FILM TERMINOLOGY

literature and film terminology

Cinematography

The technical aspects of motion-picture photography, including film stock, lighting, lenses, camera distance and angle, and mise-en-scène.

Composition

The director's arrangement of setting, lighting, and subjects within the frame, similar to mise-en-scène.

Frame

A single photograph on a strip of film or the borders of a film or TV screen.

Offscreen

The area beyond the lines of the frame where actions or sounds can occur but are not visible.

Scene

A section of narrative in a film that conveys continuous action in time and space.

Sequence

A series of related scenes that are usually consecutive.

Location

Any place outside the studio used for filming, representing the indicated setting.

Mise-en-scène

The arrangement of setting, subjects, and composition within the frame, including set decoration and lighting.

Setting/Set

The place where filmed action occurs, indicating historical period and enhancing mood.

Props

Objects used to decorate scenes, often with symbolic significance.

Costume

Clothing that indicates historical period and character's mental state or symbolism.

Symbol

An object, color, or action that has significance beyond its usual meaning.

Key Light

The main source of lighting in a shot.

Backlighting

Lighting that comes from behind the subject, potentially obscuring its identity.

Contrast

The difference between the lightest and darkest parts of an image.

Desaturated Color

Subdued color verging toward neutral gray.

Saturated Color

Intense, vivid color.

Diffuser

Material placed in front of the camera lens to soften the image.

Filter

A sheet attached to the camera lens to alter the light color reaching the film.

Hard Light

Undiffused light creating sharp edges and deep shadows.

Soft Light

Light that creates soft-edged shadows and obscures details.

High-key Lighting

Bright frontal illumination used to create a cheerful mood.

Low-Key Lighting

Predominantly dark tones used for dramatic effects.

Tinting

The process of dying a film with color to indicate mood.

Narration

Commentary in a film by a narrator, often offscreen, providing exposition or interpretation.

Bridge (music)

Music linking two or more scenes.

Ambient Sound

Background sound that characterizes a setting but often goes unnoticed.

Offscreen Sound

Sound that comes from something not seen onscreen.

Onscreen Sound

Sound that comes from something visible onscreen.

Silence

The absence of sound during a shot or scene.

Sound Dissolve

A transition where one sound fades out as another fades in.

Vocal

Sounds made with the human voice, including speech and cries.

Shot

An uninterrupted segment of film presenting a subject.

Establishing Shot

A long shot used at the beginning of a scene to set the context.

Exterior

A scene filmed outdoors or on a set designed to look like the outdoors.

Master-shot

A stationary shot that records an entire scene.

Bird’s-eye view

A camera angle from directly overhead.

Close-up

A shot where the subject fills most of the frame.

Medium Close-up

A shot where the subject fills most of the frame but less than a close-up.

Extreme Close-up

A shot revealing only a detail of the subject.

Medium Shot

A shot showing a person from the knees up.

Long Shot

A shot showing the subject in its entirety with much of the surroundings.

Extreme Long Shot

A shot where the subject appears far away, often dwarfed by surroundings.

Cut

The most common transition between shots.

Cross-cut

Alternation between events happening at different settings during the same time.

Cutaway Shot

A brief interruption to show something else, revealing character thoughts or reactions.

Objective Camera

A perspective that allows the viewer to see the subject as an outsider.

Point-of-view Shot

A shot from the perspective of a character.

Reaction Shot

A shot showing a character's reaction to an event.

Track/Tracking Shot

A shot filmed while the camera moves around, creating the illusion of continuous action.

Angle

The position of the camera in relation to the subject.

High Angle

A view of a subject from above.

Low Angle

A view of a subject from below eye level.

Eye-level Angle

A shot at the same level as the subject.

Dutch Angle

A shot where the image appears tilted.

Panning

A slow pivot of the camera from one side to another.

Loose Framing

A shot with ample space around the subject,