Zoom Shot
AKA: Zoom, Zoom In, Zooming, Zoom Back, Zoom Out
A shot in which the magnification of the objects by the camera's lenses is increased (zoom in) or decreased (zoom out/back). There is a subtle difference between the results of a zoom shot and a dolly shot. In a zoom, the relative positions and sizes of all objects in the frame remains the same, whereas in a dolly shot this will change as the camera moves. Alfred Hitchcock's much-imitated shot in Vertigo used a combination zoom in and dolly back, resulting in a dramatic change in perspective.
Zoopraxis
AKA: Zoopraxis-scope
An early movie process developed by Eadweard Muybridge in the 1870's, which involves a disc that includes serial pictures being rotated in front of a light source, to create a sense that the objects projected were moving.
Note
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Movie Terminology Glossary letter - X
Xerography
The technique using an electrostatic process to copy or transfer an image, commonly found in office copiers and used in cartoon production.
XXX
An informal voluntary certificate for a pornographic film, indicating large amounts of explicit sex. Contrast with NC-17.
The technique using an electrostatic process to copy or transfer an image, commonly found in office copiers and used in cartoon production.
XXX
An informal voluntary certificate for a pornographic film, indicating large amounts of explicit sex. Contrast with NC-17.
Movie Terminology Glossary letter - W
Walk-On
A minor role, usually without speaking lines.
Walla
AKA: Rhubarb
Background conversation. Historically, when a script called for "crowd unrest" or "murmuring", the extras would be required to mumble the word "rhubarb", as this produced the required effect.
Wardrobe Department
The section of a production's crew concerned with costumes. Individual job titles include: costume designer, costumer, and costume supervisor.
Wardrobe Supervisor
The head of the wardrobe department.
Western
AKA: Oater, Oat Opera
A movie set in the "Wild West" of the late 19th-century United States.
On the web: List of Westerns at the IMDb.
Whip Pan
AKA: Whip-pan
An extremely fast pan, incorporating much motion blur. The term refers to the "whipping" action that the camera operator uses to move the camera.
Widescreen
A movie which has an aspect ratio which is greater than academy ratio when projected.
Wild Sound
AKA: Wild Track, Wild Sound, MOS, Mit Out Sound
Scenes that are filmed without the sound being recorded at the same time. Dialog and/or sound effects may be dubbed in later.
Wilhelm Scream
Originally recorded as a sound effect for the film Distant Drums in 1951 and named after the character who yelped it out, this distinctive scream was archived in the Warner Brothers sound effects library, and was subsequently used in countless films, first simply as a generic stock scream, and later because sound supervisors and directors used it in their films (including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Toy Story and Pirates of the Caribbean) as a sort of touchstone or homage to earlier films. Though no specific documentation lists the identity of the screamer, sound designer Ben Burtt's research of Warner Brother's recording logs indicates that singer/actor Sheb Wooley is likely the source, as he was one of the bit actors contracted to record sound effects for Distant Drums, and had been known to specialize in yells, laughs, and screams.
On the web: Hollywood Lost And Found's History Of The Wilhelm Scream
Wipe
An editing technique in which images from one shot are fully replaced by the images of another, delimited by a definite border that moves across or around the frame.
Word-of-mouth
Moviegoers can't help warning their friends to avoid or not miss the movie they saw recently. After an opening weekend there's often enough feedback circulating from such warnings that it has a significant effect on how many more people go to see the movie. Negative word-of-mouth is often attributed to highly publicised movies doing poorly after the opening weekend, while positive word-of-mouth can provide a poor opener with legs.
Working Title
The name by which a movie is known while it is being made. This is sometimes different from the title with which it is released.
Wrangler
AKA: Animal handler, vehicle wrangler
A person who is responsible for the care and control of entities used on a set that can't be spoken with. This person is typically a professional, certainly with expertise in handling the item, often with expertise in handling the item on a movie set.
On the web: Unusual Wrangler #1, Unusual Wrangler #2, Unusual Wrangler #3, Unusual Wrangler #4
Wrap
AKA: Windup, Wind, Wind Roll and Print
To finish shooting, either for the day or the entire production.
