuous,
handsome, or pretty.

Hidden Cut: This is a cut that is intended to be imperceptible. At the end of the first
shot, the camera moves closer or zooms in on a plain, typically dark-coloured object that
fills the whole frame, thus providing the chance to implement an unobtrusive cut. The
following shot shows the camera zooming out or moving away from the previous or
another similarly-coloured object. Instead of using camera movement or zoom, this kind
of cut can also be affected by a moving subject or object that temporarily covers the
whole frame. In a sense, a hidden cut is a special form of a fade-out, fade-in transition in
which the fading is simply part of the shot.

High Angle Shot: A shot in which the subject or scene is filmed from above, and the
camera points down on the action, often to make the subject(s) small, weak and
vulnerable.

High Concept: Refers to the saleable or marketable elements of a film. A high concept
refers to the need for a film’s main premise to be expressed as a simple formula in just a
few words that all can easily understand. This idea portrays a shallow, condescending
attitude toward undiscriminating film audiences by Hollywood’s marketers and often
results in having film content controlled by what appeals to the lowest common
denominator market.

High Contrast: In photography and cinematography, the term “contrast” refers to the
difference in brightness between the lit and shady areas of an image. In this respect, an
image in high contrast has many alternating deep dark shadows and very brightly lit
areas, giving an uneasy impression.

High Definition: An image with a resolution with a minimum of 480 scan lines, with
the average being 720 and 1080 scan lines.

High-Key Lighting: One of the main lighting styles used in filmmaking and often
associated with the bright overall lighting of sitcoms and ballroom scenes. A small ratio
between the key light and the fill light characterizes high-key lighting. Normally, it is
used in combination with soft light to create a pleasant atmosphere, which produces low
contrasts between lit and shady areas.

Hitchcock’s Rule: The “Hitchcock’s Rule” is a cinematographic principle which was

coined by Alfred Hitchcock in his famous discussions with François Truffaut. The rule
states that the size of an object in the frame should equal its importance in the story at
that moment.

Hitting a Mark: Hitting a mark is for actors moving to the correct position during
rehearsals and while the camera rolls. Sometimes, a mark will be set with a physical
piece of crossed tape on the floor to help the actor stand in the right spot.

HMI/HMI Fresnel Light: An HMI is a powerful hard light that can be used in place of
sunlight. This is a daylight-balanced fixture. The French developed the Fresnel lens to
project light for long distances. This lens delivers beautiful hard shadows; it delivers a
very even spread while in flood and spot. This light gives great shafts of light, awesome
for bounces and projecting through diffusion frames.
HOD: An abbreviation for “Head of Department”.

Holding the Roll: Before the slate. The set is locked; the sound may be rolling, but there
is a need for a short delay that does not require the set to be unlocked or the roll stopped.
Hold Over: The term for an actor used for an extra day.

Homage: A respectful tribute to something or someone. In film, this generally occurs

when one movie is referenced in a different film. Many Star Wars films pay homage to
classic samurai movies.

Honeywagon: Usually a trailer or truck and trailer combination outfitted for and used as
the dressing room for actors when on location shoots away from permanent soundstages.
Big trucks containing washrooms, AD office, and small dressing rooms.

Horizon Line: A straight line is drawn across one or two vanishing points that mark the
height at which the camera is positioned. Depending on the camera angle, the horizon
line moves up or down within the frame, which is why it can be used to help deduce the
type of camera angle. If the horizon line slopes to one side, the camera is in a canted
angle position. Changing positions of the horizon line and optical distortions, depending
on different camera angles and heights.

Horror: A genre of storytelling intended to scare, shock, and thrill its audience. Horror
can be interpreted in many different ways, but there is often a central villain, monster, or
threat that is often a reflection of the fears being experienced by society at the time.

Hot Set: A location or studio used for filming – even if the camera isn’t rolling. You
shouldn’t lounge around or touch anything on a hot set because it may disrupt continuity.
A set that is not finished being used. Not to be touched.

Hybrid: A movie that combines elements of two distinct genre types. As a result, it
can’t be defined by a single genre. Little Shop of Horrors is a hybrid of a horror film and
a musical.

Hype: Refers to manufactured promotional buzz and excessive advertising/marketing

for a film or project, including celebrity appearances, radio and TV spots or interviews,
and other ploys.
I
IATSE/International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture
Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts: IATSE is a union that represents professional
entertainment industry workers. They include more than 168,000 workers in virtually all
arts, media, and entertainment crafts, with a mission to improve all entertainment
workers’ lives both inside and outside the workplace.

Iconography: The use of a famous icon or symbol. It is designed to analyze the themes
and various styles present within a film. The rose in Beauty and the Beast has become an
icon.

Image: Generally refers to the picture that is the result of the photographic process.

IMAX: A large-screen film format roughly 10 times larger than the traditional cinema
format (35mm). It debuted in 1970, and initially, it was used to showcase nature films or
short documentaries. It produces amazing high-definition sharpness on movies projected
onto screens eight stories high.

Imbalance: An aspect of the mise en scène which describes a state of compositional

unevenness or disproportion. Imbalance can be achieved in various forms, for example,
via the asymmetrical presence of subjects/objects, colour, light, and form.

In-Camera Editing: Refers to filming in the exact order required for the final product,
thereby eliminating the post-production editing stage; a fast, albeit unprofessional way to
produce a film, often employed by student or amateur filmmakers; requires advanced
planning to tell the desired story in order.

Independent Film/Indie Film: Small independent, low-budget companies, mini-majors,

or entities for financing, producing, and distributing films working outside of the system
of a major Hollywood studio. An indie may lose its independent status when it grows
large and powerful. Also refers to a movie, director, distributor or producer not
associated with or produced by a major Hollywood film studio; often with
groundbreaking subject matter designed for sophisticated audiences, and not necessarily
produced with commercial success as the goal, unlike mainstream films.

Industry: Another name for the film or entertainment industry; also referred to as the
show business, show-biz, or Hollywood.

