Learn the Language
Time to learn some film language. Use your mouse to hover over each of the film words/phrases and discover what they mean.
Pay close attention to those you don’t know – there’s a quiz coming up!
Take as long as you need to feel comfortable with these words. Maybe find a partner who can test you?
Camera angle
The angle of the camera – where is the camera?
Camera movement
How the camera moves to capture the shot
Close up
Shows part of the subject
Depth of field
The distance between the nearest and the furthest objects
Documentary
A non-fiction film that documents or captures reality
Establishing shot
Sets up the scene by showing place, characters or important objects
Eye view
The camera is at your eye level
Frame
Setting up the shot
Genre
The type of film, depending on plot, setting and characters – like comedy, romance, western, sci-fi, crime
Handheld
The camera is held by hand
Headroom
The amount of space between the top of the actor's head and the top of the frame
High angle
The camera is above, looking down at an angle
Interviewee
the person being interviewed
Long shot
Shows all of the subject
Lookroom
The space in front of the actor's face
Low angle
The camera is below, looking up at an angle
Mid shot
Shows half of the subject
Montage
A series of shots edited together at a fast pace
Over shot
The camera is directly above, looking down
Pan
The camera is moved left to right or right to left on a tripod
Point of view
The camera moves as though we see what the character is looking at
Rough cut
The draft of the film where the editor sequences the shots
Sequence
A series of shots that tell a story
Shotlist
A list of shots used to plan a film
Theme
The main message of the story (e.g. love, friendship)
Tilt
The camera is moved up or down on a tripod
Transition
A technique used in editing to combine shots
Under shot
The camera is directly under, looking up
Have you learned your words, and are now ready to go? Let’s test that film language! Select the Quiz.
