Basic Film Terms
Terms
undefined, object
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- film treatment
- Narrative description of film
- shooting script
- shot-by-shot detailed description of film, used when shooting the movie
- storyboard
- a series of sketches that lays out shots, like a comic strip. drawings of each shot and description shot below
- frame
- what the film is capturing (dividing line, of whats being filmed and what's not)
- shot
- basic unit of film structure; an unbroken strip of film
- sequence
- (scene) a few related shots unified with common location, or concern
- establishing shot
- long shot introducing the setting. often at the beginning of sequences/scenes.
- long shot
- far away view, sam distance as if going to the theater
- medium shot
- relatively close shot, revealing figure/person from knees or waist up
- close shot
- head shot; detailed, upclose view of person or object
- low angle
- filmed from below, looking up
- high angle
- filmed from above, looking down
- one-shot (two, three)
- one (etc.) figure in the shot usually at a medium distance
- underexposure
- not enough light, causing dark images
- overexposure
- too much light, causing bleached out, light images
- fast/undercranked
- film speed run slower than normal to make actions look faster
- slow/overcranked
- film speed run faster than normal to make actions look slower
- rack focus
- blurring, causing viewer's eyes to travel to in-focus areas of the frame. used to get your attention on what is important.
- angle
- camera's angle of view relative to the subject
- pan
- fixed camera rotating horizontally
- dolly(tracking/trucking)
- moving/mounted camera which follows action; may be on tracks for smooth movement
- boom(crane)
- mounted camera which moves any direction through space
- zoom
- fixed camera, but scene magnified equally
- cut
- simple break where two shots are joined together
- crosscutting
- cutting back and forth btw two or more separate scenes suggesting simultaneity and eventual convergence (hightens tension)
- fade
- gradual darkening of the image until it becomes black (fade-out) gradual brightening of a black screen until the picture becomes visible (fade-in)
- dissolve
- simultaneouly fading out on one shot while fading in on the next shot at the same time
- iris
- rare in contemporary cinema, a masking device placed over the camera lens will gradually open (iris-in) or close (iris-out) to widen or narrow the field of view.
- wipe, fiip wipe
- somewhat dated transition in which second shot appears to push/pull the first shot off the screen
- matches
- transitions within a scene to provide continuity of action: graphic matches, matches on action, eye-line matches
- freeze frame
- single frame is reprinted a number of times on the filmstip; when projected, it gives teh illusion of a still photograph
- synchornous sound
- image and sound correspond; recorded simultaneously, or seem so in the finished print. sound derives from an obvious source in the visuals.
- M.O.S.
- without sound; images but no sound (can build suspense)
- dialogue
- the spoken lines
- voice over narration
- nonsynchronous, spoken commentary, often used to convey a character's thoughts or memories
- sound effects
- aural atmosphere, sounds added to provide realism
- music
- musical score written by film's composer functions as commentary on action; directs audience's attention to specific characters or details, establishes mood
- three-point lights
- standard lighting setup
- key light
- chief, directional light sources above front, side rear
- fill light
- weaker light sources to fill in the shadows cast by the key light
- back light
- minor lights used to light the space between the characters and the back of the set, separates characters from background, lights important figures in the background
- credits
- who produced, directed, acted, and performed jobs of film's crew, contributors
- rushes/dailies
- selected footage of previous day's shooting, usually evaluated by director and cinematographer before start of next day's shooting
- outtakes
- pieces of film not used in the final cut; left over/unused footage
- rough cut
- crudely edited footage before ediotr tightens up slackness between shots; a rough draft