Ingenue: A young, teenage actress often in an important or lead role in a film; usually
portrays an innocent, sometimes naive, and attractive character; also refers to an actress
sometimes known as a starlet; the male counterpart is known as a juvenile.
Ink: A word used when people sign a contract to work on a film. It is often phrased as
someone “inked a deal.”

Insert Shot: A shot occurring in the middle of a larger shot, typically a close-up of
another object or some otherwise minor detail. It draws the audience’s attention to the
item, providing more information. It is filmed at a different focal length or angle from
the rest of the scene.

Inside Joke: An inside joke is an obscure, generally show business-related joke that is
only understood by a few in the audience. You have to understand the reference to get it.
For example, the great white shark in Finding Nemo is named Bruce, the name of the
mechanical shark used for Jaws.

Intercut Shots/Intercutting: Usually refers to a series of shots consisting of two

simultaneous events alternating to create suspense; intercutting can also consist of shots
of two people involved in a telephone conversation.

Interior: Used in a slug line as ‘INT.’, indicates that the scene occurs indoors.

Interlude: A brief, intervening film scene or sequence, not specifically tied to the plot,
that appears within a film.

Intermission: A break in the middle of a film, normally in a feature-length film of three

hours or more (although rare in North America these days); originally, intermissions
served as a ‘stretch-restroom’ opportunity, or provide time for the projectionist to change
reels; they often were accompanied by a medley of the film’s score – or a song score for
musicals.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO): The successor to the

American Standards Association’s (ASA) system for rating the sensitivity of
photographic film to light. ISO now defines the standardized scale used in both film and
digital photography to measure the sensitivity of sensors, impacting exposure settings
and image quality.

Internegative: A copy of the film made for the purpose of making a large number of
prints.

Intertitles: A title card appearing intercut with a scene. Commonly used in silent films.

In the Can: A term for an entire film or a subset of shots that are all finished shooting;
also denotes when a director has the take that they wanted.
Into Frame: Refers to a person or object that moves into the picture frame without the
camera moving; in live-action stage plays, this refers to a character entering the stage.

Iris: An opening in the lens that controls the amount of light passing through, similar to
the aperture.

Iris Shot: An earlier cinematographic technique or wipe effect, in the form of an

expanding or diminishing circle (known as iris-out or iris-in), in which a part of the
screen is blacked out so that only a portion of the image can be seen by the viewer;
usually the lens aperture is circular or oval shaped and is often expanded or contracted as
the film rolls, often as a transition from one scene to the next; this particular type of
camera movement is also known as iris wipe, or circle-in/circle-out, similar to the
opening or closing of the human eye’s iris; also refers to the adjustable opening
(or diaphragm) in the lens that allows light to pass through – the measurement for the iris
opening is f-stop.

ISO Standard: ISO now defines the standardized scale used in both film and digital
photography to measure the sensitivity of sensors, impacting exposure settings and
image quality. Pronounced ISO.
J
J-Cut: See L-cut (below); aka split edit.
Jib: The arm of a mechanical crane.

Judder: An instability is introduced when images sampled at one frame rate are
converted to a different frame rate for viewing. This effect is most noticeable
when frames are repeated or deleted in order to obtain slow motion or fast motion.
See also motion artifact.

Juicer: In the film industry, a “juicer” is a slang term for an electrician who works on a
film set, typically as part of the lighting department. Juicers are responsible for setting
up, operating, and maintaining the electrical equipment used to power lights and other
devices during production.

Jukebox Musical: A filmed musical (drama, animation, etc.) that uses pre-existing
popular songs (usually from a variety of artistic sources) as its song score; the songs are
often re-imagined with different song styles; aka karaoke musical.

Jump Cut: A jump cut is an editing technique in film and video where two sequential
shots of the same subject are taken from slightly different angles or positions, creating a
jarring or abrupt transition. This gives the appearance of a sudden jump in time or space,
often used to convey urgency, disorientation, or a passage of time.

Juvenile: The role of a young, teenage male character; the female counterpart is known
as an ingenue.

Juxtaposition: The contiguous positions of two scenes, objects, characters, or images in

a sequence to contrast and compare them. It can also establish a relationship between
two disparate ideas.
K
Kelvin/K: The kelvin, symbol K, is a unit of measurement for temperature. The Kelvin
scale is an absolute scale, which is defined such that 0 K is absolute zero, and a change
of thermodynamic temperature T by 1 kelvin corresponds to a change of thermal energy.
Colour temperature is a way to describe the light appearance provided by a light bulb. It
is measured in degrees of Kelvin (K) on a scale from 1,000 to 10,000. Typically, Kelvin
temperatures for commercial and residential lighting applications fall somewhere on a
scale from 2000K to 6500K.

Key: A general adjective denoting importance. Heads of departments are referred to as a

“Key” or “Keys” on a film crew.

Key Grip: The key grip works closely with the director of photography and the gaffer to
sculpt the desired look of a film by diffusing and cutting the light. The key grip is also in
charge of camera movement whether on a dolly, camera crane or mounted on the hood
or bumper of a vehicle.

Key Light: The main or primary light on a subject, often angled and off-center (or from
above) that selectively illuminates various prominent features of the image to produce
depth, shadows, etc.; high-key lighting (with everything evenly and brightly lit, with a
minimum of shadows) is termed realistic (and often used in musicals and comedies),
while low-key lighting (with less illumination, more shadows, and many grayish, dark
areas) is termed expressionistic (and often used in film noir); three-point lighting uses:
(1) a fill(or filler)light – an auxiliary light to soften shadows and areas not covered by
the key light, (2) a backlight behind to add depth to a subject, and (3) a bright key light.

Kino Flo: A Kino Flo is a bank of fluorescent bulbs used for soft light.

Klieglight: A Klieglight is a powerful type of carbon-arc lamp that creates an intense

light. It is sometimes used in filmmaking, but it can also be used for promotional
purposes at movie premieres.
L
Landmark Film: A movie deemed revolutionary. This can either be due to its artistic
merits or its technological prowess. Jaws was a landmark film because it introduced the
concept of the modern blockbuster.

Lap Dissolve: A certain kind of transition between two scenes. The first scene ends with
a fade, while the beginning of the next scene comes onto the screen through a fade-in.