Fictional Movie(s): Get Shorty (1995)
Writer
A general term for someone who creates a written work, be it a novel, script, screenplay, or teleplay. See also Writers Guild of America.
Writers Guild of America
AKA: WGA
The Writers Guild of America is the sole collective bargaining representative for writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, interactive and new media industries. It has numerous affiliation agreements with other U.S. and international writing organizations and is in the forefront of the debates concerning economic and creative rights for writers.
A minor role, usually without speaking lines.
Walla
AKA: Rhubarb
Background conversation. Historically, when a script called for "crowd unrest" or "murmuring", the extras would be required to mumble the word "rhubarb", as this produced the required effect.
Wardrobe Department
The section of a production's crew concerned with costumes. Individual job titles include: costume designer, costumer, and costume supervisor.
Wardrobe Supervisor
The head of the wardrobe department.
Western
AKA: Oater, Oat Opera
A movie set in the "Wild West" of the late 19th-century United States.
On the web: List of Westerns at the IMDb.
Whip Pan
AKA: Whip-pan
An extremely fast pan, incorporating much motion blur. The term refers to the "whipping" action that the camera operator uses to move the camera.
Widescreen
A movie which has an aspect ratio which is greater than academy ratio when projected.
Wild Sound
AKA: Wild Track, Wild Sound, MOS, Mit Out Sound
Scenes that are filmed without the sound being recorded at the same time. Dialog and/or sound effects may be dubbed in later.
Wilhelm Scream
Originally recorded as a sound effect for the film Distant Drums in 1951 and named after the character who yelped it out, this distinctive scream was archived in the Warner Brothers sound effects library, and was subsequently used in countless films, first simply as a generic stock scream, and later because sound supervisors and directors used it in their films (including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Toy Story and Pirates of the Caribbean) as a sort of touchstone or homage to earlier films. Though no specific documentation lists the identity of the screamer, sound designer Ben Burtt's research of Warner Brother's recording logs indicates that singer/actor Sheb Wooley is likely the source, as he was one of the bit actors contracted to record sound effects for Distant Drums, and had been known to specialize in yells, laughs, and screams.
On the web: Hollywood Lost And Found's History Of The Wilhelm Scream
Wipe
An editing technique in which images from one shot are fully replaced by the images of another, delimited by a definite border that moves across or around the frame.
Word-of-mouth
Moviegoers can't help warning their friends to avoid or not miss the movie they saw recently. After an opening weekend there's often enough feedback circulating from such warnings that it has a significant effect on how many more people go to see the movie. Negative word-of-mouth is often attributed to highly publicised movies doing poorly after the opening weekend, while positive word-of-mouth can provide a poor opener with legs.
Working Title
The name by which a movie is known while it is being made. This is sometimes different from the title with which it is released.
Wrangler
AKA: Animal handler, vehicle wrangler
A person who is responsible for the care and control of entities used on a set that can't be spoken with. This person is typically a professional, certainly with expertise in handling the item, often with expertise in handling the item on a movie set.
On the web: Unusual Wrangler #1, Unusual Wrangler #2, Unusual Wrangler #3, Unusual Wrangler #4
Wrap
AKA: Windup, Wind, Wind Roll and Print
To finish shooting, either for the day or the entire production.
Fictional Movie(s): Get Shorty (1995)
Writer
A general term for someone who creates a written work, be it a novel, script, screenplay, or teleplay. See also Writers Guild of America.
Writers Guild of America
AKA: WGA
The Writers Guild of America is the sole collective bargaining representative for writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, interactive and new media industries. It has numerous affiliation agreements with other U.S. and international writing organizations and is in the forefront of the debates concerning economic and creative rights for writers.
Movie Terminology Glossary letter - V
V
AKA: Video, Direct to video
notation to indicate that a particular title was originally released on video without a screening or being broadcast.
VG
AKA: Video game
notation to indicate that a particular title is a video game.
Vertigo effect
A camera technique created by Alfred Hitchcock during his film Vertigo that involves tracking backwards while simultaneously zooming in, making the person or object in the center of the image seem stationary while their surroundings change.
