Basic Film Terms

Basic Film Terms

from Gollin R. M. (1992). A viewers guide to film. St. Louis: McGraw-Hill, Inc.

aspect ratio The screen's width in relation to its height, classically 1.33 to 1, more recently widescreen's 1.85 to 1, or, if an anamorphic ratio, 2.35 to 1.
best boy The gaffer or chief electrician's principal assistant.
best boy grip The key grip or head stagehand's principal assistant.
cover shot A "master shot" of a continuous action photographed without interruption, establishing relevant spatial relationships and protecting the planned narrative continuity in case other related shots are not usable.
cutaway A shot briefly interrupting one action to provide a glimpse of another also taking place.
dissolve A noticeable fading of one shot while another superimposed on it grows stronger and finally replaces it, quick or slow, the earlier shot seeming to dissolve into the latter, signifying a change of time or place without loss of the action's momentum.
dolly A camera platform on wheels, sometimes with a small crane as well, for slow, rolling shots toward and away from, but also alongside whatever is being photographed.
end credits Long lists of the lesser artists and technicians rolling up from the bottom of the frame, seen as the film ends and usually signaling that the action has indeed ended.
establishing shot Often also the "master" or "cover" shot, a medium or long shot establishing locations and various spatial relationships in a sequence, so these can remain clear in a viewer's mind even when off-screen during other shots.
fade a transition between shots in which the earlier shot darkens or brightens until the screen is blank, then the later shot reverses this process until it is fully visible, signifying a major break in the action, time passing in the interim.
Foly artist The sound editor who creates or adapts and dubs onto the sound track various ambient or special sound effects.
fps Frames per second, a measurement of the speed for exposing or projecting film, 24 fps being standard sound speed and 16 to 18 fps silent speed.
gaffer The chief electrician in a lighting crew, overseeing everyone else.
grip strong crew member who hauls lights, equipment, or segments of sets where needed, or operates lifting machinery to do the hauling.
high-angle shot A shot made with the camera looking down, as if superior to what it sees.
key grip The head crew member who supervises the grips in hauling of sets and equipment.
long shot A shot made with the camera some distance from the object viewed showing at least a human form fully visible within the frame but sometimes showing a wide panorama seen by a camera even further away.
low-angle shot A shot made with the camera looking up, as if the viwer were awed or cowed by what is seen.
one-shot A shot of one person only, who is then felt to be isolated even when conversing with someone else.
over-the-shouldershot A shot over someone's shoulder often still visible at the bottom of the frame looking at whatever the character supposedly sees, usually another character in medium shot or close-up.
pan A camera's horizontal pivot across a panorama or wide scene while otherwise immobile on a tripod, creating the impression of a head turning deliberately to inspect a field of vision.
production designer The art director, who selects or designs locations, sets, settings, and props in accordance with the film's agreed visual style.
rack focusing "Racking" or refocusing on something closer of further away, so the first clear image blurs as the second becomes sharp.
reaction shot Usually a quick insert shot or cutaway in medium shot or close-up, showing how a key character or a group of people are reacting to whatever we have just seen, often to suggest how we should react.
storyboard A shot sequence drawn in comic-strip format, displaying clearly the camera positions and setups, backgrounds, and blocking for each shot.
three-shot A shot of three people occupying the same frame.
tilt up (or down) During a shot, pivoting a camera vertically from a fixed position and height , as if someone were looking up or down.
two-shot A shot of two people occupying the same frame.