Film Terminology & Concepts Flashcards
What is the Kinemacolor process?
A process that involved alternating red and green color filters that were applied to the shutter in front of the camera and in front of the projector
[AB]
Persistence of Vision
an optical illusion that occurs when the brain retains an image after it has disappeared from view
[NL]
Cross Cutting
A video editing technique which switches back and forth between scenes often giving the impression that the action occurring in different locations is unfolding at the same moment.
[AB]
What is non-diegetic dialogue?
any sound that does not originate from within the film’s world [NL]
What is an Abby Singer?
the second-to-last shot at a specific film location [NL]
What is a Honey Wagon?
a portable toilet unit used in the film and television industry {NL]
What is the name of the department on a film set that provides snacks and drinks to the crew of a film set?
“Crafty” [NL]
Cookie lighting
A type lighting technique which breaks up the light from a light source to create various patterns.
[AB]
What is montage in film?
The process or technique of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate sections of film to form a continuous whole
[AB]
What is diegetic audio?
any sound that comes naturally from the world of the video [NL]
Hollywood
To hold a flag up. Ex: “Go over there and hold the flag adjust it until I like the look”
[AB]
What is a Gimbal?
a pivoted support that permits rotation of an object about an axis
What is the process where an image/video is projected on a screen behind the subject?
Rear Projection
[EK]
Wild wall
A flat on a motion picture or television set that can be quickly and silently
[AB]
Banana
where an actor is instructed to walk in the scene in a slight curve instead of a straight line.
[AB]
Hot brick
A fully charged walkie talkie battery.
[AB]
Crafty
The department that provides food and drinks to the cast and crew
[AB]
Menace Arm
A piece of grip equipment that can take your shot to the next level by allowing the light to land somewhere that might not have been possible with a regular stand.
[AB]
Cardioid
A microphone that has strong sensitivity to audio from the front (‘on-axis’), good sensitivity on the sides (at 90 degrees, approximately 6dB less than the front), and good rejection of sound from the rear. The cardioid pattern can almost be visualized as a heart-shaped pattern.
[AB]
Fresnel
A lens that is just like a regular lens, but it weighs less. It focuses light so that instead of going in every direction, it becomes focused onto a small circular area that you can change the size of by turning a knob on the light.
[AB]
Greeking
Changing trademarks that haven’t been cleared for use within the film.
[AB]
What is a
Lavalier
A hands free microphone that allows for the use of your hands.
[EK]
What is Cinema Vértité
an observational, documentary-style filmmaking that feels “real” and that follows impromptu rather than scripted action.
[AB]
Diopter
Close-up lenses or close-up filters are accessories mounted in front of photographic lenses and cine lenses to enable focusing closer than the lens will do by itself.
[AB]
What is Technicolor?
the process of producing colour film by means of superimposing synchronized films of the same scene, each of which has a different colour filter, to obtain the desired mix of colour [NL]
Stanislavski Technique
The method is an actor training system made up of various different techniques designed to allow actors to create believable characters and help them to really put themselves in the place of a character [NL]
Widescreen film
Widescreen images are displayed within a set of aspect ratios (relationship of image width to height) used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than 4:3 (1.33:1) [NL]
“Talkie”
a movie that includes synchronized dialogue and sound, as opposed to a silent film [NL]
Movie gimmick
A movie gimmick is an unusual idea intended to enhance the viewing experience of a film, and thus increase box office sales [NL]
Static Shot
Camera Movements
No camera movement.
The Camera is usually held in place by a tripod.
[EK]
Pan
Camera Movements
Horizontal movement of a camera without physically moving the camera
[EK]
Whip Pan
Camera Movements
Controlling the speed of the pan, Slow to build anticipation, fast to heighten energy
[EK]
Arc
Camera Movements
A shot that captures a subject while moving around in a circle
[EK]
Tracking Shot
Camera Movements
The camera moves alongside the subject throughout a space
[EK]
Zoom
A shot that changes the focal length of a camera by zooming in or out
[AB]
Crash Zoom
A fast zoom
[AB]
Dolly Zoom
When the in camera movement of a zoom is paired with the physical movements of a camera
[AB]
Push In
Shots that move the camera towards a subject
[AB]
Pull out
They are done by pulling the camera away from a character. They are the opposite of push in shots.
[AB]
Trucking
Lateral movement of the camera, typically mounted on a dolly [NL]
Tilt
A tilt is a vertical movement of the camera, where the camera pivots up or down on its fixed axis [NL]
Camera Roll
A camera roll involves rotating the camera around its axis so that the horizon line in the shot tilts or spins [NL]
Boom shot
A boom shot involves vertically moving the camera up or down using a crane or boom arm [NL]
Random Shot
Random movement refers to camera motion that feels unpredictable or unsteady, often achieved using a handheld camera or gimbal to create a raw, chaotic, or realistic effect [NL]
Hip level angle
A hip-level angle is a shot where the camera is positioned at the height of the subject’s hips [NL]
Knee-level angle
A knee-level angle places the camera at the height of the subject’s knees [NL]
Ground level angle
A ground-level angle is positioned at or very close to the ground [NL]
Medium close up shot (MCU)
A medium close-up shot frames the subject from roughly the chest or shoulders up [NL]
Close up (CU)
A close-up shot tightly frames a subject’s face or another part of their body (or an object) to emphasize detail and emotion [NL]
Extreme close up shot (ECU)
A close-up shot tightly frames a subject’s face or another part of their body (or an object) to emphasize detail and emotion [NL]
Dutch Angle
A dutch angle shot skews the horizontal axis of the frame for an off kilter image.
[AB]
Eye Level
When the camera is placed directly
in front of a character’s eyes. It is the most commonly used camera height.
[AB]
Shoulder Level (OTS)
When the camera is placed just below eye level. It is the second most neutral and commonly used camera height.
[AB]
Full Shot
A shot that captures the entire subject from head to toe.
[AB]
Medium Fullshot (Cowboy)
A shot captures the subject’s head from the top to below the waist.
[AB]
Medium Shot
A shot that begins from above the waist and below the chest, and ends above the head. It is more of a neutral shot and captures the subject as we normally see them.
[AB]
Establishing Shot (Extreme Wide)
Camera Shots
- a long shot that shows the location from a distance
- Informs the Audience of locale and setting
[EK]
Master Shot (Master)
Camera Shots
- A long take or continuous shot that shows the setting or main action of a whole scene.
- Shows what characters are in the scene and where they are in relation to each other.
- Gives directors something to go back to after tighter shots.
[EK]
Wide Shot
Camera Shots
- Exaggerates the disparity, depth, and distance between the background and foreground
- Mostly used to establish scale and spatial relations.
[EK]
Low Angle (Up)
Camera Angle
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.
[EK]
High Angle (Down)
Camera Angles
Where the scene or subject is filmed from above. The camera looks down upon the action, making the subject appear small or vulnerable.
[EK]
How are High and Low Angle shots commonly used together to convey a specific meaning?
High Angles + Low Angles are used together to show the disparities between subjects.
[EK]
Define
Compression
Making a file smaller in order to conserve disc space as well as reduce bandwidth use and makes transmission over networks faster.
[EK]
Codec
A hardware or software that compresses and decompresses digital video, to make file sizes smaller and storage and distribution of the videos easier.
[AB]
What are
Rushes/Dailies
The unedited footage of the days filming, and are reviewed at the end of the day by the director while all the set and cast are still available for any possible retakes
[EK]
Flag
A flag is a device used in lighting for motion picture and still photography to block light. It can be used to cast a shadow, provide negative fill, or protect the lens from a flare. [NL]