Video Assist
Motion picture cameras often include a video camera that allows instant review of a scene to monitor framing, focus, and performance. Both this system and the person operating it are referred to as video assist.
Video Cassette Recorder
AKA: VCR
A common household appliance for recording and/or playing prerecorded video tapes. See VHS, NTSC and PAL.
Videographer
A person who works in the video medium — recording moving images and sound onto linear analog or digital tape, non-linear digital disc, or any other digital recording media, such as memory cards. On a set, he or she may be responsible for the lighting as well as the audio and images captured by the video camera/camcorder. Videographers differ from cinematographers because they record using video cameras/camcorders while cinematographers use film cameras to shoot film footage onto motion picture film stock. The development of high definition digital cinematography, however, is quickly blurring this distinction.
Video Home System
AKA: VHS
Video Home System is a popular format for VCR systems worldwide. See also DVD.
Visual Effects
Alterations to a film's images during post-production. Contrast with special effects (except in UK television, where visual effects and special effects are sometimes the same).
Visual Effects Rigger
The person that prepares the miniature models, creature puppets, or whatever the camera subject is, to perform whatever the object is supposed to do during the shot.
Visual Effects Supervisor
AKA: Visual Effects Director
The chief of a production's visual effects crew.
Voice-Over
AKA: Voice Over, VO
Indicates that dialogue will be heard on a movie's soundtrack, but the speaker will not be shown. The abbreviation is often used as an annotation in a script.
Voice-Over Artist
The unseen person who does the speaking necessary to create a voice-over.
AKA: Video, Direct to video
notation to indicate that a particular title was originally released on video without a screening or being broadcast.
VG
AKA: Video game
notation to indicate that a particular title is a video game.
Vertigo effect
A camera technique created by Alfred Hitchcock during his film Vertigo that involves tracking backwards while simultaneously zooming in, making the person or object in the center of the image seem stationary while their surroundings change.
Video Assist
Motion picture cameras often include a video camera that allows instant review of a scene to monitor framing, focus, and performance. Both this system and the person operating it are referred to as video assist.
Video Cassette Recorder
AKA: VCR
A common household appliance for recording and/or playing prerecorded video tapes. See VHS, NTSC and PAL.
Videographer
A person who works in the video medium — recording moving images and sound onto linear analog or digital tape, non-linear digital disc, or any other digital recording media, such as memory cards. On a set, he or she may be responsible for the lighting as well as the audio and images captured by the video camera/camcorder. Videographers differ from cinematographers because they record using video cameras/camcorders while cinematographers use film cameras to shoot film footage onto motion picture film stock. The development of high definition digital cinematography, however, is quickly blurring this distinction.
Video Home System
AKA: VHS
Video Home System is a popular format for VCR systems worldwide. See also DVD.
Visual Effects
Alterations to a film's images during post-production. Contrast with special effects (except in UK television, where visual effects and special effects are sometimes the same).
Visual Effects Rigger
The person that prepares the miniature models, creature puppets, or whatever the camera subject is, to perform whatever the object is supposed to do during the shot.
Visual Effects Supervisor
AKA: Visual Effects Director
The chief of a production's visual effects crew.
Voice-Over
AKA: Voice Over, VO
Indicates that dialogue will be heard on a movie's soundtrack, but the speaker will not be shown. The abbreviation is often used as an annotation in a script.
Voice-Over Artist
The unseen person who does the speaking necessary to create a voice-over.
Movie Terminology Glossary letter - U
Undercranking
The process of slowing the frame rate of a camera down, so that when the captured pictures are played at the normal frame rate the action appears to be in fast motion. Historically, cameras were operated by turning a crank at a constant speed; hence "undercranking" refers to turning the crank too slowly. See also overcranking, frames per second, judder.
Unit Production Manager
AKA: Unit Manager, UPM
An executive who is responsible to a senior producer for the administration of a particular movie. Unit Production Managers only work on one film at a time. Only DGA members can be called Unit Production Managers. See also line producer.
