Basic Vocabulary Flashcards
An editing technique of the continuity system wherein a cut is placed in the midst of an action, so that the action from one shot continues to the next
Match action
Background sounds of a particular room or location
Ambient sound (natural sound)
In the three point lighting system, the source of illumination placed behind and above the actor. It’s main function is to cast light on the actor’s head and shoulders, creating an outline of light around the actor to distinguish him or her from the background.
Backlight
The person who actually handles the film or video camera
Camera operator
An electronic special effects process, specific to video, making a single color (usually blue or green) transparent so that one image may be inserted into another– as in weather maps with a forecaster superimposed over them
Chroma key
A framing that presents a close view of an object or person– filling the frame and separating it or her or him from the surroundings. Conventionally, a TV close-up of a person is from the shoulders or neck up
Close-up (CU)
The range in front of and behind the forces distance that is also in focus
Depth of field
A special effect wherein simultaneously one shot fades out as the next fades in, so that the two images briefly overlap. Often used to shift from one scene to the next or to show passing of time
Dissolve
A special effect often used for scene-to-scene transition. In a fade out the image darkens until the screen is black. In a fade in, the image starts out black and then gradually becomes visible
Fade out/ fade in
In the three point lighting system, a source of illumination used to fill the shadows created by the key light. It is directed obliquely toward the actor from the opposite side of the key light, at approximately the same height (or a little lower), and is generally half as bright as the key light
Fill light
The adjustment of the camera lens so that the image is sharp and clear
Focus
Determines what the viewer can and cannot see due to the manipulation of the camera frame (the edge of the image)
Framing
In the three point lighting system, the main source of illumination and the most intense light on the set. It is normally positioned above the actors head, and several feet in front of him or her
Key light
A technique in which the camera is held by the camera operator, rather than fixed to a camera mount such as a tripod or dolly
Hand-held
A special effects process, specific to video, in which an image or text is inserted into another image
Keying
In video and film, the blending of three colors (red, green, and blue in video; yellow, magenta, and cyan in film) to produce a spectrum of colors. Different video processes and film stocks favor some colors over others, resulting in various types of color balance.
White balance
The hardness or softness of a light source. Hard light casts a sharp, definite shadow
Lighting diffusion
An editing technique wherein one shot does not match the preceding shot, resulting in a disruptive gap in space and/or time
Jump cut
A long shot which positions the character within his or her environment, and helps to establish setting
Establishing shot
From the camera’s perspective, the direction a character is looking and/or an object is moving in a shot
Look space
A shot in which the camera is lower than the filmed object; this the camera looks up at the actor/object
Low angle
A framing that presents a moderately close view of an object or person. Conventionally, a TV medium shot of a person is from the thighs or knees up. Two common types of medium shots are the two shot and the three shot
Medium shot (MS)
An editing principle of the continuity (or 180) system which dictates that cameras remain on one side of the axis of action in order to preserve the scene’s spatial continuity and screen direction
180 rule
Everything (e.g., editing, sound effects) that transpires after the program itself has been shot
Post-production
The feature of a television news package, in which the reporter stands before a site significant to the story to narrate it
Stand-up
A special effect used as a transition device between scenes, in which a line moves across the screen, apparent erasing one shot as the next replaces it
Wipe
A video production that is recorded live, with most of the editing done while the scenes transpire (rather than in post production)
Live-on-tape
In television journalism, an 80-105 second news story shot in the field and filed by a reporter
Package
A small depth of field, with just one plane (foreground, middle-ground, or background) in focus
Shallow focus
An editing principle of the continuity system which maintains continuity by fitting (“matching”) the space and time of one shot to that of the preceding shot
Match cut
The action of rotating the camera up and down, on a horizontal axis in a stationary body. Tilt also refers to the resulting vertical movements in the images
Tilting
The written planning stages of the program (e.g., script preparation, budgeting, etc.)
Pre-production
Shifting the focus from foreground to background, or vise versa.
Rack focus
The action of physically rotating the camera left and right, on an imaginary vertical axis. Only the tripod head is moved, not the entire support. Pan also refers to the resulting horizontal movement of the image
Pan or panning
A shot in which the camera is placed higher than the filmed actor or object, so that the camera looks down on the actor or object
High angle
An entire image that is slightly out of focus
soft focus
A framing that presents entire objects or persons– situating them in a setting
Wide shot
A single shot, lasting from the starting to the stopping of the camera
Take
A diffused light source, resulting in insistence, blurred outlines and minimal shadows
Soft light
A function of the zoom lens wherein the focal length is varied from wide angle to telephoto (zoom in), thereby magnifying the object as the angle of view is narrowed– or vice versa (zoom out)
Zoom in or zoom out
An aesthetic convention in which an actor or object is lit from three sources or points of light of varying intensity. There is one main source of illumination (key light), one source filling shadows (fill light), and one source backlighting the actors (backlight)
Three-point lighting
The conventional framing of three characters in a medium shot
Three shot
The framing of two characters in a medium shot
Two shot
When a reporter’s voice is heard over an image
Voice over (VO)
A short piece of audio that was recorded on location or an interview
Sound bite (or just bite)
An editing principle of the continuity system that alternates shots , particularly in conversation scenes between two characters. It is a mainstay of the 180 rule and the continuity system
Reverse shot or reaction shot
A shot in which the camera is physically situated very close to a character’s position; thus the resulting shot approximates the character’s point of view
Point-of-view shot
A small microphone often clipped to a performer’s tie or shirt
Lavaliere microphone
