Edge Numbers

Numbers printed on the edge of a print to allow easy identification of frames.

Editing

Reconstructing the sequence of events in a movie.

Editor

Individual who performs editing (in consultation with the director) on a movie.

Edit Decision List (EDL)

Complete list of time code numbers for each shot and sound used in the off-line edit master. These time code numbers are used to create the final on-line edit master.

Electrical Department

Section of a production's crew responsible for lighting and other electrical matters during filming.

Electrician

Grip that specializes in the equipment of the electrical department.

Emulsion

Thin layer of silver attached to base of a film strip. The silver reacts with the light when exposed which creates a film image.

Emulsion Type

Refers to the composition of a film's emulsion and how it was manufactured. (Example: fast/slow, daylight/tungsten, etc.) The emulsion type is represented by a number which varies from one company to another.

Encode

Process of combining analog or digital video signals, e.g., red, green and blue, into a composite signal.

Epic

Film with large dramatic scope or that required an immense production.

Establishing Shot

Wide shot showing much of the location.

Executive Producer

Producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the filmmaking process, but who is still responsible for the overall production usually handling business and legal issues.

Exposure Index (E.I.)

Number which is used to measure a film's speed based upon the film stock's sensitivity to light. Similar to A.S.A. and I.S.O.

Exterior (EXT.)

Used in a slug line, indicates that the scene occurs outdoors.

Extra

Individual who appears in a movie where a non-specific, non-speaking character is required, usually as part of a crowd or in the background of a scene.

Extreme Close-up (ECU)

Shot in which the subject is much larger than the frame. Provides more detail than a close-up.

Extreme Long Shot

Camera cue in direction used to describe a shot taken by a long distance from the subject

Eye Line

Direction an actor should be focused on, off-screen, so as to match a reverse angle or point-of-view shot.

Exposure Index

AKA "E.I." or "ASA." It is the specific number used to measure film speed.

F-Stop

A scale that measures the size of the opening of an iris. The traditional scale runs: 1.4, 2, 2.8, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22. The smaller the number, the larger the opening of the iris, allowing more light. Conversely - the larger the number, the smaller the iris, allowing less light.

Fade

Smooth, gradual transition from a normal image to complete blackness (fade out), or vice versa (fade in).

Fade IN

First words typed in a script. Literally means "to begin."

Fade OUT

Last words in a script which means "the end."

Fast Motion

Shot which in which time appears to move more quickly than normal. The process is commonly achieved by either deleting select frames (called "skip frames") or by undercranking.

Feature

Movie at least 60 minutes long intended for theatrical release or script at least 90 pages long.

Festival

Event at which films can often premiere

Field

One-half of a television frame, containing all the odd or even scanning lines of the picture.

Fill Light

After the key light (primary light) is set, a fill light softens the shadows created by the key light.

Film Developing

Process whereby images recorded on film stock are transferred to a negative print.

Film Magazines

Reel of film stock ready for use in a camera.

Film Noir

Describes a genre of film which typically features dark, brooding characters, corruption, detectives, and the seedy side of the big city.

Film Plane

The plane of depth from the lens of the film (behind the gate) in the camera.

Film Printing

Process of transferring images from a negative print to a print.

Film Speed

Film stock has a variety of speeds which is created by the size of the silver halides in the emulsion. The smaller the grain, the slower the film which in turn requires more light to achieve the correct exposure.

Film Stock

The physical medium on which images are recorded.

Filmmakers

Collective term used to refer to people who have a significant degree of control over the creation of a movie: directors, producers, screenwriters, and editors.

Filter

A device, usually a piece of glass or plastic, that is positioned in front of a lens to create an effect or change the color temp of an image.

First Draft

As set forth in the Writers Guild of America Minimum Basic Agreement, a first complete draft of any script in continuity form, including dialogue.

Flag

Aperatus consisting of a black cloth on a frame that blocks part of a light source.

Flare

Pattern of light that washes out a film roll at the start and end of the roll. Another type of flare is a "lens flare" which occurs when light hits the lens and and causes the image to be foggy.

Flash Frame

A single frame between two shots that is completely blank or clear.

Flashback

Scene that breaks the chronological continuity of the main narrative by depicting events which happened in the past.

Flashforward

Scene that breaks the chronological continuity of the main narrative by depicting events which happen in the future.

Flatbed

An editing table that has a screen in the center with several editing plates lying flat.

Focal Length

A measurement of the magnification of a lens indicated in millimeters.

Focus

Sharpness of an image, or the adjustments made on a camera necessary to achieve this.

Focus Group

Group of approximately 10/12 members of the public that represent the target audience for a film who attend a sneak preview and then offer feedback to producers before further editing.

Focus Puller

Member of the camera crew who adjusts the focus of the camera during filming.

Foley

Art of recreating incidental sound effects (such as footsteps) in synchronization with the visual component of a movie.

Foley Artist/Editor

Individual who creates (or edits) the foley sound effects.

Follow Focus

Shot in which the camera focus is changed to compensate for the movement of the action or the camera itself.