Lavalier: A small microphone that is clipped or taped to an actor to record dialogue. It

is generally wireless and omnidirectional, as well as small enough not to be seen in the
shot.

L-Cut/J-Cut/Delayed Edit/Split Edit: It is an edit used in digital films that refers to a

transitional edit in which the video and audio do not begin simultaneously. The audio
may begin before or after the picture is cut.

Leitmotif: A recurring, intentionally repeated theme or element in a movie. This motif

can be a person, sound, action, or idea. It helps unify the film by reminding the audience
of its earlier appearance.

Lens: An optical glass placed in a camera through which light can pass through. The
image is focused before it makes contact with the film stock. There are numerous types
of lenses out there, including normal, telephoto, and wide-angle.

Letterboxing: The process of shrinking a film image to appear on a television screen

with black spaces below and above the image. This emulates the widescreen format
typically used on older, box-shaped TV screens.

Library Shot/Stock Shot: A term used to describe a stock shot. It can also refer to a
commonplace or unimaginative shot. A shot of the New York skyline would be a library
shot for any movie set in New York.

Lighting: The illumination present within a scene. It also refers to the manipulation of
said illumination by way of the cinematographer trying to alter shadows and brightness.

Line Producer: The movie producer who works on location. They are responsible for
the budget of a given film shoot and the daily operations. The line producer manages the
everyday aspects involving film expenses and all the people on the crew.
Lip Sync: The process of synchronizing the movement of the mouth with the words on
the soundtrack.

Location: The places or properties used to film. A location can either be exterior or
interior, and it can take place in a real location or on a studio lot.

Location Sound/Buzz Track/Room Tone: Referred to as a buzz track. It refers to the

recording of background sound while the crew is on location. Acquiring ambient noises
helps improve the movie’s sense of realism.

Lock It Up/Picture’s Up: Stop what you’re doing and be quiet; the camera is about to
roll.

Lockup: An area being cordoned off and controlled by crew members to prevent either
unwanted sound or pedestrians from ruining the take.

Logline: A 1-2 sentence summary of the movie focusing on the main character, the
conflict and an emotional hook.

Long Shot: A camera view of a character or object from a vast distance away. This
makes the subject appear small in the frame. You can also have a medium or extreme
long shot.

Looping/ADR: The process in which an actor re-records dialogue during post-

production. This helps match the dialogue with the actor’s lip movements on screen. It is
also known as Automated Dialogue Replacement (or ADR).

Low Angle Shot: When the subject is filmed from below. The camera tilts up to capture
the character or action, making the subject seem larger than life or more formidable.
M
MacGuffin: A movie term coined by Alfred Hitchcock for a plot element or device that
drives the action or logic of the plot. It is extremely important for the characters, but it is
often ignored once it serves its purpose. The sled in Citizen Kane is a MacGuffin.

Magic Hour/Golden Hour: The optimal time of day for filming magical or romantic
scenes with the soft and warm lighting conditions naturally present. Also known as
Golden Hour, it is characterized by golden-orange hues and soft shadows, which take
place 30 minutes around sunset and 30 minutes around sunrise.

Main Unit: The main crew of the film set.

Marking: Putting tape down where actors stop in the scene.

Martini Shot: The last shot of the last scene of the day.

Mask: The act of blocking out or covering up part of the camera frame with darkness or
opaqueness. Most masks will be black. A mask would be necessary when portraying a
character looking through binoculars.

Master/Master Shot: A long take or continuous shot that shows the setting or main
action of a whole scene. Many scenes will have one or two master shots, with the rest of
the scene comprised of smaller, tighter angles. A wide shot that shows the whole scene.

Match Cut: A transitional technique for cutting between two unrelated shots that are
deliberately linked or matched by a physical, aural, visual, or metaphorical parallelism.

Matte Shot: The process of optically combining or compositing separate shots into one
print. This is achieved through double exposure that masks off part of the frame area for
one exposure and the opposite area for the other.

Medium Shot: A conventional camera shot filmed from a medium-length distance. It

typically captures the actor from the waist up, while a medium close-up is from the chest
up.

Melodrama: A film with an expressive plot where the characters have intensely strong
emotions. It was originally a drama accompanied by music and typically contains
elements of hardship, illness, and pathos.
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase denoting one kind of object or
idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or an analogy between them.

Method Acting: An acting style designed by Stanislavsky in the early 1900s. It refers to
actors who draw on personal emotions and experiences to create a more realistic
performance. Daniel Day-Lewis and Jared Leto often utilize method acting to create
their performances- each with varying degrees of success.

Miniature: A small-scale model photographed in a certain way to give off the illusion
they are larger than what they actually are. This specific shot is known as a miniature
shot.

Mise en Scène: “Putting in the scene” in French refers to the composition and
arrangement of visual elements within the film frame, including costume, set décor,
lighting, and character positioning.

Mixing: A process of combining different sounds, music, dialogue, and sound effects
from all sources into a movie’s master soundtrack. This is part of the post-production
process. A mixer ultimately blends together the soundtrack.

Mockumentary: A fictional movie that has the style of a documentary but with
irreverent humour that’s designed to mock the subject of features. Waiting for
Guffman is a mockumentary.

Money Shot: Any climactic moment, revelation, or image that gives the audience “their
money’s worth,” even if it costs more money to create.

Montage: A French term meaning “assembling shots” or “putting together.” It’s a film
technique for compiling a series of short shots that create a composite picture. The
montage in Rocky of the titular character shows us how hard he’s worked to compete in
the final match.

MOS: A universal abbreviation for “Mit Out Sound,” which means there will be no
audio on a take. Shot without recording sound.

Motif: Refers to a recurrent thematic element in a film that is repeated in a significant

way or pattern; examples of motifs – a symbol, stylistic device, image, object, word,
spoken phrase, line, or sentence within a film that points to a theme.

Moving On: Phrase said by 1st AD when going on to the next shot/set-up.
MPAA: An acronym meaning “Motion Picture Association of America.” It is an
organization that represents the interests of the primary motion picture studios, including
film ratings.