Unit Publicist
Member of the publicity department who works on location during the production of a movie. Duties includes working with the residents of the location where the film is being made, as well as setting up press visits and electronic press kit interviews. In addition, the unit publicist assembles the biographical materials and notes about the making of the movie that are later turned into the movie press kit. Unit publicists are itinerant -- they move from production to production and are on the production payroll. They report to the filmmakers and, if the film has a releasing studio, they also report to the publicity directors. Once principal photography is over, the unit publicist moves on to another job.
Utility Person
The person responsible for various manual tasks, running errands, or performing whatever jobs other members of their crew assign them.
The process of slowing the frame rate of a camera down, so that when the captured pictures are played at the normal frame rate the action appears to be in fast motion. Historically, cameras were operated by turning a crank at a constant speed; hence "undercranking" refers to turning the crank too slowly. See also overcranking, frames per second, judder.
Unit Production Manager
AKA: Unit Manager, UPM
An executive who is responsible to a senior producer for the administration of a particular movie. Unit Production Managers only work on one film at a time. Only DGA members can be called Unit Production Managers. See also line producer.
Unit Publicist
Member of the publicity department who works on location during the production of a movie. Duties includes working with the residents of the location where the film is being made, as well as setting up press visits and electronic press kit interviews. In addition, the unit publicist assembles the biographical materials and notes about the making of the movie that are later turned into the movie press kit. Unit publicists are itinerant -- they move from production to production and are on the production payroll. They report to the filmmakers and, if the film has a releasing studio, they also report to the publicity directors. Once principal photography is over, the unit publicist moves on to another job.
Utility Person
The person responsible for various manual tasks, running errands, or performing whatever jobs other members of their crew assign them.
Movie Terminology Glossary letter - T
Take
A single continuous recorded performance of a scene. A director typically orders takes to continue until he or she is satisfied that all of his or her requirements for the scene have been made, be they technical or artistic. For interesting exceptions, see the trivia entries for Stagecoach, The Gold Rush, , Rope, Shi di chu ma, Some Like It Hot, and The Usual Suspects. A continuity report stores the status of each take. Of the ones that don't contain obvious errors, the director will order some to be printed. See also out-take, hold.
Fictional Movie(s): Ed Wood (1994)
Talent
A general, informal term for actors (and possibly extras).
Talkie
An early term for a film with sound and especially recorded spoken dialogue. It is typically used today to make a distinction between silent and sound films made in the late 1920's and early 1930's when sound films establishing their marketplace dominance.
Tape Recorder Operator
AKA: Sound Recordist
A member of the sound crew responsible for operating the audio recording equipment on a set. See also boom operator.
Fictional Movie(s): Living in Oblivion (1995)
Teaser Trailer
A short trailer that is generally released many months before a movie is actually released, to give a brief peek at what the movie will be like, and to build audience anticipation. Teaser trailers are usually much shorter than the final trailer, which reveals more of the storyline of the film. See also trailer
Technical Advisor
AKA: Consultant
A person with expertise in a particular field who provides advice for the production.
Telecine
The process of transferring moving images from film to a video signal, including frame rate and color corrections. Also the equipment or facility used to do it.
Teleplay
A script written to be produced for television.
Television Movie
AKA: TV Movie, Telepic
A feature-length movie funded by a TV network, intended to be premiered on television.
Television Series Pilot
A TV series episode for a proposed television series which is produced for the benefit of the production company, TV network executives and/or syndication customers. The purpose behind is to show the prospective customers how a series' premise and characters would typically be presented to an audience.
Television Special
AKA: Special
A television production of a singular event (such as an awards show or concert) as opposed to a regularly scheduled series. Contrast with series and television movie.
Television Spot
AKA: Commercial, Ad
A brief advertisement or public service announcement show between TV programs.
Telewriter
A writer who either adapts an existing work for production on television, or creates a new teleplay.
Terra-Flite
A cross between a steadicam and a louma crane, used to steady images of running horses or cars driving over gravel.
THX
AKA: THX Division
A subdivision of Lucasfilm, Ltd dedicated to improving picture and sound for the cinema and the home.
