It can sometimes be intentional and sometimes accidental. Racking focus is an in-camera technique that moves between focal planes in a sequence. They have become to be defined by campy acting, catchy titles, and low-grade special effects. Principal photography is when the majority of a film is shot. This includes the landscape, social structures, climate, moral attitudes, customs, and codes of behavior. Helm is another word to refer to the director of a film. Act: A … A theme is the inferred stance taken on the central topic or message of a story. It has roots in German Expressionism and is also known as high-contrast lighting. Continuity is one of the responsibilities of the Script Supervisor to make sure elements are consistent from shot to shot and scene to scene. A Flag is a black, light-absorbing cloth (duvetine) stretched on a metal frame and used to block out areas of light in all different sizes. A location can either be exterior or interior, and it can take place in a real location or on a studio lot. A body double is a performer who will take the place of an actor for certain shots. In a screenplay, a beat may be signified through the use of ellipses (...). It is the main source of light in a 3-point lighting setup. A traditional shutter angle is 180 degrees while the film itself is exposed for 1/48 second at 24 frames. The soundtrack is ultimately blended together by a mixer. Omniscient point of view is a  in which the narrator knows everything going on. This person adds or creates incident sounds and noises, such as gunshots, footsteps, and punches, to synchronize to the finished product. director. Named after Will Hays, chairman of the MPPDA, the organization in charge of regulating censorship in Hollywood. Thanks for explaining that zoom shots use a variable focal length and a wide-angle. It incorporated the camera system with the projector containing synchronized zoom lenses. It often provides information that will help the audience better understand the plot and is the opposite of an epilogue. A Grip is a crew member who sets up dolly tracks, moving props, camera cranes, and other pieces of equipment. It is scheduled for a future release. The different types of film stock include tungsten and daylight. A Day-for-Night shot is filmed during the day to make it appear as if it takes place at night. A swish pan is a camera rotation on the x-axis that moves so quickly it creates an intentionally disorienting effect. The narrator can either be a character in the movie or an omniscient presence. There is also the hope the spec script itself will be purchased or optioned. Visual Effects is anything added to a movie that was not in the original shot under the subcategory of special effects. It can help generate buzz for an additional scene. It was common in the 1950s and '60s but doesn’t happen as often today but, if it does, there are tips on how to schedule a day-for-night scene. A dynamic frame is a photographic technique meant to mask the projected image shape and size to any ratio that is seen as appropriate for the scene. The process of rerecording dialogue in a studio after filming has been completed an effect used to produce scenes that cannot be achieved by normal techniques (especially on film) score. A push in is a camera shot where the camera physically moves toward the subject. This is achieved by only printing selected frames from the continuously-exposed negative. It takes typically serious subjects, such as death and war, and treats them with macabre humor. The image is focused before it makes contact with the film stock. It is typically shown without any editing or correction. This is used to increase the dramatic effect or create an “antique” aesthetic. Chiaroscuro is a combination of two Italian words meaning “light” and “dark.” In filmmaking, it refers to the contrast between light and darkness in an individual scene. A crane shot is the camera shot taken from a huge camera dolly or another electronic device, such as a crane, resembling an extendable arm or boom. A walk-on is a role consisting of a brief appearance on the screen. All films in a given genre share common, distinctive thematic or artistic elements. It’s often characterized by naturalistic acting that’s occasionally improvised. This is often a musical selection that helps set up the theme and mood for the rest of the movie. It is the opposite of a push in. A director will often say “tight on” when he or she wants an extreme close-up or tight framing on the subject. It can be a very effective tool for developing curiosity, suspense, and even narrative harmony at the end of a film or novel. For example, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is an archetype. Dailies are copies of the footage shot on the previous day and reviewed. It can also be referred to as a hard-top or a passion pit. A pre-screening is showing of a movie before it is released to the public. These films are usually defined by the loss of innocence, attaining sexual identity, and/or living out childhood dreams. It was popularized in Germany in the 1920s and '30s, often characterized by dramatic lighting, grotesque shots and dark visual images. This is to emphasize importance and make the audience focus on a single item. A rush is a print of the camera footage from one day’s worth of shooting. gag-based comedies. The Shepard Tone is an audio illusion that creates the feeling of consistent, never-ending rising/falling. An Executive Producer is the individual responsible for overseeing a movie’s financing. A Melodrama is a film with an expressive plot where the characters have intensely strong emotions. A Z-movie is an independently-made, low-budgeted, and often non-union movie with first-time directors and actors. It can also be a publicity shot used to advertise the fact that a certain actor will be in the movie. The performer may receive a call-back for additional readings. This is in contrast to direct sound where sound is recorded on the scene and synched with the shot. Roger Ebert is one of the best-known film critics to ever live. The producer often serves as the liaison between the filmmakers and the financiers. All of the main pieces have been assembled in sequential order, but it may not contain all of the finer details, such as finished CGI. A sequel is a movie that continues the events, characters, and settings from a previously made film. Whiplash has bookends with Andrew beginning and ending the film while playing the drums. A spin-off is a derivative work of another film that can either be a sequel or prequel. A wide angle shot is taken with a lens capable of capturing a wider field of view than a regular lens. For This moves from a wide-angle shot to a telephoto one in a single, seamless motion. The head grip receives direction from the gaffer. This allows the action to progress much faster than in reality. A Scanner Darkly was filmed using rotoscoping technology. