Film Production and Cinematography: Key Terms and Camera Settings

Action Lines

The section in a script that describes seen but unspoken events.

Parentheticals

The section in a script that conveys a character's unwritten emotion.

ALL CAPS (capitalization)

The formatting choice used when introducing a new character.

Aperture / Iris

The camera function that controls the amount of light passing through the lens.

ISO

The function that sets the sensitivity of the camera's sensor.

Shutter Speed

The function that controls motion blur.

Depth of Field

The space called when subjects in foreground and background are out of focus.

Rule of Thirds

The compositional rule used when framing shots.

E.C.U.

Extreme Close-Up — a shot showing fine details.

Dutch Angle

A tilted camera angle to create tension or unease.

O.T.S.

Over the Shoulder — a shot framed over one character's shoulder focusing on another.

1st AC (Assistant Camera)

The crew member in charge of keeping focus.

2nd AC (Assistant Camera)

The crew member who handles the slate and manages footage.

Gaffer

The crew member in charge of lighting.

Script Supervisor

The crew member in charge of continuity.

5600K (Kelvin)

The color temperature considered 'Daylight'.

3200K (Kelvin)

The color temperature considered 'Tungsten'.

White Balance

The process of changing the color temperature.

Safety Meeting

The first thing that happens on set before setup begins.

F-Stop (Aperture) scale

The scale in order: f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22, f/32, f/45.