Glossary of film language terms
Camera angle The viewpoint chosen to photograph a subject.
Close-up Usually defined as a shot framing the head from the neck up, sometimes with part of the shoulders.
Cut A clean break between consecutive shots.
Diegesis, diegetic The ‘world’ of a moving image text, as indicated not only by what can be seen, or by sounds generated from on-screen actions and objects (eg footsteps, explosions) but also by off-screen sounds that belong to the world being depicted (eg birdsong, church bells). Non-diegetic sound is typically music or sound effects not generated in the filmic world but added to indicate characters’ state of mind or to generate audience response. Visual play with diegesis happens particularly in comedies, eg Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Ally McBeal.
dissolve or mix This is when two shots are on screen at the same time, visible through each other. The first shot is faded out while the second is faded in.
Editing
The process by which shots are put together into sequences or scenes. Usually described according to rhythm or pace (ie the varying lengths of the shots in the sequence) and type of transition (eg cut, fade, dissolve or mix, wipe). A montage sequence is a series of shots which summarise an action or build a mood, rather than playing it out in the equivalent of real time.
Establishing shot A shot which shows the environment in which the action will take place, usually early in the sequence.
Extreme close-up (ECU) A shot filled by part of someone's face (or other subject).
Extreme long shot (ELS) A shot showing the scene from a great distance.
Fade down (of sound) Gradual diminution of sound level.
Fade in (of pictures) Gradual appearance of the image.
Fade in (of sound) Gradual increase of sound level.
Fade out (of sound) Gradual diminution of sound level to silence.
Fade to black Gradual disappearance of image into black screen.
Fade up (of sound) Gradual increase of sound level.
© bfi Education, 2003
Frame Individual still image of a film or video, or the rectangle within which the image is composed or captured.
High angle shot A shot looking down on the action.
Jump cut A cut between two shots of the same object, character or scene where the angle of the camera is less than 45 degrees.
Long shot (LS) Usually shows the entire human figure, from above the head to below the feet.
Low angle shot A shot looking up at the action.
Medium long shot (MLS) Normally shows the human figure from the knees up.
Medium shot (MS) Normally shows the human figure from the waist up.
Mise en scène French term from the theatre which literally means ‘what's put in the scene’. In the cinema it refers to the elements of a shot – the set, the props, the actors, the use of colour and light - and the way these elements are composed or choreographed.
Over-the-shoulder (OTS) shot A shot framed by the side of the head and shoulders of a character in the extreme foreground, who is looking at the same thing we are - usually another character in dialogue sequence.
Pan When the camera pivots on its vertical axis; the shot that results from this. From panorama or panoramic.
Point of View (POV) shot A shot where we appear to be looking through the character's eyes, from his or her point of view.
Scene The basic dramatic unit, usually continuous in time and setting. A feature film will usually consist of 30-60 scenes, though there are wide variations.
Sequence A group of shots showing a single piece of action, e.g. a chase sequence; often synonymous with 'scene'.
Shot
The basic unit of meaning in a moving image text. It can be described according to its length, or duration, the way it is framed (ie the camera distance and angle), and the arrangement of elements within it (often referred to as the mise en scène).
Shot/reverse shot Alternating shots, typically of two characters in a dialogue sequence.
Shot size Refers to the size of the subject in the frame - close-up, long shot, wide shot etc.
© bfi Education, 2003
Shot transition The transition of one shot to another which can be achieved by a cut, a dissolve, a wipe etc.
Soundtrack The audio components of a film - dialogue, sound effects, music.
Standard angle Angle produced with a medium focal length which produces a standard angle of view.
Storyboard A stock outcome associated with film and media teaching. Typically a series of drawings which approximate to a sequence of moving images. Without careful attention, however, a storyboard can easily fail to differentiate between different types of shot (eg camera distances), shot transition and length, and use of soundtrack. Most usefully employed when a specific learning goal is being pursued, for example in how few shots can a particular setting from a novel be portrayed, or in how many different ways can a sequence of dialogue be represented or news item be edited. Where the exercise is primarily conceptual, or solving a problem, it might be better to use a shooting script – a written list of described shots, itemising camera position, shot length and transition, and soundtrack.
Tracking shot A shot taken from a camera mounted on a dolly or other moving vehicle, in order to follow an action or reveal a scene.
Two-shot A shot showing two characters in a frame.
Wide shot (WS) or wide angle shot A shot taking in much or all of the action.
Zoom The change of image size achieved when the focal length of the zoom lens is altered.
