A Short Guide to Writing about Film Glossary – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
aerial shot
answer
A shot from high above, usually from a crane or helicopter.
question
asynchronous sound
answer
Sound that does not have its source in the film image.
question
backlighting
answer
Light that comes from behind the person or object being filmed, often creating a silhouette around that subject.
question
chiaroscuro lighting
answer
The composition of light and dark in an image or picture.
question
close-up
answer
An image in which the distance between the subject and the point of view is very short, as in a "close-up of a person's face."
question
composition
answer
The arrangement and relationship of the visual elements within a frame.
question
continuity editing
answer
An editing style that follows a linear and chronological movement forward, as if the image is simply recording the action. Because it creates the illusion of reality, it is often called invisible editing.
question
contrapuntal sound
answer
Sounds that counterpoints or contrasts the image.
question
crosscutting
answer
An editing technique that alternates between two different actions or scenes.
question
cutting
answer
Changing from one image to another; a version of this linkage is sometimes referred to as montage.
question
depth of field
answer
A range of planes within an image from foreground to background, all of which are in focus.
question
direct sound
answer
Sound recorded at the same time as the image is filmed.
question
dissolve
answer
An editing transition whereby one image fades out while another fades in.
question
eyeline match
answer
The editing or joining of different shots by following the logic and direction of a character's glance or look
question
fade-in/out
answer
An editing transition whereby and image gradually appears/disappears on a blackened screen.
question
fast motion
answer
When action is filmed at less than 24 frames per second, the projection of that action at 24 frames per second will appear to move at a more rapid than normal pace.
question
fill light
answer
Supplemental lighting that fills in or accentuates the key lighting on a filmed subject.
question
film gauge
answer
The width of film stock measured in mm, ranging from 8 mm (home movies) to 70 mm (commercial blockbusters).
question
formalism
answer
A critical perspective that attends mainly to the structure and style of a movie or group of movies.
question
full shot
answer
A shot that shows the whole body of the individual being filmed.
question
hand-held shot
answer
A shot filmed from the shoulder an a camera person, usually creating the subjective perspective an an individual.
question
highlighting
answer
Sharp or intense lighting used to concentrate or highlight a detail of a person or object.
question
ideology
answer
An analytical approach that attempts to unmask the stated or unstated social and personal values that inform a movie or group of movies.
question
iris shot
answer
The expansion or contraction of a small circle within the darkened frame to open or close a shot or scene.
question
jump cut
answer
A cut within the continuous action of a shot, creating a spatial or temporal jump or discontinuity within the action.
question
key lighting
answer
The central source of artificial light on a scene or subject. High-key scenes are entirely lit by this source; low-key scenes have very little artificial lighting.
question
long shot
answer
An image in which the distance between the camera and the subject is great.
question
match cut
answer
An edit that links two shots by a continuous sound or action.
question
medium shot
answer
A shot that shows an individual from the waist up.
question
medium long shot
answer
A shot that reveals the entire body of a person or object along with a large part of the surround scene.
question
medium close-up
answer
A shot that shows an individual from the torso to the head.
question
mirror shot
answer
A shot that reveals a person or scene through its reflection in a mirror.
question
mise-en-scène
answer
The arrangement of the so-called theatrical elements before they are actually filmed; these include sets, lighting, costumes, and props.
question
model shot
answer
A shot that uses small constructions or miniatures to create the illusion of real objects.
question
montage
answer
A specific kind of editing in which objects and figures are linked in a variety of creative or unexpected ways. Usually this kind of editing aims to generate certain effects or ideas.
question
narrative
answer
The way a story is constructed through a particular point of view and arrangement of events
question
off-screen space
answer
Areas that are not shown by the image but sometimes suggested by actions or words within the image.
question
180-degree system
answer
A traditional rule for filing action so that the camera does not cross an imaginary 180-degree line. It is mean to create a stable spatial orientation for all action filmed.
question
pan
answer
A shot that pivots from left to right or right to left without the camera changing its position.
question
parallel action
answer
Two or more actions that are linked by the film to appear simultaneious
question
point of view
answer
The position from which an action is seen, often determining its significance.
question
process shot
answer
A shot that employs special effects during or after the filming of the shot.
question
rack focus
answer
A quick change of focus within a shot so that one object appears suddenly out of focus and another appears suddenly in focus.
question
reaction shot
answer
A shot that cuts from an object, person, or action to show another person or persons' reaction.
question
resolution
answer
The degree of sharpness in an image.
question
sequence
answer
A series of scenes or shots unified by a shared action or motif.
question
shallow focus
answer
A shot in which only objects and persons in the foreground of the image can be seen clearly.
question
shot
answer
A continuously exposed and unedited image of any length.
question
shot/reverse shot
answer
An editing pattern that cuts between individuals according to the logic of their conversation.
question
slow motion
answer
When action is filmed at a speed faster than 24 frames per second that action appears unusually slow when projected at normal speed.
question
soft focus
answer
By using filters on the camera lens (or even Vaseline), objects and individuals will appear blurred or with hazy definition.
question
subjective camera
answer
A technique that re-creates the perspective of a single individual.
question
swish pan
answer
A pan shot that moves rapidly from right to left or left to right, creating a blurring effect.
question
synchronous sound
answer
Sound whose source is identified by the film image.
question
tilt shot
answer
A shot that moves vertically without changing the position of the camera.
question
wide-screen
answer
An aspect ration that exceeds the traditional 1.33:1 ratio of width to height. The most common widescreen ratios are 1.66:1 and 1.85:1.
question
wipe
answer
An editing technique whereby a line crossing or (or wiping) one image replaces it with another image
