In this glossary, you are going to learn new words about the film industry and more precisely about the direction of the photography. I'm passionate about everything of a camera and I would like to work with this in my future job. The work of a cinematographer consists of work with the director and to set everything that will get recorded with the camera. This glossary will help you to understand the language we use on a professional film set.
180 degrees rule
Phrase
A screen direction rules that camera operators must follow - an imaginary line on one side of the axis of action is made (e.g., between two principal actors in a scene), and the camera must not be cross over that lines - otherwise, there is a distressing visual discontinuity and disorientation; similar to the axis of action (an imaginary line that separates the camera from the action before it) that should not be crossed
Example: We must respect the 180 degrees rules or our movie will be really terrible.
en: Règle des 180 degrée.
Aspect Ratio
Phrase
Aspect ratios are the relative length and width of an image. Early cinema used more of a square shape (4:3), whereas today's movies and television are more of a rectangle (16:9 or 2.35:1, for example).
Example: The aspect ratio on this scene is 2.35:1.
en: Ratio d'apect d'image.
Call Sheet
Phrase
A type of schedule given out periodically during a film's production to let every department know when they are supposed to arrive and where they are to report; usually refers to a listing of actors necessary for scenes
Example: The call sheets for tomorrow has been transmitted to everyone of the cast and the crew.
en: Feuille d'appel
Cast
Noun
A cast is a term for the collective performers in a film. A cast is generally divided into two categories: the leads and the supporting characters.
Example: The cast needs to be prepare
en: casting
Cinematographer
Noun
A Cinematographer is the individual responsible for the technique and art of film photography. It is this person’s job to photograph images for a movie by selecting the right lenses, film stock, camera angles, and recording devices to use.
Example: This cinematographer has won two Academy Awards.
en: Cinématographe
Clapperboard
Noun
A clapperboard is the black-and-white board or slate with a hinged top used to display information of the shot on the screen. It typically contains information about the director, title of the movie, and take being filmed. Today, electronic clappers have come into style.
Example: The script is using the clapperboard.
en: Clap
Crane Shot
A camera shot taken from a large camera dolly or electronic device (a piece of apparatus, such as a crane), resembling an extendable mechanical arm (or boom), that can raise the camera up in the air above the ground 20 feet or more; the crane allows the camera to fluidly move in virtually any direction (with vertical and horizontal movement), providing shifts in levels and angles; crane shots usually provide some kind of overhead view of a scene
Example: The director and the cinematographer are gonna use a Crane Shot on this shot.
en: Crane Shot
Crew
Noun.
A Crew is the collective of individuals involved with the technical aspect of shooting a movie. It does not refer to the performers in a film.
Example: The crew must be ready in five minutes.
en: Équipe
Dolly
Noun
Refers to a moving shot in which the perspective of the subject and background is changed; the shot is taken from a camera that is mounted on a simple tripod, or on a hydraulically-powered wheeled camera platform (sometimes referred to as a truck or dolly), pushed on rails (special tracks or dolly tracks) and moved smoothly and noiselessly during a filming while the camera is running; the dolly carries the camera equipment and often some of the camera crews - and occasionally the director; a pull-back shot (or dolly out) is the moving back ('tracking back') of the camera from a scene to reveal a character or object that was previously out of the frame, dolly in is when the camera moves closer ('tracking in') towards the subject, and dollying along with (or 'tracking within') refers to the camera moving beside the subject; also known as tracking shot, trucking shot, follow shot, or traveling shot; contrast with zoom shots.
Example: The cinematographer said that we need a dolly with a grip for this shot
en: Dolly
Dutch Angle
Phrase
A Dutch angle is a shot where the camera is tilted to one side, along the horizontal axis, producing a diagonal angle. It is typically done to create a sense of unease within the viewer.
Example: You need to use a Dutch Angle for this shot
en: Dutch Angle
Filter
Noun
A filter is a plastic, glass, or gelatinous substance placed behind or before a camera lens. This changes the character and effect of the lighting within the frame of the film.
Example: We are going to use a dark filter on this lens for this scene.
en: Filtre
Fish-Eye Lens
Noun
A lens is an optical glass placed in a camera through which light can pass through. The image is focused before it makes contact with the film stock. There are numerous types of lenses out there, including normal, telephoto, and wide-angle.
Example: We need a super wide shot for this scene so bring me the fish-eye.
en: Lentille
Frame
Noun
Refers to a single image, the smallest compositional unit of a film's structure, captured by the camera on a strip of motion picture film - similar to an individual slide in still photography; a series of frames juxtaposed and shown in rapid succession make up a motion (or moving) picture; also refers to the rectangular area within which the film image is composed by the film-maker - in other words, a frame is what we see (within the screen); see fps and framing below.
Example: This frame in that scene is not good.
en: Plan
Grip
The crew member who work with the cinematographer and who is responsible for setting up dolly tracks and camera cranes, erecting scaffolding, moving props or scenery, or the adjustment or maintenance of any other production equipment on the set - a physically demanding job; the key grip is the head grip who coordinates all of the other grips in the crew, and receives direction from the gaffer or head lighting technician; the key grip's right-hand assistant is known as the best boy grip
Example: Grip
Lighting
Noun
Lighting is the illumination present within a scene. It also refers to the manipulation of said illumination by way of the cinematographer trying to alter shadows and brightness.
Example: The lighting must in green for this scene.
en: Éclairage
Monitor
Refers to a small television screen hooked up to the camera and/or recording device that allows crew other than the camera operator to check the quality of a scene as it is being shot or to check and see if it needs to be reshot
Example: We need a 7-inch 4k resolution monitor with this camera for the cameraman
en: Moniteur
Steadicam
Noun
A Steadicam is a hand-held camera developed in the late 1970s. It was created by Garrett Brown, and the operator uses a mechanical harness to take smooth, steady shots, even when the camera needs to move. This allows the operator to move along smoothly with the action.
Example: We need a professional Steadicam for this scene.
en: Steadicam
Storyboard
Noun
A storyboard is a sequential series of rough sketches or stills showing what will happen in the movie. It captures what the camera lens will film so that the filmmakers can outline the various shots needed. The storyboard provides a rough synopsis of what will take place.
Example: We need to follow the storyboard for this scene
en: Storyboard
Symmetry
Noun
Symmetry is when two halves of an image (or a story) that distinctly mirrors each other. Filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick and Wes Anderson utilize highly-symmetrical frames in their work.
Example: The symmetry of this shot is really perfect, the cameraman nailed it.
en: Symétrie
Vertigo Effect
Phrase
Refers to a camera technique created by tracking backwards while simultaneously zooming in, making the person or object in the center of the image seem stationary while their surroundings change; aka contrazoom