Mumblecore: An independent film movement that originated in the early 2000s. It’s
often characterized by naturalistic acting that’s occasionally improvised. The plots
generally focus on a group of people in their 20s or 30s dealing with terrible jobs or bad
relationships.

N
Narration: The telling of a story by providing supplemental information given to the
audience by a voice offscreen. The narrator can either be a character in the movie or an
omniscient presence.

Narrative Film: A structured series of events, linked by cause and effect, that provides
the plot of a film; a film that tells a chronological or linear story (with a beginning,
middle, and end), as opposed to non-narrative films, such as poetic or abstract films.

Naturalism: A film term signifying a hyperform of realism. With naturalism, life is

depicted in an unbiased, stoic way. On the Waterfront is a naturalistic movie.

Neo-Realism: An innovative movement in the late 1940s and ’50s with roots in Italy. It
refers to movies made outside the studio system. They are shot in real locations,
sometimes feature no professional actors, and often do not require a script.

Network Television: Originally referred to as the “Big Three” (ABC, NBC and CBS),
but now with additional competitors, including Fox, it is often called ‘Free-TV’.

New Wave/French New Wave: Originally referred to a collective of non-traditional,

innovative French filmmakers, such as Alain Resnais, Eric Rohmer, and Jean-Luc
Godard. They espoused principles of auteur theory. French New Wave movies are
characterized by non-linear storytelling, improvised direction, and jump cuts.

New Hollywood: A film movement that took place in the United States from roughly
1967 to 1976. The movement was led by a group of film students, such as George
Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese, with a passion for filmmaking and the
desire to challenge the stagnant status quo.
Nickelodeon: A business that might be described as a “movie arcade.” Patrons would
pay a nickel to watch short films on individual machines like a Kinetoscope or a
Mutoscope. Not to be confused with the television network.

Nitrate Film Base: A type of film base that was highly flammable. It was comprised of
cellulose nitrate and was commonly in use until the late 1940s. At that point, it was
replaced with an acetate base.

O
Off Book: Refers to a performer who has completely learned his or her lines. At this
point, there is no need for the performer to hold a script because everything has been
memorized.

O.S/O.C: Off-screen/Off-camera.

Offstage/Off-Camera/Off-Screen: Refers to action or dialogue off the visible stage or

beyond the boundaries of the camera’s field of vision or depicted frame.

Omniscient Point of View: When the narrator knows everything going on. The narrator
understands all of the thoughts, feelings, and events transpiring between the characters.

One Line Schedule/ One-Liner: An abridged version of the shooting schedule. Also
known as a “one-liner,” scenes are listed and arranged in shooting order and broken up
by shooting days. This is the most commonly distributed schedule as it only contains the
essential scene information.
On the Move: A phrase used when changing set-ups or moving to a different locat
ion.
On Your Marks: Positioning of the cast.

Overcranking: A technique when a camera’s frame rate exceeds 24 frames per second.
As a result, the image on the screen appears to be in slow motion. This is a common
technique for shooting miniatures.

Overexposed: An adjective describing a shot with more light than recommended,

resulting in a washed-out, blinding effect. It is typically used for dream or flashback
sequences.
Overhead Shot: When the camera is placed over the actors. It tends to be set at about a
90-degree angle from where the performers are located. It is also known as a bird’s eye
view shot.

Over-the-Shoulder Shot: A medium camera angle commonly used in dialogue scenes.

The camera records the action and dialogue from behind the actors’ shoulders. The two
individuals are then linked to each other, and the audience understands their positions.

Overture: The opening credits or pre-credits in a film. This is often a musical selection
that helps set up the theme and mood for the rest of the movie.

P
Pace: The tempo or speed of the dramatic action in a movie. The pacing can be
enhanced by the speed of the dialogue, the soundtrack, and the style of editing used.

Pan: An abbreviation for a panorama shot, referring to the rotation, scan, or horizontal
movement of the camera in one direction. In film criticism, pan means to express a
negative opinion of a movie.

Pan and Scan: A technique for avoiding letterboxing of a widescreen movie. Instead, it
focuses on elements of the picture that are more relevant to the plot and adjusted
accordingly. The picture will then mechanically pan to the side to show whatever is
missing.

Paradox: A statement, proposition, or situation that seems illogical, absurd or self-

contradictory but which, upon further scrutiny, may be logical or true — or at least
contain an element of truth.

Parallelism/Parallel Structure: A grammar style that ensures linguistic clarity.

Parenthetical: A term for screenplay directions, shown in parentheses, to express how

the actor should deliver his or her lines. A parenthetical may read (angrily) or (calmly)
before the dialogue.

Persistence of Vision: The optical phenomenon where the illusion of motion is created
because the brain interprets multiple still images as one. When multiple images appear in
fast enough succession, the brain blends them into a single, persistent, moving image.
Pick-up: Reshooting part of the scene, not starting at the beginning.

Picture Vehicle: Any vehicle that is on screen in a movie.

Pilot/Television Pilot: A standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a

show to a television network or other distributor. A pilot is created to be a testing ground
to gauge whether a series will be successful.

Pipeline: refers to a film project currently in the system that is under development. It is
scheduled for a future release. Some synonyms include “in process,” “in the queue,” or
“in the works.”

Pixilation: A technique where the illusion of continuous movement in three-dimensional

subjects, typically people, is broken up and made to look jerky or uneven. This is
achieved by only printing selected frames from the continuously-exposed negative. This
technique is commonly used in stop-motion animation.

Point of View Shot/POV Shot: A shot taken from the perspective of one character to
show what the scene would look like through his or her eyes. It is generally coupled with
a reaction shot to establish the point of view.

Post Credits Sequence: An epilogue or throwaway scene that occurs during or after the
end credits. It can help generate buzz for an additional scene. Iron Man ends with a post-
credits scene of Nick Fury informing Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative.

Postmodern: A description of all art that rebukes more modernist themes. Postmodern
films work to subvert expectations of classic narratives and film structure.

P.O.V.: Point of view.

Plato’s Allegory: A concept devised by the philosopher to ruminate on the nature of

belief versus knowledge.