Scrubs analysis 
http://www.cucirca.com/2008/06/15/scrubs-season-4-episode-18-my-roommates/Camera pan down from celiling to a two shot medium close up of JD and a girl kissing. It seems very romantic with soft calm music in the background. The camera then pans to the left making it become an over the shoulder shot of JD. JD does a voiceover of what he is thinking and explains the situation giving the audience more of an idea to what is going on. The camera then jump cuts to another over the shoulder shot but this time over the girls shuolder while they are still kissing , another two jump cuts from one JD to the girl also over the shoulder shots. The director does this to show a connection between the two and a point of view while they are kissing . When they have stopped kissing it fades to a medium shot of the girl who is talking with the soft music still playing and then the camera pans up to a medium shot of a bed in the background behind the girl. The shot is meant to be a point of view of JD as he is looking at the girl then the bed showing the connection he wants between the girl and the bed to the audience also when the camera starts panning up the music stops and changes to a single romantic harp playing showing love and also gives the audience more of an idea of what JD wants to get up to in that bed without him even mentioning it. For the next 20 seconds it goes back to medium close shot over the shoulder shots and changing from JD to the girl whenever the person talks (e.g. when JD speaks its and over the shoulder shot of the girl). They do this to still show the two shot connection between the two and that the two are in the screen together this shot also shows the expression of when the person is talking to show you his feeling for the girl and vice versa as they are facing eacother romantically again showing a bond and loving connection the over the shoulder shot shows the facial expression and if it was a simple medium shot from the front you wouldn't be able to see the facial expressions and the audience would not know as much as we do. The same music from the beginning is also being played to not make any silences and keep it flowing. JD and the girl then cuddle and the shot changes from an over the shoulder medium shot to a front medium shot of the two the Director does this to show the body language of the arms wrapped tightly around eachother and smiling faces. There is then a suddon fade out to a close shot of a funny animated talking bear on the bed. There is then a quick white fade out to the same over the shoulder shot showing JDs emotion to the bear. The music also changes to a short fun upbeat jingle which links in to the cut to a new setting with new people. The music is like a divider showeing the setting has changed.
Editing
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Description
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Continuity Editing
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the most common type of editing, which aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward. Also nick named invisible editing referring to how the technique does not draw attention to the editing process.
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Jump Cut
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An abrupt, disorientating transitional device in the middle of a continuos shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time and/or cut between two similar shots, usually done to create discontinuity for artistic effect.
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Credits
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the information at the beginning and end of a film, which gives details of cast and crew etc.
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Cross Cutting
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the editing technique of alternating, interweaving, or interspersing one narrative action (scene, sequence or event) with another – usually in different locations or places, thus combining the two: this editing technique usually suggests Parallel action (that takes place simultaneously). Often used to dramatically build tension and/or suspense in chase scenes or to compare two different scenes. Also known as inter-cutting or parallel editing
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Cutaways
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A brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuous action by briefly inserting another related action. Object, or person (sometimes not part of the principle scene or main action), followed by a cutback to the original shot.
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Freeze Frame
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the effect of seemingly stopping a film in order to focus in on one event or element.
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Eye-line Match
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a type of edit which cuts from one character to what that character has been looking at.
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Flashback
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a scene or moment in a film in which the audience is shown an event that happened earlier in the film’s narrative.
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Graphic Match
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an edit effect in which two different objects of the same shape are dissolved from one into the other.
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Juxtaposition
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the placement of two (often opposed) images on either side of an edit to create an effect.
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Linear Narrative
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a style of storytelling in which events happen chronologically.
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Montage Editing
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the juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order to create meaning.
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Parallel Editing
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a type of editing in which events in two locations are cut together, in order to imply a connection between the two sets of events.
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Visual Effects
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visual effects are usually used to alter previously-filmed elements by adding, removing or enhancing objects within the scene.
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Match on Action
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A shot that emphasises continuity of space and time by matching the action of the preceding shot with the continuation of the action. (For example a shot of a door opening after a shot of a close up of a character’s hand turning a door handle)
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Examples of different camera productions:
Single Camera Production - Peep Show
This show, started in 2003, follows the lives of two men in their early thirties. It meets most of the criteria for a single camera production as the show is continuously filmed from an actors point-of-view.
It is also very expressive with the lighting choices as well as with the choice of mise-en-scene it uses. It often involves a lot of time with scene set up as each take and shot is different. For that reason it appears in series rather than continuously as other TV dramas such as Eastenders do. It is also a lot lower budget compared to other TV series due to the limited crew and cast of the production. For these reasons, Peep Show fits into the Single Camera Production category.
Single Camera Production - Scrubs
Scrubs originally started in 2001 follows the general goings on of the staff in a hospital. It meets several areas of criteria for a single camera production despite it being shot on a set.
The lighting may be mistaken as a blanket form which is not as expressive as in other TV series. However, it's creative use of lighting and mise-en-scene is very expressive in the series. Due to it's single camera set up, the show is restricted in it's use of camera shots and angles to show the action. However, it's creative use of shot composition allows it to create the illusion of simultaneous happenings going on at the same time. This extremely challenging in a Single Camera Production but is successfully worked. For these reasons, Scrubs fits into the Single Camera Production category.
Multiple Camera Production - Friends
Friends follows the life of a group of flat-mates.
Started late September in 1994, Friends aired consequently till early May 2004. It meets many of the criteria for a multiple camera production which place the sit-com in that production type.
Due to the set that Friends is filmed on, there is need for a use of multiple cameras. This large setup allowed the series to work quickly and efficiently to churn out series after series. If It had used a single camera, there would have been a lot more time between each series and time spent recording on location. One of the other areas where Friends fits in the area of multiple camera production is with it's use of lighting; and it's setup. It uses a form of blanket lighting which allows them to coat each shot/camera which an even amount of light. Even though this means they do not have to adjust the lighting for each scene; it does result in a lack of expression and depth in each shot. The same can be said for ther mise-en scene in each shot. There is rarely a change in the mise-en-scene which reduces the risk of continuity errors thought the multiple camera setup itself helps to avoid this. Overall, these elements allowed the sit-com to be produced at a quicker rate than that of a single camera production. For these reasons, Friends falls into the bracket of a Multiple Camera Production.
