Video Production Terminology

Marshall Video Production Video Production Terminology

1. Aspect Ratio: The relationship of height to width in an image. A standard TV image has a 4:3 aspect ratio. HDTV has a 16:9 aspect ratio. 2. Back light: Illumination of the subject from behind. Used correctly, it creates a sense of depth by separating foreground subject from background. Used incorrectly, it causes severe silhouetting. 3. Close-Up (CU): Tightly framed camera shot in which the principal subject is viewed at close range, appearing relatively large and dominant on screen. 4. Continuity: Logical succession of recorded or edited events, necessitating consistent placement of props, positioning of characters, and progression of time. 5. Crawl: Text or graphics—usually special announcements—that move across screen horizontally, typically from bottom left to right. 6. Cue: [1] Signal to begin, end, or otherwise influence on-camera activity while recording. [2] Presetting specific starting points of audio or video material so it’s available for immediate and precise playback when required. 7. Cut: [1] Instantaneous change from one shot to another. [2] Director’s command to immediately terminate on-camera action and recording. 8. Cut-away: Shot of other than principal action (but related to it); often used to provide visual details to the audio, or to avoid a jump cut. Sometimes called B-roll. 9. Dissolve: Image transition effect of one picture gradually disappearing as another appears. Similar to audio and lighting cross-fade. 10.Dolly: [1] Camera support mounted on wheels enabling smooth movement in any direction. [2] To move the camera and tripod backwards and forwards. 11. Edit: Process or result of selectively recording video and/or audio on finished videotape. Typically involves reviewing raw footage and transferring desired segments from original tape(s) onto new tape in a predetermined sequence. 12.Establishing shot: Opening picture of a program or scene. Usually a wide perspective that orients viewer to overall setting and surroundings. 13.Fade: Gradual diminishing or heightening of visual and/or audio intensity. “Fade out” or “fade to black,” “fade in” or “up from black” are common terms. 14.FireWire cable: The high-speed interface used to connect a DV camera to a computer. Also used for external hard drives, etc. 15.Frame: A single still image in a movie clip. One second of video contains 30 frames. 16.Format: Videotape and video equipment design differences—physical and technical—dictating quality and compatibility. Ex: VHS, 8mm, mini-DV. 17.Headroom: Space between the top of a subject’s head and a monitor’s upper screen edge. Always provide some headroom. 18.Jump cut: An instantaneous video transition between two scenes that have identical subjects in slightly different screen locations. Makes subject appear to jump within the screen. Remedied with cut-away. 19.Pan: A camera move that pivots the camera horizontally, right to left or left to right. 20.Post-production (post): Any video production activity performed after the acquisition is complete. Typically involves editing, addition of background music, narration, sound effects, titles, and/or various electronic visual effects. 21.RCA cable: Popular cable connector for home audio as well as video components. Standard connection for direct audio/video inputs/outputs. 22.Rendering: In video editing software, the process of creating frames for a transition, title, or effect. 23.Roll: Text or graphics, usually credits, that move up or down the screen, typically from bottom to top. Produced with a titler. 24.Script: Text specifying content of a production or performance, used as a guide. May include character and setting profiles, production directives (audio, lighting, scenery, camera moves), as well as dialogue to be recited by talent. 25.Storyboard: Series of sketches illustrating key visual parts (shots, scenes) of planned production, accompanied by corresponding audio information. 26.Tilt: A camera move that pivots the camera vertically, up or down. 27.Time code: Data embedded in a video signal that assigns an identification number to each frame in a video, in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. Expedites scene indexing and affords editing precision. 28.Tripod: Three-legged camera mount offering stability and camera placement/movement consistency. 29.Voiceover: Narration accompanying video, heard above background sound or music, without narrator being seen on camera. Typically added during post- production. 30.Zoom: To change the focal length of a zoom lens, from wide-angle to telephoto, and vice versa. “Zoom in” means to increase the focal length toward the telephoto setting. “Zoom out” means to decrease the focal length toward the wide-angle setting.