Terms Flashcards
Aerial Shot
A shot from high above, usually a crane or helicopter
Angle
The position of the camera or point of view in relation to the subject being shown. Seen from above, the subject would be shot from a “high angle” from below be depicted from a “low angle”
Animation
A method used to make inanimate figures or objects come to life on the screen. This can be done by drawing on individual frames or by photographing an object one frame at a time while slightly changing the position of the object.
Aspect Ratio
The ratio of the width to the height of the film image. The traditional “academic ratio” is 1:33:1. Since the 1950s, wide-screen ratios have become the norm, ranging from 1:66:1 to 2:55:1
Asynchronous Sound
Sound that does not have its source in the film image
Backlighting
Light that comes from behind the person or object being filmed, often creating a silhouette around that subject
Chiaroscuro Lighting
The composition of light and dark in an image or picture
Cinematography
The technical term for the various stages of motion picture photography, from the manipulation of the film in the camera to the printing of that film
Close-Up
An image in which the distance between subject in the point of view is short, as in a “close-up of a persons face”
Composition
The arrangement and relationship of the visual elements within a frame
Computer Graphics
Images created electronically by computer, often use for special effects or to manipulate photographic images
Continuity Editing
An editing style that follows a linear and chronological movement forward, as if the image is simply recording the action. Because they create the illusion of reality, it’s often called invisible editing.
Contrapuntal Sound
Sound that counterpoints or contracts the image
Crane Shot
An image depicting the subjects from overhead, usually with the camera mounted on a mechanical crane
Crosscutting
An editing technique that alternates between two different actions or scenes
Cutting
Changing from one image to another, a version of this linkage is sometimes referred to as montage
Deep Focus
A focus in which multiple planes in a shot are all simultaneously in focus
Depth of Field
A range of planes within an image from foreground to background, all of which are in focus
Direct Sound
Sound recorded at the same time as the image is filmed
Dissolve
An editing transition whereby one image fades out while another fades in
Documentary
A nonfiction film about real events and people, often avoiding traditional narrative structures
Dubbing
The recording of dialogue or other sound effects during the editing of a film
DVD
First developed around 1995, digital video discs have quickly become a primary vehicle for movie distribution and home viewing
DVD Technology
The recording and playing of films as “digital video discs” which can be viewed on DVD players or, increasingly, on computer drives. Besides the potential for higher-quality sound and images, DVD’s allow for manipulation of the image, such as screen format, and can offer supplemental materials, such as interviews with the stars
Eyeliner Match
The editing or joining of different shots by following the logic and direction of a character’s glance or look
Fade-In
An editing transition whereby an image gradually appears on a blackened screen
Fade-Out
An editing transitions whereby an image gradually disappears onto a blackened screen
Fast Motion
When action is filmed at less than 24 frames per second, the projection of that action at 24 frames per second will appear to move at a more rapid than normal pace
Feature
The main attraction when a group of films are shown. It can also refer to any film from 90 to 120 minutes long shown exclusively at a theater
Film Light
Supplemental lighting that fills in or accentuates the key lighting on a filmed subject
Film Gauge
The width of film stick measured in millimeters, ranging from 8mm (for home movies) to 70 mm (for commercial blockbusters)
Filmatography
A list of films with information that ranges from just the title to complete details about the film, such as the director, producer, running time, etc
Flashback
An image, scene, or sequence that appears in a narrative to describe a past event or action
Flashforward
An image, scene, or sequence that appears in a narrative to describe a future event or action
Focus
The clarity and detail of an image, produced by the type of lenses used and the distance between the camera and the object being filmed
Formalism
A critical perspective that attends mainly to the structure and style of a movie or group of movies