Pre-Code: The time period between 1930 and 1934 before the Hays Code was enforced
in Hollywood. For 30 years afterward, promiscuity, adultery, and other themes were
prohibited. However, pre-code films had no such restrictions.

Pre-Production: The planning stage of a production after a movie has been

greenlighted. This occurs before principal photography begins. Pre-production usually
involves script treatment, scheduling, casting, production design, and financial planning.
Prequel: A later film in a franchise that presents events and/or characters that are set
chronologically before the time of the original movie. It is the opposite of a sequel.

Pre-Screening: A showing of a movie before it is released to the public. Studios will

often pre-screen movies so that they can receive feedback from audiences to know what
to alter before it is officially released.

Principal Photography: The main shooting dates of a film with the lead actors present
creating the film. This is outside of second-unit photography, reshoots, or VFX shots.
Principals: A way to describe the main characters in a movie. It is usually those who
have dialogue. The principals are different from the protagonists and have greater roles
than extras.

Producer: A chief of a film’s production. The producer is in charge of raising funds,

acquiring a story, hiring key personnel, finalizing the script, and arranging for
distribution. The producer often serves as the liaison between the filmmakers and the
financiers.

Production Design: A movie’s overall visual look and design. Gives the viewer a sense
of the time period, the plot location, and the character’s actions and feelings.

Production Designer: The individual responsible for the overall aesthetic of the story.
Production Value: Refers to the overall quality of a movie. This value is based on
criteria like set design and costumes. It is not based on criteria like the directing, acting,
and script.

Prologue: Typically a brief scene, preface, or speech preceding the main plot of the
movie. It often provides information that will help the audience better understand the
plot and is the opposite of an epilogue.

Protagonist: A character who pushes a story forward. They are the central force of the
story.

Pull Back: A camera shot where the camera physically moves away from the subject. It
helps provide the full context of the scene. It is the opposite of a push in.

Push In: A camera shot where the camera physically moves toward the subject. It
provides a closer look to see more details. It is the opposite of a pull back.
Q
Q Rating/Q Score: Refers to an ad research rating that gauges how easily a celebrity is
recognized — and how well the celebrity is liked. This system is no longer as widely
used.

Quarter: A quarter of a year; three months. Used by production accountants

and publicity departments for financial issues.

R
Rate: A fixed price paid or charged for your goods or services.

Recce: A slang word for reconnaissance, meaning an inspection or exploration of an

area to gather information. (Mostly used in the European Film/TV industry)

Rehearsal: Play out the scene without rolling cameras.

Rolling/Roll Sound: Start of the process that leads to recording the scene.

Room Tone: The ambient noise of the set, lights, fans, rain, traffic, etc.

S
Safety (Shot): After you’ve recorded an ideal take, you might record an additional take
for safety in case the ideal take is later discovered to be unusable.

Second Team: Stand-Ins

Second Unit: A smaller or “skeleton” crew of filmmakers who film any shots without
the main actors; this can include aerial shots, scenery, or crowd shots.

Sides: A small portion of a script that only contains the pages that will be filmed that
specific day, plus the call sheet.
Speed: Sound departments call this out once they are recording so the crew knows.

Squib: A small device that replicates a bullet wound, usually by squishing a capsule of
fake blood.

Steadicam: A mount that is worn by the camera operator that allows for the camera
movement to be separate from the operator’s movement, meaning a smooth shot can be
created even while the operator is running and the camera movement is not held to the
limitations of a dolly or tripod. It is important to know when a Steadicam is being used
on set because, most of the time, that means that most of the set will be shown. Body rig
used to stabilize the camera while it is in a virtual hand-held position.

T
Tagline: A short sentence or clever phrase that memorably summarizes the film to a
general audience. It’s supposed to tease what the film will be about. In Alien, the tagline
is “In space, no one can hear you scream.”

Take: A single continuously-recorded performance, shot or version of a scene with a

particular camera setup; often, multiple takes are made of the same shot during filming
before the director approves the shot; in box-office terms, take also refers to the money a
film’s release has made.

Talent: A term applied to the actors as a group on a film set.

Talkies: The common term used for films with sound beginning in 1927. The advent of
talkies marked the dawning of the era of sound films, as opposed to silent films.

Talking Heads: A medium shot of people conversing; used as a criticism – denoting an

uninteresting image.

Tap: A slang term meaning “pick,” “select,” “name,” or “appoint.”

Tearjerker: An excessively sentimental or emotional film, usually with suffering

female protagonists, tragic circumstances, manipulative scenes, and dramatic musical
scoring, aka melodramas, sometimes derogatorily referred to as a ‘chick flick’.
Teaser Trailer: A short trailer that is generally released many months before a movie is
actually released to give a brief peek at what the movie will be like and to build audience
anticipation. Teaser trailers are usually much shorter than the final trailer, which reveals
more of the film’s storyline.

Technical Advisor: A person with expertise in a particular field who provides advice
for the production.

Technicolour: The best-known colour film process. These films were highly saturated
with vivid colours and a three-colour dye transfer system. It is also known as a three-
strip colour.

Telefilm: Refers to a feature-length motion picture made for television, also known as
a made-for-TV movie.

Telephoto Lens: A camera lens with an incredibly long focal length and a narrow-angle
of view. The purpose of this lens is to condense and compress depth within a space. It
brings faraway objects closer to the viewer without moving the camera.

Television Movie: A feature-length movie funded by a TV network, intended to

be premiered on television.

Television Pilot: A standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to
a television network or other distributor. A pilot is created to be a testing ground to
gauge whether a series will be successful.

Television Special: A television production of a singular event (such as an awards show

or concert) instead of a regularly scheduled series.

Television Spot: A brief advertisement or public service announcement between TV

programs.

Tentpole: An industry term meaning a film that is expected to serve as primary support
for a studio, to be a top-grossing blockbuster (usually during the summer season), to
compensate for a studio’s other flops; usually the film is the start of, or an installment in,
a franchise.

Theme: The central characteristic, idea, concern or motif in a film. A theme is the
inferred stance taken on the central topic or message of a story.
Three Shot: A medium shot consisting of three individuals in the frame. This contrasts
to a “single” or “two shot.”

