tv glossary

3D

Images with three dimensions: height, width, and depth.

3D TV

Televisions designed for 3D programming, viewed with high-precision 3D glasses.

4K

Ultra High Definition with at least 3,840 horizontal and 2,160 vertical pixels.

8K

16 times more detailed than HD, with 33 million pixels and 22.2 surround sound.

720p

HDTV format with 720 scan lines and progressive scanning, ideal for fast-moving scenes.

1080i

HDTV format with 1,080 interlaced scan lines, providing a sharper image than 720p.

1080p

HDTV format with 1,080 scan lines and progressive scanning, often referred to as full HD.

Acoustics

Higher-frequency sound waves travel straight and are easily deflected and reflected by hard surfaces.

Action line

Imaginary line along the direction of the action in the scene, guiding camera placement.

AGC

Automatic Gain Control adjusts audio level to a preset average level in some cameras.

Ambient sound

Background sounds present when shooting a production.

Analog recording

Directly records variations of video and audio signals, prone to deterioration when copied.

Animation

When video images evoke the same emotional response as during shooting.

Aperture

Opening in the lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera.

Arc

Camera move that circles around the subject in a circular or horseshoe path.

Aspect ratio

Proportion of width to height of the screen, important for designing sets to fit the screen.

Audio filters

Used to reduce background noises or compensate for boomy surroundings.

Audio mixer

Unit used to select, control, and intermix audio sources, including filter circuits and reverberation control.

Audio sweetening

Process of working on program sound after the video portion is completed, also called a dubbing session.

Autofocus

Process by which some lenses automatically focus on the subject.

Axis of action line

Imaginary line along the direction of the action in the scene, guiding camera placement.

Backlight control

Used to improve subject's exposure when there is more light in the background than on the subject.

Barn doors

Metal flaps attached to lights to shape the beam.

Base light

Minimal amount of light that allows the camera to see the subject.

Batten

Bar to which studio lights are connected.

Black level

Intensity of black in the video image.

Bonded cellular

Merging of multiple cellular channels to increase the quality of transmitted video.

Boom pole

Pole used to hold a microphone close to a subject.

Breakdown sheet

Analysis of a script, listing all production elements in order of the schedule.

Bug

Small graphic usually located in one of the corners of the video screen, identifying the network or providing scoring information for sports.

Camcorder

Camera with a built-in video recorder.

Camera blocking

Initial camera rehearsal, coordinating technical operations and discovering and correcting problems.

Camera control unit (CCU)

Equipment that controls the camera from a remote position, part of camera setup and adjustments.

Camera script

Adds full details of the production treatment to the rehearsal script, including shot numbers, cameras used, and switcher instructions.

Character generator (CG)

Television graphic creation equipment.

Character makeup

Makeup emphasis on the specific character or type that the actor is playing.

Chromakey

Technique using a production switcher to replace a specific color with another image source.

Clapboard

Shot at the beginning of each take to provide information such as film title, names, scene, take, date, and time.

Clip

Video segment.

Close-up shot (CU)

Shot emphasizing a specific feature or emotion of the subject.

CMOS

Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, an image sensor that consumes less power.

Color bar generator

Provides a consistent reference pattern for matching video output of multiple cameras and obtaining the best-quality image on a video monitor.

Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)

Image sensor consuming less power, saving energy for longer shooting times.

Composition

Goal of creating an image that captures and keeps the audience's attention and effectively communicates the production's message.

Compressor/expander

Deliberately used to reduce or emphasize the audio dynamic range.

Condenser microphone

High-quality microphone powered by an in-board battery, phantom power, or a power supply.

Context

Content of the image that allows the viewer to understand the subject better.

Continuity

Ensuring consistency from one shot to the next in a scene and from scene to scene.

Contrast

Difference between the relative brightness of the lightest and darkest areas in the shot.

Control room

Area in a studio where the director controls the television production.

Convertible camera

Camera that starts as a camera head and can have attachments added to suit specific production requirements.

