film terminology study guide

frame

a singular picture on a length of film; one second = 24 frames

shot

a film sequence photographed continuously by one camera that may be as short as one frame or as long as the filmmaker chooses

scene

a series of shots showing action in one location

sequence

a series of scenes

cut transition

instant transfer from one shot to the next; allows the viewer to move in time and space freely; most used

dissolve transition

one picture fades into another picture; used to show a passage of time

fade-in

gradual emergence of a shot out of darkness

fade-out

shot gradually disappears into darkness

wipe transition

transition used when one frame pushes the other off the screen

establishing shot

a super-wide shot, usually exterior; often establishes the location

long shot

shows the subject at a distance in his/her surroundings; generally head to toe

medium shot

between the close up and long shot; generally waist to head; most used

close-up shot

close to subject; generally head and shoulders

extreme close-up shot

shot taken to show extreme detail

insert shot

focuses the viewer on a specific detail often placed from the POV of the character

over the shoulder shot

camera is placed above the back of a character’s shoulder; most commonly used in conversations

high camera angle

camera looks down on a subject; often makes character seem smaller or weaker

low camera angle

camera looks up at a subject; often makes character seem bigger, stronger, or more intimidating

flat camera angle

camera is on the same plane as the subject; eye level angle

dutch camera angle

tilted; makes viewers feel uneasy, terror, confused, or tense

bird’s eye

a top down shot from the perspective of a bird; mainly used to provide an overview of the place the scene is set in

panning

tripod remains in place, but camera rotates from side to side

tilting

tripod remains in place, but camera pivots up and down

tracking

entire camera movies either sideways, toward, or away from the subject; follows the subject

boom/crane

camera is mounted at the end of a pole; camera can move up/down, in/out, swing, etc.

steadicam

isolates and stabilizes the camera to give a smooth, steady, shot when operator is moving

zoom in

using the lens to increase the size of the subject and draw attention to a detail

zoom out

using the lens to decrease the size of the subject, often to reveal the environment of the character

fish eye

extremely wide shot, gives distortion towards the ends of the image making it look as though you are looking out of an orb

iris

draws focus to one image; can be used to show a perspective of a telescope

rack focus

when you shift the focus from one point to the other in one shot, one part becomes blurry while the other sharpens

slow motion

filming subject at a higher speed and then projecting at regular speed

point of view

audience sees and hears what the character/subject sees and hears; creates empathy or connection with the subject ply placing us in his/her life

CGI

computer generated image

lighting

directs audience attention; creates mood

symbolism

directors use symbols to represent abstract ideas of concepts and help engage the audience’s imagination