CDM 001 - Midterm Prep (1)

resolution

the maximum degree of detail captured by the medium

long shot

a shot that renders the central characters as small figures relative to their surroundings

long take

a shot that is noticeably more extended than usual; things continue to happen without a cut occurring

establishing shot

a shot that provides overview of the scene, often locating the action in a larger context

medium long shot

a shot in which a character is visible from the ankles or knees up

plan americain

medium long shot

medium shots

a shot that presents the human figure from the waist up

medium close shot

a shot that presents the human figure from mid-chest up

medium two shot

medium shot with two people

close-ups

a shot that fills the screen with an object or figure od significance

choker / extreme close-ups

a shot that presents only part of the face or an object

focal lengths

the distance from the lens in the recording material in the camera

f-stops

a measure of the lens aperture

aperture

an opening or hole (in terms of a camera)

depth of field

the span of distance from the camera over which the image remains in sharp focus

wide-angle lens

a lens with a short focal length that captures a wide field of vision

telephoto lens

a lens with a long focal length that brings a narrow slice of the field of vision in front of the camera into detailed view

field of view

the scene before the camera that is actually visible through the camera

normal lens

a lens that renders the relationships between figures in depth (as if seeing with a human eye)

rack focus

the practice of shifting from one plane of focus to another rapidly during a shot

soft-focus cinematography

the use of a special lens, gauze, or filmy substance to produce a slightly out-of-focus image

tracking shot

a shot in which the camera is moved from place to place while continuously filming

steadicam

a harness, used during tracking shots, that absorbs the jerkiness of human movement

dolly

a wheeled platform that rolls the camera to a new location

tracks

tracks similar to small-gauge railroad tracks, used to mount a dolly

tilt

a vertical movement of the camera (up and down)

pan

a horizontal movement of the camera (scanning left or right)

Dutch tilt

a shift of the entire camera off its vertical-horizontal axis

zoom shot

a shot that traverses space by changing the focal length of the zoom lens rather than moving the camera

zoom lens

a lens that can effectively shift from a wide-angle lens to a telephoto lens

fill light

a light placed lower than key lighting, and to the opposite side of main characters

high key lighting

the predominant form of lighting; natural light is supplemented to ensure a well-lit image

key light

a light typically placed above and to the side of the main character(s); it's the strongest source of light on set

back light

a light placed behind the main characters (like a halo)

low key lighting

a dramatic way of lighting in which only parts of the frame, if any, are well lit; little to no backlighting

spotlight

a light that is sharply focused on a limited area

floodlight

a light that covers a larger area diffusely

rim or kick light

a light that casts a harsh silhouetting light that catches only part of a face or figure

Mise-en-scène

French for "put in the scene"

two shot

a shot with two people present in the frame

one shot

a shot with one person in the frame

open frame

a shot that gives a sense of what occurs inside the frame is part of a much wider field of potential action

closed frame

a shot that gives the sense of self-sufficiency

foreground

the area of the frame closest to the camera, usually manipulated by the characters

background

the area of the frame farthest from the camera in distinction to objects, actions or individuals who occupy the foreground

deep focus cinematography

a form of cinematography that keeps objects at different distances from the camera clearly in focus

off-screen space

the space outside of the frame

visual cue

an image or look that activates the viewer's awareness of the space beyond time

aural cue

a sound that activates the viewer's awareness of the space beyond time

diegetic sound

sound that appears to originate in the story world

extra-diegetic sound

sound that comments on the story world and belongs to the narration rather than the narrative

sync sound

spoken dialogue or other planned sounds

voice-off

spoken dialogue that is heard but spoken from beyond the frame, off-screen

voice-over commentary

commentary that arrives from extra-diegetic space; outside of the story world

subjective sound

the rendering of sound or images in films as such character would hear or see them

high definition (HD)

a digital tv broadcast system that more than doubles the resolution of traditional tv sets

director's cut

the version of the film the director considers to be finished, without interference from the studio or the producers

studio cut

the final version of a film determined by executives and/or corporations

final cut

the last edited version of a film as it will be released to the public; the cut that is approved by producers and funding corporations

presence-in-absence

the phenomenon of an object's absence, yet it appears to remain present

apparent motion

the phenomenon that every frame is a still image, but when projected successively, the eye perceives movement

identification

the emotional and psychological involvement with characters and the stars who play them

pan and scan

an electronic process that selects the important objects within a scene