Video Production Midterm

EWS or XWS-Extreme Wide Shot

The camera is zoomed out as far as it possibly can, capturing it’s limit of visual information

ELS OR XLS-Extreme Long Shot

The camera is zoomed out almost to its limit

LS-Long Shot

As a matter of comparison, a head to toe shot of a single individual would be considered a Long Shot

WS or wide shot

Basically the same as a Long Shot.

MS-Medium shot

mid-chest to top of head shot

CU-Close-Up

The camera is zoomed in as close as possible; an example might be a shot of an individual’s eyes.

ECU or XCU-Extreme Close-Up

The camera is zoomed in as close as possible; an example might be a shot of an individual’s eyes

CG, Chyron, Supe

Terms that relate to graphics on the television screen.

PAn

Moving the camera to the left or right while mounted on a stationary base

Tilt

Moving the camera up or down while mounted on a stationary base

Dolly

Moving the camera and its base closer or farther away from a subject

Truck

Moving the camera and its base left or right from a subject

Arc

Moving the camera and its base in a semi-circle around the subject

Zoom

Changing the focal length of the lens, so that the subject looks closer or farther away from the camera

Cut

An instantaneous change from one video image to another

Dissolve

A gradual change from one video image to another

Wipe

One image is “wiped” off the screen, from the left, right, top, bottom or corners

Fade Up or Fade Down (generally to or from black)

The image on the screen fades from, or away from, a single color

PRE-PRODUCTION

The process of preparation and conceiving an idea

Production process

This is where content takes shape and becomes something real

Live-Content

broadcast or streamed as it’s happening… sports events, news programs, live concerts, and performances are examples

Live on Tape-Content

shot as if it were live, however, it’s recorded  for playback at a later time

Pre-Recorded-Content

recorded, and then assembled at a later time

POST-PRODUCTION

When content is later assembled (involves the editing of program segments, and the adding of graphics, narration, music, and other audio)

Producer

-Involved in all stages of production… the person who should “know something about everything

Writer

A well-crafted and creative script can mean the difference between wonderful content and something not-so-good.

Director

Once a production begins, the director is the boss. The person who gives specific instructions to the rest of the crew. Responsible for transforming a script into something tangible

Assistant or Associate Director

The person primarily responsible for timing a show.  This is particularly important on live productions when content must start and stop at exact time to the second.

Technical Director

Sometimes referred to as the switcher. In a multi-camera production, the TD is responsible for running the piece of equipment that switches between cameras and visual sources.

Graphics Director

The person who creates the graphical elements to be used in a production. This position has become much more important in recent years.

Lighting Director

The person responsible for lighting…either in the studio or during a field production

Floor Manager

-Responsible for activities on the studio floor during production. Usually, the person is responsible for giving hand cues to the talent.

Camera Operators

They operate the cameras during production. On larger-scale productions outside of a studio, often this person will be referred to as the Director of Photography, and may have one or more assistants

Audio or Sound Engineer

Responsible for audio operations during production

Sound Design

Responsible for audio in post-production… can be the same person. Referred to in your text as “sound sweetening

Talent, Actors, Performers, Voiceover Artists and Narrators

Not always accurate terms to describe those who appear on camera or do voice work.

Video Operator

Technical position responsible for adjusting camera controls during production.

Record Operator

Operates record devices during production

Property Manager

Found mainly on large productions, responsible for props used on sets

Engineering Positions

Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief Engineer, Maintenance Engineer

A two-column format

found mostly with non-fiction scripts

A one-column format

used primarily in dramatic productions of fiction

In a two column script, the left side

used for video commands.

The right side of the page is used for

script copy and other audio commands.

The Three Main Components of every camera:

The lens, the camera itself, the viewfinder

The camera chain components:

The camera itself, the power supply, the sync generator, the camera control unit

Sync Generator

Ensures a steady supply of power to the camera

Genlock

What allows a camera to work through a switcher

Focusing

Zoom in all the way on the subject being shot. The zoom trigger is operated with your right thumb and is located on the right handle of the camera.

Tilting

A tiny knob located above the MILLER logo is the tilt lock.  Turn it slightly counter-clockwise to release the tilt lock. Tilt the camera to the appropriate level, and then gently turn the tilt lock clockwise to tighten it again.  Use the tilt lock every time you tilt the camera.