On the web: Official Home Page, IMDb Sound Mix Section
Tilt
The action of rotating the camera either up or down. See also dutch tilt, pan.
Time Lapse Photography
AKA: Time Lapse
A form of animation in which numerous single frames are filmed spaced at a given interval to show a process that would take a very long time to occur. i.e. a flower blooming, or the motion of the stars.
On the web: List of time lapse titles at the IMDb.
Timecode
Electronic guide track added to film, video or audio material to provide a time reference for editing, synchronization, etc.
Title Design
AKA:Title Sequence, Titles
The process during which the titleist designs how title of a movie is displayed on screen.
Titleist
AKA: Film Titleist, Title Designer, Lead Titleist
The person who designs how a film's title appears on the screen. The manner in which title of a movie is displayed on screen is widely considered an art form. Saul Bass is considered a master title designer.
Topline
To star in a motion picture; this can sometimes include the placement of a performer's name before the title on the credits and promotional items.
Track
A single component or channel of a soundtrack. See also sound mix.
Tracking Shot
AKA: Tracking, Trucking
The action of moving a camera along a path parallel to the path of the object being filmed. See also dolly tracks.
Trailer
An advertisement for a movie which contains scenes from the film. Historically, these advertisements were attached to the end of a newsreel or supporting-feature, hence the name. Doing this reduced the number of reel changes that a projectionist would have to make. See also teaser trailer.
On the web: IMDb Trailer Section
Trainer
Someone who conditions animals to perform various behaviors on cue.
Transportation Captain
Manages the vehicles and drivers needed for location and studio filming. The Transportation Captain does not drive vehicles, but coordinates the onset team of drivers to assist all departments with moving their supplies and personnel.
Transportation Coordinator
AKA: Transportation Manager
The person responsible for managing drivers and co-ordinating the transporation of a production's cast, crew, and equipment from the various locations and sets used for filming.
Travelling Matte Shot
AKA: Travelling Matte, Bluescreen, Blue screen
A shot in which foreground action is superimposed on a separately filmed background by optical printing or digital compositing.
Treatment
An abridged script; longer than a synopsis. It consists of a summary of each major scene of a proposed movie and descriptions of the significant characters and may even include snippets of dialogue. While a complete script is around 100 pages, a treatment is closer to 10.
Trilogy
A series of three movies that are closely connected by plot. Often, a storyline from the first film of a trilogy is altered, twisted or modified by the second or third part of the series.
Fictional Movie(s): Godfather, The (1972), Godfather: Part II, The (1974), Godfather: Part III, The (1990)
Turnaround
A state of limbo that a movie enters after a studio decides to drop it. In turnaround, the producers have a chance to set the project up with another studio or with different talent. In union contracts, the time between when someone leaves work and when they start work the next day, or when someone is receiving compensation for not being given the contractual amount of time, it is sometimes said that they are in turnaround.
Two-Shot
A medium close-up shot of two subjects, usually framed from the chest up.
A single continuous recorded performance of a scene. A director typically orders takes to continue until he or she is satisfied that all of his or her requirements for the scene have been made, be they technical or artistic. For interesting exceptions, see the trivia entries for Stagecoach, The Gold Rush, , Rope, Shi di chu ma, Some Like It Hot, and The Usual Suspects. A continuity report stores the status of each take. Of the ones that don't contain obvious errors, the director will order some to be printed. See also out-take, hold.
Fictional Movie(s): Ed Wood (1994)
Talent
A general, informal term for actors (and possibly extras).
Talkie
An early term for a film with sound and especially recorded spoken dialogue. It is typically used today to make a distinction between silent and sound films made in the late 1920's and early 1930's when sound films establishing their marketplace dominance.
Tape Recorder Operator
AKA: Sound Recordist
A member of the sound crew responsible for operating the audio recording equipment on a set. See also boom operator.
Fictional Movie(s): Living in Oblivion (1995)
Teaser Trailer
A short trailer that is generally released many months before a movie is actually released, to give a brief peek at what the movie will be like, and to build audience anticipation. Teaser trailers are usually much shorter than the final trailer, which reveals more of the storyline of the film. See also trailer
Technical Advisor
AKA: Consultant
A person with expertise in a particular field who provides advice for the production.
