Vocabulary Review for Acting for the Camera

Making sure there is consistency and stylistic accuracy between multiple takes.

The art of deciding what shots are needed to "cover" the action of a scene.

This refers to tape marks put on the floor for actors to refer to so they know where to move or look.

A shot that captures the reaction of someone listening to another actor or reacting to an action.

The recording of dialogue in a sound studio, after the footage is shot, the actors watch the film & match lip movements.

The imaginary area that marks the boundaries of what the camera will see in the shot.

A stationary camera moving up and down. (Not to be confused with "pan" which moves right to left).

A white or silver card sheet or board used to bounce light onto a subject. Very popular for photography & also outdoors.

A single shot, usually a wide shot, that incorporates the whole scene from beginning to end.

Moving the camera horizontally from right to left or left to right. The camera remains stationary.

This is what the cameraperson or sound recordist will call out to acknowledge that they are recording the sound.

This is what to say when you are finished with filming. It could refer to that particular set-up or that day or scene.

The art of putting the takes together, making cuts and transitions and adding sound, music, or other effects.

If an actor is doing a close-up or looking at something off-camera, the eye line is where the actor needs to look.

A close-up of the actor's face could also include shoulders.

A shot is a setup for a take or series of takes. Each shot uses a certain framing and camera arrangement.

A shot of the actor from the waist up.

Actors or furniture being moved in a shot in a subsequent camera angle to be more in the framing of the shot.

If there are 2 people in a shot, this rule states that the camera for subsequent shots can only be put on one side (180)

This is the day's filming uncut, and minimally processed which was given to the artistic team at the end of filming day.

Historically, "Lights, Camera, Action". Now, tends to minimally be "Quiet on the Set", "Roll Camera", & finally "Action"

A board with a slapstick on top that is clapped together before a take. The sharp clapping sounds help with editing.

1) What the director calls to stop the action, 2) The act of splitting audio or video, 3) The edited version of a film.

A point-of-view shot is a shot from the perspective of one of the characters.

The term the director calls for the actors to start the action for the shot.

An extra take done as a backup in case there is a problem with the original shot.

A green cloth or wall used behind actors when shooting scenes so that background images can be electronically inserted.

A stick or lever with a microphone attached. The boom needs to be held by the boom operator out of the shot.

What to say to the person with the slate to get them to clap the sticks together.

A dolly is a moving platform for the camera, sometimes put on tracks. So a dolly shot moves, or tracks, during the take.

A shot that includes the actor's entire body.