Video Comm - Chapter 7

arc

to move the camera in a slightly curved dolly or truck

aspect ratio

the ratio of the width to the height of the frame

camera stabilizing system

camera mount which keeps the camera steady in movement

cant

to tilt a shoulder-mounted camera sideways

close up

an object seen at close range and framed tightly

closure

mentally filling in spaces of an incomplete picture

crane (noun)

a camera mount resembling a crane used to lift the camera

crane (verb)

the act of moving the crane up or down

cross shot

over-the-shoulder shot where you cannot see the other person (x/s)

dolly (noun)

camera mount that allows the camera to move in all horizontal directions

dolly (verb)

to move the object toward or away from the subject

extreme close-up

close up with very tight framing

extreme long shot

shows the subject from great distance, also used as an establishing shot

field of view

the portion of the scene visible through a lens

headroom

the space left between the top of the head and the upper screen edge

interocular distance

the distance between our eyes (about 2.5 inches)

jib arm

permits the operator to raise, lower, and tongue the camera

leadroom or noseroom

the space left in front of a person or an object moving towards the screen

long shot

subject seen from far away or framed loosely, also called full shot

medium shot

subject seen from a medium distance, anything between long shot and close-up

monopod

a single pole onto which you can mount a camera

mounting head

a device that connects the camera to the tripod or pedestal to create smooth pans and tilts, also called pan-and-tilt head

over-shot-shoulder shot

camera looks over a person’s shoulder at another person, includes other person’s shoulder and back of head

pan

to turn the camera horizontally

pedestal

a mount like a crane or dolly

point of convergence

the point where the sight lines of the two lenses of a 3d camera intersect

quick-release plate

a mounting plate used to attach camcorders and EFP cameras to the mounting head

robotic pedestal

remotely controlled studio pedestal that is guided by a computer and can execute many moves

rule of thirds

if the screen is divided into three horizontal and three vertical fields, the subject should be placed where a horizontal and vertical edge intersect

studio pan-and-tilt head

a camera mounting head for heavy cameras that allows for smooth pans and tilts

tilt

to point the camera up or down

tongue

to move the boom or jib arm with the camera from side to side

tripod

a three-legged camera mount

truck

to move the camera laterally

two-shot

framing of two people

window

a tv or movie screen

z-axis

an imaginary line representing an extension of the lens from the camera to the horizon

z-axis blocking

arranging the event (people and things) along the z-axis or in close proximity to it

zoom

to gradually change from wide angle to narrow angle or the other way around