Coordination meetings

Forum for all parties involved in the production to share ideas and communicate issues.

Corrective makeup

Reduces less-pleasing facial characteristics while enhancing more attractive points.

Cover shot

Video clip used to cover an edit so that the viewers do not know that the edit occurred.

Coverage

Repeating a scene from enough different angles to ensure a seamless performance.

Crab

Camera move that moves sideways with the subject.

Crash start

Starts the program abruptly, appearing to have begun already.

Crawl

Horizontal movement of text across the television screen.

Credit roll

Continuous information moving vertically into the frame and passing out at the top, listing and acknowledging those appearing in and contributing to the program.

Credits

Text listing and acknowledging those appearing in and contributing to the program.

Cue card

Card held near the camera lens for the talent to read questions or specific points from.

Cut

Most common instantaneous transition when editing, switching from one shot to the next.

Cutaway shot

Shot used to cover edits when any sequence is shortened or lengthened.

Cyclorama (cyc)

General-purpose detail-free background that can be neutral, colored, or have no light.

Dead surroundings

Area where sound waves are largely lost due to sound-absorbent surfaces.

Deep focus

When everything in the shot is clearly in focus.

Depth of field (DoF)

Distance between the nearest and farthest objects in focus.

Dichroic filters

Produce three color-filtered images corresponding to the red, green, and blue proportions in the scene.

Diffusion material

Attached to the front of a light to reduce the intensity of the light beam.

Digital recording

System that regularly samples waveforms and converts them into numerical data, allowing many generations of copies without affecting image quality.

Digital video effect (DVE)

Equipment used to create special effects between video images.

Digital zoom

Zooming achieved by progressively reading out a smaller and smaller area of the same digitally constructed image.

Digitizing

Converting audio and video signals into data files, used when transferring video footage from a camera to a computer.

Directional microphone

Microphone that can hear sounds directly in front of it.

Dissolve

Gradual transition between two images, signifying a change in time or location.

Dolly

Action of moving the whole camera and mount slowly toward or away from the subject, or a platform with wheels used to smoothly move a camera during a shot.

Drag

Variable friction controls on a tripod head that steady the camera's movements.

Dress rehearsal

Rehearsal to time wardrobe and makeup changes.

Dry blocking

Actors perform and familiarize themselves with the studio settings while the studio crew learns the format, action, and production treatment.

DSLR

Still camera that shoots video, allowing the photographer to see the image through the lens that will capture it.

Dutch

Tilting the camera to increase the dynamics of the shot.

Dynamic microphone

Rugged, low-maintenance microphone that is not easily distorted.

Dynamic range

Range between the weakest and loudest sounds that can be effectively recorded by a recording device.

ECU

Extreme close-up shot.

Electronic field production (EFP)

Cameras used for non-news productions such as program inserts, documentaries, and commercials.

Electronic newsgathering (ENG)

Camcorders used for newsgathering, equipped with a microphone and camera light.

Ellipsoidal

A sharply focused/defined spotlight.

ELS

Extreme long shot.

Empirical production method

Method where instinct and opportunity are the guides.

Equalizer

Audio filter that can boost or reduce any segment of the audio spectrum.

EXT

Abbreviation used to signify an external location on a script.

Eye-level shots

Provide an image at the eye level of the talent or the average viewing audience.

Eyeline

Where people appear to be looking, or line of sight.

Fact sheet/rundown sheet

Summarizes information about a product or item for a demonstration program, or details of a guest for an interviewer.

Fade

Gradual change between black and a video image, usually defining the beginning or end of a segment or program.

Fill light

Flood light that reduces the shadows made by the key light.

Filmic space

Intercuts action that is concurrent at different places.

Filmic time

Editing technique that tightens up the pace of a production by leaving out potentially boring portions of the scene.

Filter wheel

Fitted inside the video camera, just behind the lens, with different correction filters and neutral-density filters.

Fishpole

Pole used to hold a microphone close to a subject, also known as a boom pole.