Telecine
The process of transferring moving images from film to a video signal, including frame rate and color corrections. Also the equipment or facility used to do it.
Teleplay
A script written to be produced for television.
Television Movie
AKA: TV Movie, Telepic
A feature-length movie funded by a TV network, intended to be premiered on television.
Television Series Pilot
A TV series episode for a proposed television series which is produced for the benefit of the production company, TV network executives and/or syndication customers. The purpose behind is to show the prospective customers how a series' premise and characters would typically be presented to an audience.
Television Special
AKA: Special
A television production of a singular event (such as an awards show or concert) as opposed to a regularly scheduled series. Contrast with series and television movie.
Television Spot
AKA: Commercial, Ad
A brief advertisement or public service announcement show between TV programs.
Telewriter
A writer who either adapts an existing work for production on television, or creates a new teleplay.
Terra-Flite
A cross between a steadicam and a louma crane, used to steady images of running horses or cars driving over gravel.
THX
AKA: THX Division
A subdivision of Lucasfilm, Ltd dedicated to improving picture and sound for the cinema and the home.
On the web: Official Home Page, IMDb Sound Mix Section
Tilt
The action of rotating the camera either up or down. See also dutch tilt, pan.
Time Lapse Photography
AKA: Time Lapse
A form of animation in which numerous single frames are filmed spaced at a given interval to show a process that would take a very long time to occur. i.e. a flower blooming, or the motion of the stars.
On the web: List of time lapse titles at the IMDb.
Timecode
Electronic guide track added to film, video or audio material to provide a time reference for editing, synchronization, etc.
Title Design
AKA:Title Sequence, Titles
The process during which the titleist designs how title of a movie is displayed on screen.
Titleist
AKA: Film Titleist, Title Designer, Lead Titleist
The person who designs how a film's title appears on the screen. The manner in which title of a movie is displayed on screen is widely considered an art form. Saul Bass is considered a master title designer.
Topline
To star in a motion picture; this can sometimes include the placement of a performer's name before the title on the credits and promotional items.
Track
A single component or channel of a soundtrack. See also sound mix.
Tracking Shot
AKA: Tracking, Trucking
The action of moving a camera along a path parallel to the path of the object being filmed. See also dolly tracks.
Trailer
An advertisement for a movie which contains scenes from the film. Historically, these advertisements were attached to the end of a newsreel or supporting-feature, hence the name. Doing this reduced the number of reel changes that a projectionist would have to make. See also teaser trailer.
On the web: IMDb Trailer Section
Trainer
Someone who conditions animals to perform various behaviors on cue.
Transportation Captain
Manages the vehicles and drivers needed for location and studio filming. The Transportation Captain does not drive vehicles, but coordinates the onset team of drivers to assist all departments with moving their supplies and personnel.
Transportation Coordinator
AKA: Transportation Manager
The person responsible for managing drivers and co-ordinating the transporation of a production's cast, crew, and equipment from the various locations and sets used for filming.
Travelling Matte Shot
AKA: Travelling Matte, Bluescreen, Blue screen
A shot in which foreground action is superimposed on a separately filmed background by optical printing or digital compositing.
Treatment
An abridged script; longer than a synopsis. It consists of a summary of each major scene of a proposed movie and descriptions of the significant characters and may even include snippets of dialogue. While a complete script is around 100 pages, a treatment is closer to 10.
Trilogy
A series of three movies that are closely connected by plot. Often, a storyline from the first film of a trilogy is altered, twisted or modified by the second or third part of the series.
Fictional Movie(s): Godfather, The (1972), Godfather: Part II, The (1974), Godfather: Part III, The (1990)
Turnaround
A state of limbo that a movie enters after a studio decides to drop it. In turnaround, the producers have a chance to set the project up with another studio or with different talent. In union contracts, the time between when someone leaves work and when they start work the next day, or when someone is receiving compensation for not being given the contractual amount of time, it is sometimes said that they are in turnaround.
Two-Shot
A medium close-up shot of two subjects, usually framed from the chest up.
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