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?
180 degree rule
A camera should be placed on one side of the set (using an imaginary horizontal line) so all the shots can be edited to make sense to the audience
3 Act structure
3 Act structure is used to tell a story, giving it a beginning, middle and end
Antagonist
A character who opposes the protagonist, the main character
Backlight
The subject is lit from the back, creating a shadow
Boom pole
A long pole where a microphone can be attached to record sound closer to the actor
Call sheet
Given to cast and crew each day to inform them of the filming schedule
Climax
The part of the story where the conflict or tension is at the highest point
Continuity
Combining related shots to ensure a smooth flow of images and ideas
“Cut!” / Cut
A term used by the director to instruct the cast and crew to stop filming /Used in editing to go from one shot to the next
Cutaway shot
A shot that shows something away from the main action
Dialogue
A conversation between two or more people
Diegetic sound
The sound on the set that everyone can hear
Dissolve
A transition where one shot melts into the next
Dolly
A device with wheels, used to move the camera for tracking shots
Fill light
The secondary source of light that brightens the shadows
High definition (HD)
A high degree of detail on the screen
Jump cut
An abrupt transition from one scene to another
Key light
The main source of light
Logline
A brief summary, usually one sentence
Mise en scène
Describes the arrangement of everything in the frame; props, costumes, set
Monologue
A long speech by one actor
Montage
A series of shots edited together at a fast pace
Non-diegetic sound
Sounds that are added in editing
Over the shoulder shot
The shot is filmed over the character’s shoulder so we can see what they are looking at
Pitch
A speech to persuade or provide information about your film
Post-production
Work done on a film after recording
Pre-production
Work done on a film before recording
Production
Work done on a film during production
Protagonist
This is the main character
POV point of view
The shot shows what the character is looking at
Rushes
Raw footage
Rule of thirds
This is when the frame is divided into 9 equal sections to act as a guide for positioning the subject
Synopsis
A paragraph outlining the film
Score
A musical composition
Screenplay
A film script that provides information for the actors and the film crew
Script
The written text of a film that provides speech, movement and direction
Shotlist
A list of shots with descriptions about each shot
Static shot
A shot where the camera is still
Storyboard
A sequence of drawings representing the shots for a film
Tracking shot
A shot where the camera follows backward, forward or moves alongside the subject being recorded
Transition
A technique used in editing to combine shots
Treatment
A detailed summary of a film
Voiceover
Narration without the image of the speaker
“Wrap!”
Called by the Director usually when the film is finished shooting
Have you learned your words, and are now ready to go? Let’s check that film language with a Quiz.
