Thanks for explaining that zoom shots use a variable focal length and a wide-angle. An example of this would be the aspect ratio narrowing when an actor walks through a narrow passageway. 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. Macauley Culkin and Drew Barrymore were famous child actors. The Shepard Tone is an audio illusion that creates the feeling of consistent, never-ending rising/falling. A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things using the words “like” or “as.”. An apple box is a different sized (quarter, half, full, pancake) wooden boxes used for a variety of purposes. Cinéma Vérité is a French word meaning “true cinema.” It is a filmmaking style dedicated to capturing “real life” or utilizing techniques in a fictional film that suggest the viewer is peering into the lives of the characters. This produces a baseline from which all other colors are measured. It is often used to portray two individuals involved in a phone conversation. It’s supposed to tease what the film will be about. Film vocabulary is expansive. Expressionism is the movie technique that involves the distortion of reality through costumes, editing, and lighting. Magic Hour is the optimal time of day for filming magical or romantic scenes with the soft and warm lighting conditions naturally present. … It brings faraway objects closer to the viewer without actually having to move the camera. A visual medium requires visual methods. The two individuals are then linked to each other, and the audience understands their positions. The director will look through it before shooting for the next day. Some examples of common camera movements include pan, track, tilt, and zoom. An arc shot is a shot that captures a subject while moving around in a circle. Commonly used by characters like Frank Underwood in House of Cards or Deadpool. A close-up is the shot taken from an incredibly close distance to the subject. It interrupts the natural order of the story to show what will happen in the future. Therefore, there are rules and regulations when working with unions. It is then followed by a cutaway back to the main sequence. A chick flick is a term used to describe films that primarily appeal to women. A soundstage is a huge, soundproof room used for movie productions. It can include information about the main problem or what’s at stake for the characters. This is an alphabetical list of film articles (or sections within articles about films). A command performance generally refers to an amazing performance given by an actor. A.D.R– Automatic Dialogue Replacement (aka Dubbing). Usually, these will be in separate places or locations, and the cut combines the two. . This is achieved by shooting at a slower speed than the usual 24 frames per second. Studios will often pre-screen movies so that they can receive feedback from audiences to know what to alter before it is officially released. It was a competing yet inferior tape format to both beta and VHS. Visual Effects is anything added to a movie that was not in the original shot under the subcategory of special effects. A Screenwriter is the individual who creates a movie’s screenplay. A camera will be mounted onto a tripod or wheeled camera platform, pushed on rails, and moved slowly during the filming while the camera runs. Our mission is to make the production experience more streamlined, efficient, and pleasant. Often a long shot or series of shots that sets the scene. Favor On is when the camera focuses or highlights a certain subject or action within a shot. If you see a term you didn't recognize or understand, it's hopefully in this list. Above The Line: A budgeting term used to describe professionals who influence the creative direction of a film, such the screenwriter, producer, director, and actors. Directors are often seen as the “authors” of film due to the amount of creative control they hold over all processes held within. The narrator understands all of the thoughts, feelings, and events transpiring between the characters. Dogme 95 is the filmmaker collective founded by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg in 1995 that established a clear set of rules and philosophy that rejected contrived camera work and special effects in lieu of “honest” and “truthful” storytelling. The picture will then mechanically pan to the side to show whatever is missing. In some comedies, bloopers will play over the end credits. A paradox is 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. Scene Heading Screenplay Formatting, What is Large Format Photography — Cameras and Lenses. A P.O.V. It is also known as Automated Dialogue Replacement (or ADR). It is typically used for dream or flashback sequences. A slate is the digital board held in front of the camera that identifies the camera person, director, shot number, and title. Coverage is the term to describe all of the shots, including reverse angles and close-ups, a director obtains in addition to the master shot. It has roots in German Expressionism and is also known as high-contrast lighting. 