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 257 total. Dailies are vital for making sure continuity is correct and sound quality is good. This results in a more curved image. They alternate together to build suspense. It refers to actors who draw on personal emotions and experiences to create a more realistic performance. Deus ex machina is the resolution of a plot by what is basically a force from God. It’s meant to reflect the inner emotions of the characters or the filmmaker. Your article had a lot of good film info I hadn’t heard before, so thanks for sharing! Famous animated films include Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Lion King. A showrunner is the individual who has primary creative control and management of a TV show. A Leitmotif is a recurring, intentionally-repeated theme or element in a movie. A logline in a 1-2 sentence summary of the movie that focuses on the main character, the conflict and an emotional hook. Method acting is an acting style designed by Konstantine Stanislavsky in the early 1900s. An assembly is the first step in editing. Bloopers are also known as flubs, flaws, or goofs. The audio may begin before or after the picture is cut. Dolby Stereo is the stereo-sound process for movies developed by Dolby Laboratories, Inc. to enhance sound quality. It is then projected at a standard speed, making the playback appear slower than in actuality. Production Design is a term for a movie’s overall visual look and design. Fargo, American Psycho, Fight Club would be considered some of the best Black Comedies of all time. Any action or object closest to the camera. Most modern films run at 24 frames per second. Screen direction is the direction that characters and objects move in the scene. A character is the individual within a movie, played by an actor. Grand Guignol: (Grand puppet). A caricature is a character, usually a drawing, that is ridiculously out of proportion physically, psychologically, or morally. An anti-climax is anything following a film’s high point, the climax, that is seen as a disappointing or unsatisfying let-down. So how can you break put from the pack and get your idea onto the small screen? A money shot is any climactic moment, revelation, or image that gives the audience “their money’s worth” even if it cost more money to create. Patrons would pay a nickel to watch short films on individual machines like a Kinetoscope or a Mutoscope. White balance is a camera setting that establishes the true color of white. The bill is named after child actor Jackie Coogan and is one of the rules for working child actors. A fade is a transitional tool that consists of a slow change in intensity of a sound or image. Action. It is possible for characters or the narrative to break the fourth wall, letting the audience know then are, indeed, watching a movie. Letterboxing is the process of shrinking a film image so that it can appear on a television screen with black spaces below and above the image. Disney movies have a bumper of a magical castle, for example. Directing the eye is a cinematographic term. 1st AD – The first assistant director is basically the second in charge on any set. Family Guy has become famous for its cutaway shots. This makes the subject appear small in the frame. A capsule review is an incredibly short movie review. Thus objects and people can be made to appear or disappear.. A cash cow is a movie that will be a guaranteed financial success. It refers to the original light image captured or printed on the film reel. It is often abbreviated as “b.g.”, A background artist is the person responsible for designing the visual background of a movie. It was originally a drama accompanied by music and typically contains elements of hardship, illness, and pathos. It is this person’s job to photograph images for a movie by selecting the right lenses, film stock, camera angles, and recording devices to use. A cast is generally divided into two categories: the leads and the supporting characters. Subtitles are the printed lines of text displayed at the bottom of the frame. An insert shot is a shot occurring in the middle of a larger shot, typically a close-up of another object or some otherwise minor detail. … An Art Director is an individual who belongs to a film’s art department who is in charge of the feel, look, construction, and design of the set. An audio bridge is an outgoing sound, such as music or dialogue, that carries on from one scene to the next. Some of the most basic camera angles include high angles, low angles, dutch angles, and eye-level shots. It was part of the French New Wave movement and popularized in the states by David and Albert Maysles. For example, in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the movie uses bridging shots of a map to indicate Indiana Jones is moving. Most modern films come in at 24 frames per second, but in the past, they would be projected 16 or 18 fps. It refers to the number of frames projected onto the screen per second. An arret is a French word meaning “stop.” It refers to an in-camera film technique where the camera stops, then an object is placed within the frame, and the camera restarts, giving the illusion that the item magically appeared. Therefore, there are rules and regulations when working with unions. Each size of fresnel has a different nickname. They provide