Glossary
Comprehensive glossary of filmmaking terms, concepts, and techniques.
Showing 34 terms
A
4Allegory
A narrative in which the characters and events systematically represent a parallel set of meanings beyond the literal story.
Apple Box
A standardized wooden box used on set to adjust height, support equipment, or serve as an impromptu seat.
Aside
A brief remark directed at the audience that other characters on screen do not hear.
Audition
A live performance assessment in which an actor reads or performs material to be evaluated for a specific role.
B
3Background
The area of the frame behind the main subject, providing context and depth.
Backlighting
Illumination placed behind the subject, separating them from the background and creating edge definition.
Bounce
A lighting technique where light is aimed at a reflective surface and the reflected light illuminates the subject.
C
6Cast
The collective group of actors who perform the roles in a film, from principals to background performers.
Chimera
A brand of collapsible fabric softbox used in film and television lighting to diffuse and soften a hard light source.
Cinerama
A widescreen format developed in the early 1950s that used three synchronised cameras and three projectors to fill a deeply curved screen.
Continuity
The maintenance of consistent spatial, temporal, and physical details across shots in a scene.
Coverage
The full range of camera angles and shot sizes captured for a scene, giving the editor options.
Crossing
A verbal warning called out on a film set when a crew member is about to walk in front of a camera that may be rolling or about to roll.
D
2Deep Focus
An optical and aesthetic approach in which a large depth of field keeps foreground, midground, and background simultaneously sharp.
Deep Focus Shot
A shot in which subjects at very different distances from the camera are all rendered in sharp focus simultaneously.
F
2Fill Light
A secondary light source placed opposite the key to soften shadows and control contrast ratio.
Fourth Wall
The invisible boundary between the fictional world and the audience that characters normally do not acknowledge.
O
2Omniscient Point of View
A narrative perspective where the camera and audience access information beyond any single character's knowledge.
Over-the-Shoulder Shot
A shot framed from behind one character's shoulder, looking toward the character they address.
S
6Screen Test
A filmed audition in which an actor performs a scene under production conditions to evaluate their suitability for a role.
Scene
A dramatic unit set in one location and continuous in time, assembled from multiple shots.
Screenplay
The formatted written blueprint of a film containing scene headings, action, dialogue, and transitions.
Static Shot
A shot in which the camera remains completely still, with no pan, tilt, zoom, or physical movement.
Striking
A safety warning called on set when heavy equipment moves through the crew area, alerting everyone to clear the path.
Symmetry
A compositional technique where elements are arranged to create visual balance around a central axis.