Glossary

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Background Video - A background such as a video clip or camera source on which keys can be placed on top.

BoB - Break-out-Box, a box with multiple video and audio inputs that allows one to connect video and audio sources to a computer or switcher.
C

Climax - The turning point in the Plot.

Conclusion – the story is brought to an end.

Cut - (1) simply splicing one shot to the next. (2) The process of swithing from one video source to another. ie. From one Camera to another during a live news production. (3) The process of ending a proram, shot, or sequence. ie when the Director yells "CUT!" this lest everyone know that they are done tapping.

D
dB (Decibel) - A unit for expressing the ratio of two amounts of electric or acoustic signal power, used for measuring audio and video signals.
E

Establishing Shot - A shot that reveals the setting where the action will take place (usually a long shot, usually the first shot in a scene).

Exposition - Introduction To the characters, and setting. This part hooks the viewer’s interest.
F

Falling Action - all the action that follows the climax

Film Noir - genre of film between 1940 and 1960, originating in the United States, employing heavy shadows and patterns of darkness, in which the protagonist dies, meets defeat, or achieves meaningless victory in the end. Black and White Film.
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Plot - The action or sequence of events in a story. This Always has a Beginning, Middle and End
It includes the following parts:

  • Exposition - Introduction To the characters, and setting. This part hooks the viewer’s interest.
  • Rising Action - Introduces the Conflict. (ie. character vs. character, Char. vs. society, char. vs. self, char. vs. nature.)
  • Climax - The turning point in the Plot.
  • Falling Action - all the action that follows the climax
  • Conclusion/Resolution - Resolution – conflict is resolved.
    Conclusion – the story is brought to an end.
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R

Rack Focus - The process of changing focus from on object to another in the shame shot. This commonly done when two characters in a shot are conversing and the focus switches to the person who is talking.

Resolution – conflict is resolved.

Rising Action - Introduces the Conflict. (ie. character vs. character, Char. vs. society, char. vs. self, char. vs. nature.)

S

Scene - a series of shots that together form a single part of a film. This almost always takes place in the same place.

Symbolism – Symbols give meaning to a object, plant, or animal. For example, the two upright stones in the Zen Garden could symbolize a man and a woman standing on the shore of a river.

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W

White Balance - An electronic process used in camcorders* and video cameras* to calibrate the picture for accurate color display in different lighting conditions. White balancing should be performed prior to any recording, typically by pointing the camera at a white object for reference.