Complete IB Film Glossary

Allusion

Allusion

A brief reference to a person, object, place, or event not explicitly mentioned, drawing on general knowledge.

Ambient Sound

Natural background noise in media providing continuity between shots, dialog, and setting the scene's mood.

Aperture

Adjustable opening in a camera limiting light passing through, affecting depth of field.

Audience

All individuals interacting with media; can be mass (large audience) or niche (specific group).

Balance

Mise en scene aspect describing evenness or proportion achieved through various forms like symmetry.

Body Language

Outward gestures conveying thoughts and emotions non-verbally, influenced by cultural norms.

Buzz Track

Natural background noise added to dialogue to enhance realism, also known as room tone.

Camera Angle

Position of the camera in relation to the subject, influencing viewer perception.

Camera Distance

Classification system determining the amount of subject matter visible in the frame.

Camera Height

Camera position above the ground in relation to the subject.

Camera Movement

Different types include Fixed, Mobile, and Apparent Movement, impacting visual storytelling.

Catch Light

Reflection of a light source in a subject's eye, adding depth and life to the image.

Chiaroscuro

Strong contrast between light and shadow areas, creating dramatic lighting effects.

Chromatic Aberration

Optical aberration causing color fringing around the subject due to lens imperfections.

Cinematographer

Person responsible for camera and lighting, ensuring artistic and technical quality.

Closure

Bringing a story to completion, tying loose ends and answering questions.

Color Brightness

Luminosity of a pure color without black or white modifications.

Color Quality or Hue

Pure colors on the color wheel with high vividness and saturation.

Color Scheme

Limited selection of colors for creative harmony in imagery.

Complementary Contrast

Colors opposite on the color wheel creating strong contrast and unity.

Composition

Arrangement of elements within the frame, including balance, leading lines, and symmetry.

Continuity Editing

Unobtrusive editing style ensuring smooth sequence flow and natural transitions.

Cutaway

Brief shot interrupting the main action to emphasize or introduce something.

Day for Night

Technique simulating night scenes during the day using filters or post-production methods.

Depth of Field

Technique keeping elements in different depth planes in focus simultaneously.

Depth of Focus

Distance in front of the camera where all elements are sharply focused.

Diegetic / Non-diegetic Sound

Diegetic sound from within the narrative world, non-diegetic from an external source.

Digital

Transmission of sound and visuals using binary code.

Directing the Eye

Using lighting and composition to guide the viewer's focus.

Discovery Shot / Reveal

Moving camera revealing an object or person previously undisclosed.

Directionality OR Screen Direction

Movement of subjects, objects, and camera within the frame influencing audience perception.

Dubbing

Adding sound to film, including music, dialogue, or entire soundtracks.

Editing

Process of assembling and arranging footage to create a coherent sequence.

Ellipsis

Shortening plot duration by omitting intervals or sections of the narrative.

Epilogue

Concluding scene reflecting on preceding events.

Episode

Self-contained segment in an anthology film or serial.

Episodic

Film composed of loosely-related segments or episodes.

Exposition

Conveying important background information for the story's events.

Eyeline Match

Cut between shots creating the illusion of a character looking at an object.

Flashback or Flash forward

Altering narrative order by showing events from the past or future.

Focus

Degree of sharpness or distinctness of an image, manipulated by lens adjustment.

Foley

Adding sound effects in post-production to enhance the film's audio.

Foreshadowing

Supplying hints within a film about future plot developments.

Form

Structure or skeleton of a text and its narrative framework.

Forth Wall

Imaginary barrier between the film's world and the audience, sometimes broken for effect.

Frame

Area on film holding a single image, or adjusting the camera position to compose an image.

Framing

Composing a shot and surrounding subjects with boundaries within the frame.

F-Stop

Scale measuring the size of the iris opening on a camera lens.

Gaffer

Chief electrician responsible for lighting design on a film set.

Genre

Classification of media texts into categories like news, horror, or documentary.

Grip

Crew member handling equipment setup and movement on set.

Highlighting

Using light beams to illuminate specific parts of the subject.

In

Insert

A brief shot that interrupts the main action to emphasize a detail or foreshadow something.

Intercut Shots

Alternating shots of two simultaneous events to create suspense.

Interlude

A brief film scene not tied to the plot within a film.

Juxtaposition

Placing two images or scenes together to compare or contrast them.

Kuleshov Effect

Guiding audience perceptions through editing techniques.

L-Cut (& J-Cut)

Audio and video edit not starting simultaneously.

Leitmotif

A recurring theme associated with a person, idea, or action.

Location Sound

Recording background sound on location for realism.

Logline

A short summary of a film found in the screenplay.

Magic Hour

Optimum time for filming romantic scenes with warm lighting.

Master Shot

Continuous shot showing the main action of a scene.

Metaphor

Associating a scene or character with an implied representation.

Mise-en-scene

Everything put in the frame to be photographed.

Montage

Editing technique creating a significant effect through sequences.

Motif

A recurrent thematic element in a film.

Narrative

The way a plot or story is told.

Negative Space

Blank areas in the frame emphasizing another subject.

Pre-Production

Preparations before filming begins.

Production

The process of filming.

Post-Production

Processes between filming and completed film.

Primary Research

Information collected firsthand.

Qualitative Research

Research through observation and analysis.

Quantitative Research

Statistical data obtained from closed questions.

Representation

Making meaning in images and words.

Secondary Research

Information from external sources.

Stereotype

An oversimplified representation of people or places.

Style

The surface appearance of a media text.

Synchronous / Asynchronous Sound

Matching or mismatching sound with action.

Teaser Trailer

Short trailers shown before a full-length trailer.

Tone

The overall impression given by a media text.

Proxemics

Relationships among characters and camera distance.

Extreme Close-Up (ECU)

Isolating a detail or body part for emphasis.

Close-Up (CU)

Detailed shot isolating a character or object.

Medium Close-Up (MCU)

Framing from the chest up.

Medium Shot (MS)

Showing the figure from the waist up.

Full Shot (FS)

Showing the entire human body.

Long Shot (WS)

Showing the figure as "life" size.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS)

Scene-setting shot from a distance.

Camera Angles

Relationship between the camera and the object.

Bird’s Eye

Overhead view showing a scene from above.

High Angle

Elevated view making the object seem smaller.

Eye Level

Neutral shot at human eye level.

Low Angle

Shot from below to increase height and speed.

Oblique/Cant/Dutch Angle

Tilted camera angle for imbalance or instability.

Pan

Horizontal movement scanning a scene.

Tilt

Vertical movement scanning a scene.

Dolly

Camera movement technique where the camera is placed on a moving vehicle to follow action or characters.