a form of overhead view of the scene. An auteur is the French word for “author.” Most often refers to a director with a distinct or signature style. A subplot is a secondary or auxiliary plot that typically complements the main plot. They would be heavily promoted and shown on the road around the United States. It is not based on criteria like the directing, acting, and the script. This includes determining the placement for props. Predator is a spin-off of both Alien and Predator. It signals to the projectionist that that a change in film reel was coming up. A mask is the act of blocking out or covering up part of the camera frame with darkness or opaqueness. Available light can help enhance a film’s sense of realism. It is written in prose form, and it is generally necessary when pitching a film to a studio. It is typically done to create a sense of unease within the viewer. This can include film crew salary, publicity, music rights, and cutting together a trailer. This is in contrast to a redlight, where a film remains stuck on a shelf to not enter production. Exposition is the conveyance of vital background information, either through actions or dialogue, to further the events of a story. First, there is a fade to black. A head-on shot is where the action comes directly to the camera. Movie Terminology Glossary: CCall SheetA listing of which actors will be required for which scenes, and when they will berequired. It is generally off-center and angeled. It provides relief and a sense of restoration. 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. Background music is the score or music heard in the background of a scene. An over-the-shoulder shot is a medium camera angle commonly used in dialogue scenes. A coda is the word meaning “tail” in Italian. Telephoto lens: Telephoto lenses magnify objects from a distance but may offer a flatter perspective. Subtitles can be used to translate a phrase in a foreign language or to describe a place and time. A zoom shot is a camera shot taken with a lens with a variable focal length. IMDB Movie Terminology Glossary 1. Postmodern is a description of all art that rebukes more modernist themes. This is done before the cameras start to roll. Avant-garde movies tend to challenge conventional filmmaking techniques. It is typically a solid white surface constructed out of poster board or foam. Another word for this would be “subtitles.”. It helps add soft light to a scene. A cue card is the large board with dialogue printed on it to help an actor remember his or her lines. It derives its name from Bombay (now Mumbai) and Hollywood. Jaws was a landmark film because it introduced the concept of the modern blockbuster. These hold gels to lights, lights to walls, and diffusion to whatever it takes. The Maltese Falcon is an example of a film noir. An interlude is a short, intervening film sequence or scene that appears in a movie. It is often done to convey a character’s thoughts or from a narrato. T. Tail The end of a shot. Two … A bridging shot is a type of transitional shot used to “bridge” a jump in place or time. A flash-forward is the opposite of a flashback. Frame Rate is the rate at which film stock passes through the camera. A fish-eye lens is an extreme type of lens that films subjects at super wide angles. Split-screen is the act of combining two actions filmed independently and then copying them into a single frame, so they appear to have taken place side-by-side. It is often used in a derogatory sense to demean films that primarily star women or utilize heavily emotional components. An anthology film is a movie with multiple parts or segments devoted to differing narratives. Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave" is a concept devised by the philosopher to ruminate on the nature of belief versus knowledge. It’s supposed to tease what the film will be about. It is generally wireless and omnidirectional as well as small enough to not be seen in the shot. Cross-Cutting is an editing technique of interspersing, interweaving, or alternating one action with another. 888.971.6141 0800 031-8060 Filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick and Wes Anderson utilize highly-symmetrical frames in their work. Each person listed receives a credit on what he or she did on the film. They provide a chance for the audience to use the restrooms or get more snacks. A storyboard is a sequential series of rough sketches or stills showing what will happen in the movie. Lighting is the illumination present within a scene. Ink is a word used when people sign a contract to work on a film. Angle on is the act of directing the camera to move and focus on a particular subject. It is also known as a whip pan. Magic Hour is the optimal time of day for filming magical or romantic scenes with the soft and warm lighting conditions naturally present. A location is the places or properties used to film. Macauley Culkin and Drew Barrymore were famous child actors. A motif can be a symbol, word, object, or line in a film that relates to the movie as a whole. This helps match the dialogue with the actor’s lip movements on screen. They serve … This motif can be a person, sound, action, or idea. This is achieved through double exposure that masks off part of the frame area for one exposure and the opposite area for the other. A Director is the artist responsible for total artistic control during all phases of a movie’s production. It came into fashion during the time of film serials but is still prevalent today. There are numerous types of lenses out there, including normal, telephoto, and wide-angle. A cel is an individual hand-drawn sheet for a cartoon. A shot taken from a moving vehicle. The best boy may also schedule what people and equipment are needed on a given day of a shoot. A.D.R– Automatic Dialogue Replacement (aka Dubbing). Mixing is a process of combining different sounds, music, dialogue, and sound effects from all sources into a movie’s master soundtrack. Double exposure is the process of exposing one frame twice so that elements of the two images are visible within the final product. A HMI is a powerful hard light