THX: A subdivision of Lucasfilm, Ltd dedicated to improving picture and sound for the
cinema and the home. THX is a suite of high-fidelity audiovisual reproduction standards
for movie theatres, screening rooms, home theatres, computer speakers, video game
consoles, car audio systems, and video games.

Tie-In: Refers to any commercial venture connected to a film.

Tight On: A cinematographic term that relates to a close-up shot of the subject. A
director often says “tight on” when they want an extreme close-up or tight framing on
the subject.

Tilt Shot: When a camera tilts down or up along a vertical axis. It is often used to
suggest a sense of imbalance or to emphasize a character’s menace or power.

Timecode: Electronic guide track added to film, video or audio material to provide a
time reference for editing and synchronization.

Time Lapse: A technique where frames are shot much slower than a normal rate (e.g.,
24 frames per minute instead of per second). This allows the action to progress much
faster than in reality. This is typical for nature documentaries to capture clouds moving
or plants growing.

Tint: A tint uses colour to make film stock appear in a different shading to attain a
desired mood. The method behind this is generally done by hand, and it was often used
in black-and-white movies before the widespread use of filming in colour.

Title Role: The lead part in a movie or other production for an actor that is named after
the title of the film.

Titles/Title Design: The words that appear on the film screen and convey information;
categories of titles include credit titles, main titles, end titles, insert titles, and subtitles.
Title design refers to the artistic manner in which the title of a film is displayed on the
screen.

Title Designer/Titleist: The person who designs how a film’s title appears on the
screen. The manner in which the title of a movie is displayed on the screen is widely
considered an art form. Saul Bass is considered a master title designer.
Tone: The mood or atmosphere of a film scene, often revealed by the director in how a
film is directed and expressed to the audience.

Topline: To star or to be billed above the title of a film. The topliner is the star of a
particular film.

Tour de Force: Literally meaning “forceful turn” in French. It usually refers to a lead
actor’s performance that was incredibly skillful, brilliant, notable, masterful, reflecting a
very high standard, and perfectly displaying the actor’s ability.

Track: A single component or channel of a soundtrack.

Tracking Shot: A smooth shot in which the camera moves alongside (‘tracking within’)
or follows the subject through space, usually with the camera mounted on a dolly (on
a dolly track); often seen as a side-to-side motion (relative to the scene or the action);
also known as following shot; sometimes used interchangeably with dolly shot, pull back
shot (pull-out, push-out, widen-out or push-back), trackback (moving away) or track
in (or push-in) (moving forward), or zoom shot.

Trademark: Refers to a personal touch or embellishment by an actor, director, writer,

producer, or head of department within a film that becomes their signature or calling
card.

Trades: Refers to the professional magazines and publications that report the daily or
weekly entertainment news of the entertainment industry.

Trailer/Official Trailer/Film Trailer: A short publicity film, preview, or advertisement

composed of short excerpts and scenes from a forthcoming film or coming attraction,
usually two to three minutes long, often presented at the showing of another film.

Trainer: Someone who conditions animals to perform various behaviours on cue.

Transition: One of several ways of moving from (or joining together) one shot or scene
to the next one, including such transitional effects or shots as a cut, fade, dissolve,
and wipe; a transition focus between two scenes means the current scene goes out of
focus and the next scene comes into focus.

Transportation Captain/Transportation Coordinator/Transportation

Manager: The person responsible for managing drivers and coordinating the
transportation of a production’s cast, crew, and equipment from the various locations
and sets used for filming.
Travelling Matte Shot: A shot in which foreground action is superimposed on a
separately filmed background by optical printing or digital compositing.

Travelogue: A film made for the purpose of showing scenes from foreign, unfamiliar, or
alluring places.

Treatment: A detailed literary summary or presentation of a film’s story (and each

major scene), with action and characters described in prose form, and sometimes
including bits of dialogue; often used to market and/or sell a film project or script;
usually it is an abridged script longer than a synopsis (a brief summation of a film);
a completed treatment is the late stage in the development of a screenplay after several
story conferences have incorporated changes into the script.

Trilogy: A group of three films that together compose a larger narrative and are related
in subject or theme.

Triple Threat: Refers to talent who can sing, dance and act skillfully equally well on a
consistent basis; usually applicable to performers in the musicals genre; it also could
refer to a person who can act, direct, and write.

Turnaround/ In Turnaround: When a film is “in turnaround” in the film industry, it

means that a studio has decided to halt its development or production, allowing the
project to be shopped to other studios or producers. This status indicates that the original
studio is no longer pursuing the project, often due to budget concerns, creative
differences, or market considerations.

Turnaround: Also refers to the time between the wrap of talent or crew and the start of
the next shoot day. For example, “the union requires 12-hour turnaround.”

Turnaround/Reverse: Shooting the reverse angle.

Twist/Twist Ending: A film that is marketed as having a surprise ending that shouldn’t
be revealed (as a spoiler) to those who haven’t seen the picture.

Two Hander: Refers to a film with only two characters.

Two Shot: A medium or close-up camera shot of two people (often in dialogue with
each other), often framed from the chest up, often used to contrast the two characters.

Typecasting: When an actor is commonly (but unfairly) identified, associated with, or

‘stereotyped’ by a particular character role; casting against type is the reverse of
typecasting.
U
U-matic: A ¾-inch magnetic tape, which would originally be found on a professional
cassette tape format. In recent years, it has been supplanted by new digital formats. It
was a competing yet inferior tape format to both beta and VHS.

Unbilled role: A ‘supporting’ role for a major (sometimes minor) star that is officially
credited (usually in the end credits), but no mention (or billing) is made in the film’s
advertisements or the opening credits.

Uncredited role: A role that a major (or minor) star plays that is not credited in the
credits or in the film’s poster.

Underacting: Refers to an understated, neutral and muted acting performance.

Undercranking: The process of slowing down a camera’s frame rate. This is achieved
by shooting at a slower speed than the usual 24 frames per second. This results in the
captured images appearing in fast motion.

