Camera and Video Director Training: Terminology

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Camera Direction

Ready Standby camera next to go live (program)

Take (Cut) Standby camera is quickly cut to program (ex: cut 1)

Dissolve (Fade) Standby camera is slowly dissolved to program (ex: dissolve 1, fade 1)

Camera Movement

Hold Stop camera movement (hold current shot)

Reset Return to previous position (starting point of the shot)

Start Begin prescribed movement (start push)

Pan Right Move camera lens right

Pan Left Move camera lens left

Tilt Up Move camera lens up

Tilt Down Move camera lens down

Zoom In Tighten camera framing

Zoom Out Loosen camera framing

Push In Zoom in slowly on subject

Pull Out Zoom out slowly from subject

Push (subject) Right Slowly move subject to right side/edge of frame

Push (subject) Left Slowly move subject to left side/edge of frame

Push (subject) Center Slowly move subject to center of frame

Lose (subject) Right Slowly lose subject off right side/edge of frame

Lose (subject) Left Slowly lose subject off left side/edge of frame

Reveal (subject) Right Slowly reveal subject on the right side/edge of frame

Reveal (subject) Left Slowly reveal subject on the left side/edge of frame

Static Shot A non-moving/still shot

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Composition

Full Wide (Room Wide) Zoom out as wide as possible

Stage Wide Zoom out to frame complete stage

Head to Toe Framing of subject from head to toe

Knees Up Framing of subject from just below the knees to top of head

Waist Up Framing of subject from just below the waist to top of head

Elbows Up Framing of subject from just below the elbows to top of head

1-Shot Framing of just one subject

2-Shot Framing of two subjects

3-Shot Framing of three subjects

Frame (Subject) Left Framing of subject on the left side of the screen

Frame (Subject) Right Framing of subject on the right side of the screen

Center Up Framing of subject on the center of the screen

Misc. Camera Terms

Check Focus Image is out of focus and needs to be sharpened up

Check iris Image is either too dark or too bright

More Headroom Empty space above subject’s head needs more room

Less Headroom Empty space above subjects head needs less room

Lead-Room Open space in front of subject when looking left or right

Rack Focus Change in focal point from one subject to out of focus

Snap Zoom Quick zoom in and out on subject

Preview Camera which is next (standing by) to go live

Program Camera which is live

Verse Quick framing to right third of screen

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Control Room Terms

White Balance The adjustment of color depending on the lighting conditions

Black Level How dark the blacks look on any given camera signal

Iris Adjust the lens to let more/less light in- to make the image darker or brighter

Tally Light Visual (on-camera) indicator of which camera is live

Stage Direction

Stage Left Left part of the stage from the stage point of view

Stage Right Right part of the stage from the stage point of view

House Left Left part of the stage from the audience’s perspective

House Right Right part of stage from the audience’s perspective

Downstage Area of the stage closest to the audience

Upstage Area of the stage furthest from the audience

Back of House Area behind stage

Front of House Sound booth

Spike Marked position on stage