boom |
extendable and adjustable arm on which a microphone can be mounted; primarily used in films, where the microphone should be positioned close to the audio source without appearing in the frame of the shot |
cardioid |
unidirectional microphone, named for the roughly heart-shaped pickup pattern; super-cardioid, hyper-cardioid and ultra-cardioid have progressively narrower pickup patterns |
lavalier |
microphone specifically designed for voice pickup; used for interview situations |
omnidirectional |
microphone pickup pattern that hears sounds equally well from all directions |
parabolic |
microphone consisting of a small parabolic dish (similar to a satellite dish) with an omnidirectional microphone facing inward at its focal point so that all incoming sounds are reflected and concentrated at the microphone; used primarily for sound pickup over long distances, such as crowd noises in a stadium
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receiver |
device that receives the signal from a wireless microphone transmitter for audio collection |
shotgun |
microphone commonly mounted on a camera with a cardioid pickup pattern that can pick up sound at a relatively long distance |
transmitter |
device that transmits the signal for a wireless microphone to the receiver for audio collection |
pan |
camera movement where the camera remains in a fixed position while it is rotated along the horizontal plane right to left or left to right; the camera only rotates on a tripod or the body |
tilt |
camera movement where the camera is rotated vertically up (tilt up) or down (tilt down) |
zoom |
smooth change from a long shot to a close-up or vice versa, which if done incorrectly in uncontrolled action may result in a missed or ruined shot
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a-roll |
main footage shot for a video |
b-roll |
footage that is shot with the intention of being intercut with the primary footage for editing purposes |
interview package |
raw footage of interviews including all of the interviewees' releasable responses, with the audio of the interviewer asking the questions cut out |
final production |
the completed, requested and approved multimedia project |
background light |
light used specifically to illuminate the background or set; separate from the light provided for the performers or performing area; usually placed on the same side as the key light |
catch light |
a light source that causes a specular highlight in a subject's eye in an image; also referred to as eye lights or Obies |
fill light |
supplementary light used in photography or filming that does not change the character of the main light and is used chiefly to lighten shadows |
hair light |
light used to light up the hair and/or shoulders and separate from the background/ground; generally placed behind the subject and about three feet above the head, with the light angled down and slightly forward to strike the top of the head and shoulders |
key light |
principal source of directional illumination falling upon a subject; major function is to reveal the basic shape of the subject; can also be the spotlight |
script |
A text document that provides a dialog of small details that can range from a basic framework to down to the letter. A script may change depending on the production; sometimes created during editing if it uses sound bites from an interview.
- For uncontrolled action with an interview, it may spell out what B roll footage might be needed based on anticipated soundbites.
- For public service announcements and narrated multimedia pieces, it could be word for word and even outline what shots and transitions will be used.
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storyboard |
A sequence of drawings of key visualizations and important audio information.
- Used often for complex shot sequences
- Offers immediate clues to contain production requirements which include:
- General location
- Camera position
- The approximate focal length of the lens
- Method of audio pickup
- Amount and type of post-production
- Titles and graphics
- Motion effects
- Talent actions
- Set design
- Hand props
- Contains enough detail for someone to understand the intent and create a project based solely on the storyboard
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bumper |
short (usually 10 seconds or less) video clip that typically shows the brand or company that a video represents; for most military productions, it is the unit or fleet crest |
lower thirds |
graphic shown on the “lower third” of the screen which shows the subject's name, rank (if applicable) and job title or position; usually used for an interviewee, but can also be used for updates, natural disasters or ever-changing news stories |
title screen |
shows the title of the production; can be in front of a blank screen or part of an opening multimedia sequence |
cutaways |
Categorically opposite to the cut-in:
- Does not cut into the main action but cuts away to a related subject or to a separate action that is going on at the same time.
- Does not need to be connected to the main action in the same time or space frame
- Relatively static and neutral as to screen direction.
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j cut |
an editing technique that allows audio to be heard before the video of the clip is seen |
l cut |
an editing technique that allows audio to be heard from the previous shot after the video cuts to the next shot; the video SFX Secrets: The J Cut & The L Cut by Fandor explains this process |
smash cut |
instantaneous change from one image (shot) to another; used for clarification, to show the audience the event as clearly as possible or for intensification, to sharpen the impact of the event |
diegetic sound |
any sound that exists in the story world; can include everything from the voices of characters to the sounds of objects or music coming from a radio or an instrument |
natural sound |
natural sounds that come from the objects being recorded within the scene; sometimes referred to as contextual sound (ambient) |
non-diegetic sound |
commentary or nonliteral sound added in post-production that does not originate from within the story's world; characters are not able to hear non-diegetic sound |
underscore |
original or library music added to enhance the informational or emotional content of the scene |
voice over/narration |
usually describes events from outside the action, not as a participant but as an observer |