Underexposure: When an image is photographed with less light than what would be
considered proper exposure. This results in a dimly lit, indistinct image that lacks
contrast and is the opposite of an overexposed shot.

Underground Film: A low-budget, non-commercial film, usually independently made,

without the traditional sources of funding or distribution.

Union: An organization that represents the best interests of a certain segment of

professionals in the motion picture industry. There are unions for writers, actors,
directors, and most film crews. Unions negotiate contracts, pursue rights, and receive
recognition. Therefore, there are rules and regulations when working with unions.

Unit Production Manager: A unit production manager (UPM) is a member of a film

production crew who plays an administrative role in the production process. The UPM
reports to the line producer on the film, who oversees production and helps decide costs
related to the daily production. As a UPM, you execute the line producer’s plans.

Unit Publicist: Member of the publicity department who works on location during the
production of a movie. Duties include setting up press visits and electronic press kit
interviews. In addition, the unit publicist assembles the biographical materials and notes
about the making of the movie that are later turned into the movie press kit. Unit
publicists are itinerant — they move from production to production and are on the
production payroll.
Unreliable Narrator: A character whose perspective we follow in the story but lacks a
certain degree of credibility. These narrators may lack all the information necessary to
translate the story to the audience adequately, or they have a clear bias.

Utopia/Utopian: Refers to an imaginary, ideal (or mythical), perfect state or place

(especially in its laws, government, social and moral conditions), often with magical
healing and restorative properties.

V
Vanishing Point: Parallel lines in a picture which are not parallel to the visual plane of
the picture appear to converge in one or more vanishing points inside or outside the
borders of the image. It is useful to analyze a motion still image regarding its vanishing
points because they can help to determine the height of the camera and the camera angle.
If a motion still has only one vanishing point, it is possible to draw a horizontal line
across it and get the so-called “horizon line,” which marks the camera’s height when the
frame is taken. If there is more than one vanishing point, it is necessary to find two
opposite vanishing points, which are mostly located offscreen, and draw a line from one
vanishing point to the other to get the horizon line.

Vamp: A femme fatale character with a bad reputation, usually seductive and scheming
in nature or behaviour.

Variac/Variable AC: A Variac (short for “variable AC”) is a type of electrical

transformer that can be used to adjust the voltage output of an AC power source. It is
commonly used in industrial and commercial applications where a variable voltage is
needed for testing or for controlling the speed of motors. Variac is the trademark name
of a variable autotransformer. This instrument limits the voltage that goes to tungsten
lights and dims them. They come in 1K, 2K & 5K versions.

Vaudeville: A variety entertainment show from the stage featuring a series of short acts
– songs, dancing, acrobatics, comedy skits, and animal acts. It was highly popular in
America from the late 1880s to the 1920s, when it became overtaken by sound films and
radio; most of the early film, radio and TV comedians found their start on the vaudeville
circuit.
VCR/Video Cassette Recorder: A common household appliance for recording and/or
playing prerecorded video tapes. See VHS, NTSC and PAL.

Vector: Directional forces that lead our eyes from one point to another in a picture or a
shot. Basically, there are three main different types of vectors: Index vectors are the
most obvious type, as they take the form of something in the shot that is clearly pointing
somewhere, such as a one-way sign. Motion vectors are created by elements in the shot
that are moving in a certain direction, such as a bus driving left to right across the shot.
Graphic vectors take the form of aspects in a scene with a directional element, such as
skyscrapers in a city or a sidewalk cutting through the shot.

Vertigo Effect: A camera technique achieved by tracking backwards while

simultaneously zooming toward the subject, or vice versa. This keeps the subject at the
center of the image while the surroundings stretch or contract behind them. Also known
as a dolly zoom, this effect was named after Hitchcock’s prominent use in Vertigo.

Video: A video is a film or television programme recorded digitally (or, in the past, on
tape) for people to watch on a television set.

Video Assist: Camera Assistants take the images generated by the film or digital
cameras and display them live on video monitors so the director and other crew
members can see exactly what’s being shot and can also see footage being played back
for review.

Video Village: Tent/area where the monitors are set up for the director/s, producer/s,
and script supervisor.

Videographer: A person who works in the video medium — recording moving images
and sound onto linear analog or digital tape, non-linear digital disc, or any other digital
recording media, such as memory cards.

VHS/Video Home System: A popular format for VCR systems worldwide in the 1990s.

Vigilante/Vigilante Film: Usually a type of action film in which the protagonist takes
the law into his/her own hands as a self-appointed doer of justice, revenge, and payback.

Vignette: A scene in a movie that can stand on its own. For example, the orgasm scene
in When Harry Met Sally is often viewed and referenced on its own, separated from the
rest of the film. A vignette can also refer to a masking device, often with soft edges.

Visual Effects: Anything added to a movie that was not in the original shot under the
subcategory of special effects. They can either be achieved through CGI or through
special techniques, such as rear projection and double exposures.
Visual Effects Rigger: The person that prepares the miniature models, creature puppets,
or whatever the camera subject is, to perform whatever the object is supposed to do
during the shot. Riggers create digital skeletons for 3D computer-generated (CG)
characters. These skeletons, or rigs, are like puppets that define the movements of a
character or creature, such as how a big cat runs, how a person’s face and mouth move
when they sing, or how someone raises an eyebrow.

Visual Effects Supervisor/VFX Supervisor: The head of a production’s visual

effects crew. VFX supervisors are in charge of the whole VFX project. They manage the
VFX pipeline, including all of the VFX artists that work in this process. They have
ultimate responsibility for all of the VFX elements produced for a project by their
company or studio.

Voice-over/V.O.: Recorded dialogue that comes from off-screen or is unseen in the

frame. It is often done to convey a character’s thoughts or from a narrator. In a script, a
voice-over is abbreviated as “V.O.”

Voice-Over Artist: The unseen person who does the speaking necessary to create
a voice-over.

W
Walkie Check/Radio Check: Initial check when you first turn on your walkie talkie to
make sure it’s working. Someone should reply with “Good Check” if they can hear you
clearly.

Walk-On: A minor role consisting of a single, brief appearance on the screen, usually
not appearing in the credits and without dialogue; contrast with extras, bit parts, and
non-speaking roles.