24 frames per second (fps) is the standard frame rate for movies shot on film. They have become to be defined by campy acting, catchy titles, and low-grade special effects. Instead of an alphabetical glossary, we’ve broken this list down strategically by department and sub-department. The rose in Beauty and the Beast has become an icon. It refers to the original light image captured or printed on the film reel. A Klieglight is a powerful type of carbon-arc lamp that creates an intense light. A score is the musical portion of a film’s soundtrack. It is designed to analyze the themes and various styles present within a given film. There are numerous types of lenses out there, including normal, telephoto, and wide-angle. A rough cut is a term used for the early edited cut of a film. Bollywood is the huge filmmaking industry in India. A treatment is a detailed summary of a movie’s story, including each major scene. The second most prominent actor will have second billing and so forth. An audition is the process in which an actor or performer reads from a prepared script or does a “cold reading” or a portion of dialogue. . The narrator can either be a character in the movie or an omniscient presence. This is achieved through double exposure that masks off part of the frame area for one exposure and the opposite area for the other. It can sometimes be intentional and sometimes accidental. This refers to the lighting, movement of the actors, props, lines, and other figures. The focus may change from an object in the background to one in the foreground or vice versa. A fish-eye lens is an extreme type of lens that films subjects at super wide angles. It is often used to suggest a sense of imbalance or to emphasize a character’s menace or power. A Leitmotif is a recurring, intentionally-repeated theme or element in a movie. It does not necessarily have to be tied to the plot. A zoom shot is a camera shot taken with a lens with a variable focal length. A director will often say “tight on” when he or she wants an extreme close-up or tight framing on the subject. Whiplash has bookends with Andrew beginning and ending the film while playing the drums. Principal photography is when the majority of a film is shot. An anti-hero is the protagonist of a film who lacks the generally-accepted attributes of a traditional hero. An audience will experience a cathartic moment when the hero definitively emerges triumphant over the villain. It is also the rigger’s job to construct the scaffolding. Bracketing is the process of shooting the same scene multiple times using F-stops resulting in different exposures. A high angle shot is where the scene or subject is filmed from above. When there is a mistake, such as an actor wearing different clothing within the same scene, it is referred to as a “continuity error.”. Barn doors is slang for the four metal folding doors found on all sides of a light. An archetype is a character, thing, or place that is routinely presented in film with a certain characterization. This is in contrast to a limited release where a movie only plays at select theaters for its initial run. The pacing can be enhanced by the speed of the dialogue, the soundtrack, and the style of editing used. A blue screen (aka green screen) is an evenly-lit, monochromatic background actors perform in front of. They are generally made quickly and designed to look amateurish. Special Effects is a broad term for fantastical audio and visual illusions that could not have been filmed by normal means. It helps unify the film by reminding the audience of its earlier appearance. It can also establish a relationship between two disparate ideas. These films are usually defined by the loss of innocence, attaining sexual identity, and/or living out childhood dreams. It could also set up a movie’s story. A general release is the widespread distribution and simultaneous exhibition of a movie. IMDB Movie Terminology Glossary 1. It includes characters from a previous property but takes them in a different direction than a straightforward sequel would do. A cliffhanger is the film that ends with the primary conflict unresolved. It can be a very effective tool for developing curiosity, suspense, and even narrative harmony at the end of a film or novel. Background is anything within the rear plane of action. It could also describe an actor with a certain body type who is well-suited for certain roles. The principals are different from the protagonists and have greater roles than extras. When it does not cut to black first, it is referred to as a “dissolve.”. The camera captures images using the lens, aperture, magazine, viewfinder, and other quintessential components. An Enfant terrible is a French word meaning “terrible baby.” It refers to a young director who is brash or egotistical. Leslie Neilsen and Buster Keaton had famous deadpan deliveries. The movie studios send these out as a convenience during awards season. When combined with a zoom, the background stretches behind the subject and is called a dolly zoom. It is generally taken from a helicopter, allowing it to weave through a landscape. The Fourth Wall is the illusory, imaginary plane through which the audience is able to watch the film. 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. Shot, Scene, and Sequence are concepts that make up the dramatic narrative of a film. A landmark film is a movie deemed revolutionary. Family Guy has become famous for its cutaway shots. It is generally wireless and omnidirectional as well as small enough to not be seen in the shot. Sholay and Mother India are examples of Bollywood films. It is also known as three-strip color. Star/Film star/Movie star/Cinema star - a film actor (actress) with a special status due to the increased interest of the public, media popularity, and demand in the profession. Time lapse is a technique where frames are shot much slower than a normal rate (e.g., 24 frames per minute instead of per second). An intermission is a break in the middle of a movie. A caption is a printed line of text you find at the bottom of a frame that describes or translates what characters are doing/saying. Bloopers are also known as flubs, flaws, or goofs. A low angle shot is when the subject is filmed from below. It is also known as a flip-over or push-over. A wrap is the completion of shooting either for the entire production or at the end of a single day. 