Pedelstaling

This refers to moving the pedestal up or down. To do this, locate the ring in the middle of the pedestal.  By grabbing the ring and pulling up or pushing down, you can raise or lower the pedestal.  Because the middle of the pedestal has a nitrogen-filled cylinder, it will stay in place wherever you stop it. 

What is lighting?

It’s directional and diffused light

It’s all about shadows

Lighting is about color and shadows

Lighting is contrast

Directional Light

It’s light that focuses directly on a subject.  The sun, the headlights on a car, and a beam from a flashlight would be examples

Diffused Light

General illumination.  Light from a typical light bulb in your home is diffused light.  Clouds and fog diffuse daylight. Generally  creates very good, even light

Foot-Candles

This is how we measure light intensity in the U.S. One foot-candle of light is the amount of light from a single candle that falls on a one square foot area placed one foot away.

Lux

The rest of the world measures light intensity in lux. One lux is the amount of light from a single candle that falls on a one square meter area placed one meter away

Converting Lux and Footcandles

To convert foot-candles to lux, multiply by ten, and to convert lux to foot-candles, divide  by ten

How much baselight is needed for a camera to perform properly?

200 foot-candles or 2,000 lux of baselight

Baselight

The minimum amount of light necessary for a camera to function properly.

How can light be measured?

Light meter

Contrast

The difference between the brightest and darkest spots on a video screen. It’s measured as a ratio between the brightest and darkest areas on the screen.

Attached Shadows

appear to be part of the subject and cannot be seen as independent of the subject. Define the shape and texture of an object. 

Cast Shadows

Shadows that are cast onto another surface and appear to be independent of the subject except at the base.  They allow us to comprehend where a subject is located in relation to other subjects around it.  It may allow us to comprehend when a subject was shot.

Three Point Lighting

Key light, back light, and fill/flood light

Keylight

The principal light source.  It reveals the basic shape of the subject.  A spotlight is generally used

Backlight

Outlines the subject against the backdrop and provides sparkle. Focused spots are often used

Fill or Flood Light

Slows down the contrast and fills in any dense shadows.  Floodlights are generally used

Fresnel

Contains a lens at the front that focuses the beam of light produced by the instrument. It can be a spotlight or a floodlight.  Often used with barn doors

Ellipsoidal

Produce a sharp, high-definition beam. They also have a lens, but even in a flood position, they create a focused beam.  Sometimes used with cookies or gobo’s. 

Scoop

A floodlight that produces a wide beam of soft, diffuse light. Used often to establish baselight.

Reflectors

Use reflected light, which can be extremely useful and very inexpensive.  Especially handy outdoors.

Sound

The vibration or movement of molecules through the air that our ears are capable of hearing.  The movement of the molecules is often referred to as “sound waves.” 

Audio

Sound that’s been changed into an electrical signal so it can be recorded, transmitted, or replayed… just like with a camera.

What are most microphones made out of?

Metal

Electric Capacitor

Used to store electric energy

Pickup Pattern

 A pattern refers to the direction a microphone is sensitive to incoming sound 

Omnidirectional Pickup Pattern

Picks up sound particularly well from all directions around the head of the microphone.  They can, for instance, be used for recording interviews or for picking up crowd sounds at a sporting event.

Unidirectional Pickup Pattern

designed to pick up sound particularly well in one direction

Cardioid Microphone

A microphone with a unidirectional pickup pattern

condenser microphone

It produces a higher quality sound than a dynamic microphone, but it’s much more sensitive to rough treatment

lavaliere

They are very small, and can be clipped onto clothing

Ribbon Microphone

Thin ribbons of metal foil are mounted on either side of a magnet.  The vibrations of the metal create audio.

Color Temperature

Red and Blue Light

Red light

Lower color temperature. Considered warm light. It resembles candlelight or sunrise/sunset.

Blue Light

Higher color temperature. considered cool light. It mimics daylight or overcast sky lighting.

Outdoor light temperature

5600 Kelvin

Indoor light temperature

3200 Kelvin

Riding Gain

Actively controlling volume to maintain balanced audio levels

Consumer Cameras

•Smartphones

•Small camcorders

•Action Cameras (GoPro)

Professional Cameras

Categorized as studio or field cameras.

Beam Splitters

Breaks the image down into the three additive primary colors of red, green, and blue.

Imaging Devices

“charge coupled device (CCD)” or a “complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)”

Iris

Determines how much light enters the camera