that can be used in place of sunlight. An apple box is a different sized (quarter, half, full, pancake) wooden boxes used for a variety of purposes. Break the Bubble - To tilt the camera off axis. A single object or part of an actor’s body will appear in the frame. In many cases, the outer portions of the subject will be cut out of the frame. A Satire is a ridiculing, mocking film that targets social, religious, political, or economic institutions. Symbolism is the art of imbuing objects/things with meaning, making them represent something more than the sum of its parts. The Vertigo Effect is a camera technique achieved by tracking backwards while simultaneously zooming toward the subject, or vice versa. This emulates the widescreen format typically used on older, box-shaped TV screens. On the Waterfront is a naturalistic movie. Greenlight is a term used when a film has received the go-ahead to into production. A beat in acting is a pause before an actor carries out a movement or speaks their next line of dialogue. Some synonyms include “in process,” “in the queue,” or “in the works.”. Read it from start to finish to get a solid foundation of basic movie terms. Depth of field is the depth of a shot’s focus in relation to the foreground, middle-ground and background. An aerial shot is a shot filmed from far overhead. A landmark film is a movie deemed revolutionary. "Checking the gate" is a phrase used when someone on the camera crew makes sure no dust or particles obstruct the exposure on the film. The camera records the action and dialogue from behind the actors’ shoulders. It is also known as Automated Dialogue Replacement (or ADR). Off book refers to a performer who has completely learned his or her lines. As a verb, it relates to the adjustment or manipulation of a lens to create a far sharper image. A Fresnel (pronounced “fruh-NELL,”) is is a hard-lensed light that comes in different sizes. Here is a list of terms that are helpful to know when you’re making or editing videos. B-movies generally come from independent producers. It is commonly used to create a “ghostly” effect. These films were described as being high saturated with vivid colors and a three-color dye transfer system. An angle is the relative position of the camera in relation to the subject. Backdrops were more commonly used before film studios either shot on set or used green screens. The main storyline is known as the A story while the subplot is referred to as the B story. A pull back is a camera shot where the camera physically moves away from the subject. It’s abbreviated as “m.s.”. Film vocabulary is expansive. In-camera editing is used for filming in the precise order needed for the final product. Diffusion is the softening or reduction of a light’s intensity. A catchphrase is a short phrase said by a movie character that takes on significance within the general public. A composition is the way in which different elements of a scene are arranged on the frame. An antagonist is typically known as the villain of the story. It is by no means comprehensive; nonetheless, it should give you some basic terms to use when speaking and writing about your projects. The best Cyberpunk movies also take a great deal of inspiration from anime. You should also make sure to check out our glossary devoted solely to cinematography terms that really goes into depth about some key terms every filmmaker should know. It typically contains the movie studio’s logo. A spec script is a non-commissioned or unsolicited screenplay sent to a studio by a screenwriter in hopes of landing a paid gig. Fortunately, you can return to this list any time you need a refresher or before you head back to a film set. For example, many scenes in Back to the Future were shot on a back lot. It is often an aerial shot, and it informs the audience of the time and locale of the setting. Craft Services (Crafties) – An oasis in the desert of boring equipment trucks. A Camera Operator is the person responsible for operating the camera. An intercut shot is a series of shots containing two simultaneous events. An aside is when a film character breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the audience. It is the exhibitor’s calculation of what it will take to lease a theater, run it, and staff it. A jump cut is an abrupt transitional device that breaks up a continuous shot. The principals are different from the protagonists and have greater roles than extras. All the shots are arranged by their order in the script. A tilt shot is when a camera tilts down or up along a vertical axis. Because they are minors, there are special rules for working with child actors. It typically contains information about the director, title of the movie, and take being filmed. Blaxploitation is a combination of the words “black” and “exploitation” and refers to low-budget, sensational movies primarily made in the 1970s that featured mostly African-American casts and tackled gritty topics like racism, drugs, and the criminal underworld (e.g., Superfly). An establishing shot is a long shot that shows the location from a distance. Learn strange sounding movie terms and phrases such as: Apple Box - A small wooden box that is used on set for raising equipment, cameras and (sometimes) actors.. A Revival House is an exhibition or film theaters that dedicate themselves to showing a certain kind of film. When an aerial shot opens a film, it is referred to as an establishing shot. Non-diegetic sound includes the musical score and narration. It typically captures the actor from the waist up, while a medium close-up is from the chest up. The narrator understands all of the thoughts, feelings, and events transpiring between the characters. It’s often used in documentary films or Cinéma Vérité works. In addition, the terms one-, two-, and three-shots are used to describe shots framing one, two, or three people - usually in Examples of biopics include The Last Emperor and Rocketman. It is often used to portray two individuals involved in a phone conversation. Abby Singer. An example of this would be the aspect ratio narrowing when an actor walks through a narrow passageway.