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. When the shot returns, time has jumped between the two scenes. Available light is the naturally-occurring light you find on the film location. It helps orient the viewer so that they know where the next scene takes place. A cyclorama is the seamlessly curved backdrop reaching from the floor to the ceiling to showcase a background for a scene. 888.971.6141 0800 031-8060 This unit is essential for larger film productions where the main crew cannot be available. This also applies to sound and how it fades in and out of a scene. Special effects include in-camera effects, miniatures, CGI, rear-camera projections, and stop motion animation. A MacGuffin is a movie term coined by Alfred Hitchcock for a plot element or device that drives the action or logic of the plot. As a result of the bill, a portion of the child’s earnings go in a court-administered trust fund the child receives upon reaching maturity. The director makes day-to-day decisions about acting, lighting, sound, casting, and editing. An angle is the relative position of the camera in relation to the subject. There is also the hope the spec script itself will be purchased or optioned. Back projection (aka rear projection) is a photographic technique in which a live action scene is filmed in front of a transparent screen where a background is added later. However, the antagonist can be a person, group, force of nature, or interpersonal conflict. It was a popular, albeit controversial, process in the 1980s when classic films received modern updates. Basic film terminology: equipment and devices. A critic is someone who publishes reviews of movies for analytical or educational purposes. This results in the captured images appearing in fast motion. A shot of the New York skyline would be a library shot for any movie set in New York. An antagonist is typically known as the villain of the story. A Spaghetti Western is a low-budget Western that technically classified as a B-movie. Claymation is a style of animation where the characters are made out of clay, plasticine, or putty. Cinema - general words - related words and phrases | Cambridge SMART Vocabulary (US) It can include information about the main problem or what’s at stake for the characters. A Satire is a ridiculing, mocking film that targets social, religious, political, or economic institutions. A bumper is the pre-film segment that plays before the movie begins. The best boy is responsible for coiling and routing all of the power cables needed to run the lights. It draws the audience’s attention to the item, providing more information. Also known as the 180-degree line, it defines the spatial relations between all of the scene’s elements as being either left or right to the performers in order to maintain scene geography. A lap dissolve is a certain kind of transition between two scenes. This creates the illusion of movement. Subtext is the deeper meanings of a character’s actions or spoken lines. Having “proper coverage” means to have all of the necessary shots to put together a complete film. This category has the following 6 subcategories, out of 6 total. Visual effects are a subcategory of special effects. Second unit photography is the unit responsible for filming less important scenes, such as foreign location backgrounds or large crowd scenes. The duties of a PA can vary greatly depending on the size of the film’s budget, as does how much a PA can make. It refers to the recording of background sound while the crew is on location. A medium shot is a conventional camera shot filmed from a medium-length distance. Most of the time, this performance has come right before the actor’s death. A bit part is a small acting role. Dope sheet: A list of scenes that have already been filmed, usually compiled by the assistant cameraman. A bridging shot is a type of transitional shot used to “bridge” a jump in place or time. The purpose of this lens is to condense and compress depth within a space. A pull back is a camera shot where the camera physically moves away from the subject. Rear screen projection is a photographic technique in which a live action scene is filmed in front of a transparent screen where a background is added later. In writing, the foreground is generally abbreviated as b.g. Some of the most basic camera angles include high angles, low angles, dutch angles, and eye-level shots. An Abby Singer shot is the name for the second-to-last shot of the day. A screenplay is the script for a movie production written by a screenwriter. The barn doors can be repositioned to help direct light in a certain direction. A crawl is the superimposed text on the screen that can move up, down, diagonally, or across. Ambient light is typically soft, that exists around the subject of the scene. A snub is a term that comes up during awards season when a prominent movie, crew, actor, or director is inexplicably excluded for nominations. Most masks will be black. It exists in contrast to artificial light a film crew would normally bring in. In film criticism, pan means to express a negative opinion of a movie. Location sound is also referred to as a buzz track. It portrays an individual in an unrealistic and/or stereotypical fashion.