Walk-Through: A walk-through is the first rehearsal done on a film’s set. It is

necessary for the director to figure out camera positioning, sound, and lighting. This is
done before the cameras start to roll.

Walla: A murmur sound effect, used to establish a crowd of people on location.

Wardrobe: The general term used to talk about the costume department. It can also
refer to an individual costume and all of the accessories associated with it.
Wardrobe Department: The section of a production’s crew concerned with costumes.
Individual job titles include costume designer, costumer, and costume supervisor.

Wardrobe Supervisor: The head of the wardrobe department working under the
Costume Designer. Also referred to as Costume Supervisor.

Watch Your Back/Points: A phrase spoken when someone is coming through or

around set with an object that could potentially hit someone.

Waveform Monitor: An oscilloscope used to measure and monitor video or audio

levels.

Weapons Master/Armourer: One who specialises in weapons, armours, and firearms.

Wedges: Wood wedges used for levelling and stabilizing.

Western: A movie often set in the “Wild West” of the late 19th-century United States,
Western Canada, or Northern Mexico.

Western Dolly: A plywood dolly used as a dolly for smooth surfaces.

Whip Pan: An extremely fast pan, incorporating much motion blur. The term refers to
the “whipping” action that the camera operator uses to move the camera.

White Balance/Colour Balance: A camera setting that establishes the true colour of
white. This produces a baseline from which all other colours are measured. White may
not appear “white” under all lighting conditions, so this helps correct it.

White Noise: A random signal with a consistent amount of energy per hertz.

Whodunit: A story or play about a murder in which the identity of the murderer is not
revealed until the end. It often refers to a mystery or detective film. The lead character in
a whodunit is a crime-solving detective, such as in the Sherlock Holmes series of films.

Wide-Angle Shot: A shot (often abbreviated WS) taken with a lens that is able to take
in a wider field or range of view (to capture more of the scene’s elements or objects)
than a regular or normal lens; a wide-angle shot exaggerates the distance, depth or
disparity between foreground and background planes, thereby creating greater depth-of-
field and keeping all objects in focus and in perspective; an extreme or ultra-wide-angle
lens giving a 180-degree view is called a ‘fish-eye’ lens.

Wide Lens: A lens with a focal length smaller than that of a normal lens, they capture a
wider shot of the scene. 16mm, 25mm, 35mm, and 50mm lenses can be considered wide.
Widescreen: A rectangular aspect ratio, wider than the standard [Link] used before the
1950s. After that time, widescreen processes such as VistaVision and CinemaScope
came into the mainstream and became the industry standard.

Wild Lines/Wild Sound/Wild Track/: Wild track, also known as wild sound and wild
lines, is an audio recording intended to be synchronized with film or video but recorded
separately. It is a non-sync sound, recorded without the camera running, usually
recorded to supplement the sync takes.

Wilhelm Scream: A distinctive scream archived by Warner Brothers and used

repeatedly on countless films including Star Wars and Kill Bill.

Wipe: An optical effect or transitional technique where one shot seems to be “wiped
off” the screen by another shot that replaces it. It is also known as a flip-over or push-
over.

Word of Mouth: A term referring to the public discussion or buzz that a film can
acquire, fueled by sneak previews and advance advertising; word of mouth is an
important marketing element in a film’s success or failure – positive word of mouth
gives a film legs, while negative word of mouth may mark a film dead on arrival.

Working Title: The name by which a movie is known while it is being made. This is
sometimes different from the title with which it is released.

Workprint: A positive duplicate of the original negative.

Workstation: Any audio/video recording and editing system.

Wrangler/Animal Handler: A person or animal trainer responsible for the care and
handling of all non-humans on set.

Wrap: To finish shooting, either for the day or the entire production.

Writer: A general term for someone who creates a written work, be it a

novel, script, screenplay, or teleplay.
X
Xenon Light: A light that was developed by Dick Hall for the film Blade
Runner. Jordan Cronenweth’s inspiration for Blade Runner was moving lights that were
tracked in every interior space. It has a flood and spot function that gives you a beautiful
circle of light, but when you flood it out, it gives you a donut shape pattern because the
globe is in the center of the parabolic mirror reflector.

Xerography: The technique using an electrostatic process to copy or transfer an image,

commonly found in office copiers and used in cartoon production.

XD Cards: A small memory card format used in older digital cameras.

Xenon: A very bright, daylight balanced lamp.

XLR Connector: A standard sound connector used in professional audio.

XXX: An informal voluntary certificate for a pornographic film, indicating large

amounts of explicit sex. Contrast with NC-17.

X-Y Pattern: A stereo-mic structure that uses two microphones placed and aimed in
crossed directions which feed two channels for stereo pickup.

Y
Yarn: Slang for a fabricated story.

Yawner: A slang term, meaning a boring film.

YUV: A colour space used in NTSC and PAL broadcast video systems.
Z
Zero Cut: A method of cutting negative for blow-up. Also refers to a method of
preparing A and B rolls for print.

Z-Film/Z-Movie: Refers to a very low-budget, independently-made, non-union, less

than B-film grade movie, usually with a first-time director and actors. These films are
often quickly made for the teen youth market and look amateurish but with campy
appeal. They can include exploitative subject matter plus surfing films, motorcycle
flicks, and cheap horror films. Z-films become prime candidates for cult film status.

Zoom Lens: A variable focal length lens.

Zoom Shot: A single shot taken with a lens that has a variable focal length, thereby
permitting the cinematographer to change the distance between the camera and the
object being filmed and rapidly move from a wide-angle shot to a telephoto shot in one
continuous movement; this camera technique makes an object in the frame magnify and
appear larger; the movement towards a subject to magnify it is known as zoom in or
forward zoom, or reversed or decreased to reduce its size is known as zoom out/back or
backward zoom.

Zoopraxis: An early movie process for creating animated projections.

Zoptic Special Effects: A revolutionary special effects 3D process invented by

cameraman Zorian Perisic, incorporating a camera system and a projector with
synchronized zoom lenses to create the illusion of movement in depth.