Footage

Amount of film that has been shot or the entirety of exposed film.

Foot Candle

Simply, a measurement of light. The formula is "the light of one candle, one foot away."

Foreground

Objects or action which is closest to the camera.

Format

Describes the equipment and film or tape used. Examples for film: (8mm, Super 8, 16mm, 35mm). For video: (VHS, HI-8, Beta).

Frame

Individual picture image which eventually appears on a print OR in video: A complete television picture made up of two fields, produced at the rate of 29.97 Hz (color NTSC), or 30 Hz (black & white NTSC).

Frame Rate

Movies are created by taking a rapid sequence of pictures (frames) of action and by displaying these frames at the same rate at which they were recorded, the illusion of motion can be created. Film=24 frames per second and Video=30fps (in Europe using P.A.L.=25 fps).

Freeze Frame

Optical printing effect whereby a single frame is repeated to give the illusion that all action has stopped.

Fullcoat

Mag stock with a layer of oxide that covers one side. 16mm is fullcoat, but 35mm can be either fullcoat or stripe.

Gaffer

Head of the electrical department.

Gaffer's Tape

Cloth tape that looks similar to electrical duct tape without the sticky residue.

Gate

AKA "film gate." Opening on a camera (or projector) behind the lens through which a single frame is exposed (or projected).

Gel

Tinted piece of transparent plastic which covers a light source.

General Meeting

A "look-see" type of meeting in which a writer meets with a producer, production executive, studio executive, and so forth, as a form of introduction. Generally, in this meeting the producer, production executive, studio executive, and so forth, does not have a specific project in mind for which the writer will be hired.

Generation Loss

Created when editing or copying one analog videotape to another videotape.

Gofer

Film or video production assistant often sent to "Go for" coffee or other essentials.

Go Motion

Form of animation similar to stop motion, but which incorporates motion blur.

Green Light

To give a film project the studio backing and financing to begin principal photography.

Grip

Individual responsible for the adjustment and maintenance of production equipment on the set.

Gross Profits

Also known as "first dollar gross," this form of compensation entitles an individual to a percentage of every dollar of gross receipts.

Guerrilla Producer

One who produces an effective video on a shoestring budget.

Halogen

Gas contained in the lamp of a quartz light.

Handheld

Shooting without the use of a tripod.

Hard Light

Type of light that creates brilliant highlights and sharp shadows.

Head Room

Space between the top of a subject's head and the top of the frame.

HI-8

Video format technically similar to SVHS which uses smaller cassettes.

High Concept

Phrase connected with scripts which have a premise or storyline which is easily reduced to a simple and appealing one line.

Hip-Pocketing

Agent/agency's practice in which an individual(s) is represented by the agent/agency on a single project only, with no agreement that the agency or agent will continue to represent the individual once the project or interest in the project has ended.

HMI

Powerful and bright (but heavy and rather expensive) light that is balanced for daylight. Stands for "Halogen Metal Incandescence."

Hot Set

Set on which a scene is in the process of being shot; labeled thus to indicate that it should not be changed or disturbed.

Hyperfocal Distance

Distance set on the focusing ring which will best use the depth of field for a particular shot.

In The Can

Same as "that's a wrap" to indicate that the scene or program which has been completed.

Incident Light Reading

The amount of light measured that hits the camera's subject. The reading is taken with a light meter in which the globe or sphere of the meter is held up against the subject, pointing towards the camera, so that the same amount of lighting that strikes the subject is also striking the meter.

Independent Film /Indie

Movie not produced by a major studio.

Ink

To sign a contract.

Insert

Close-up shot of an object, often produced by the second unit.

Insert Edit

An electronic edit in which the existing control track is not replaced during the editing process.

Interior/ INT.

Used in a slug line, indicates that the scene occurs indoors.

Internegative

Middle grade copy of a film that is used to make additional prints.

Interpositive

Copy of a film on extremely fine grained stock used to make an internegative.

Intertitles

Title card appearing intercut with a scene.

Iris

Opening in the lens which controls the amount of light that passes through the camera to expose the film. Measured in "f-stops."

I.S.O.

Abbreviation for "International Standards Organization." It is the same thing as I.E. or A.S.A., though used less.

Jam Sync

Process of synchronizing a secondary time code generator with a selected master time code, e.g., using the time code generated by one camera to insert the identical time code on a second camera.

Jump Cut

Cut involving an interruption to the continuity of time.

K

(1) Abbreviation for "Kelvin" (scale used for color temp) or (2) an abbreviation for "Kilowatts" (measurement of brightness).

Kelvin

Color temperature scale created by Lord Kelvin.

Key Grip

Chief of a group of grips, often doubling for a construction coordinator and a backup for the camera crew.

Key Light

The primary light used to illuminate a subject.

Kicker

Light placed behind the subject to create a glamorous halo effect on the hair or a rugged-looking highlight on the cheek which helps separate the subject from the background.

A-B | C-D | E-K | L-P | Q-S | T-Z

THIRD MILLENNIUM entertainment