Glossary of Video terms:

Quickcuts Media’s Top 100

Terms for reference

We are primarily a B2B and B2C video production company in

Nashville, TN. We want to help you get the greatest benefit

you can for your company and goals, that you can get.

There are hundreds of terms in the film and video production

business, and each has their place. There are generic terms

like script, shot-list, post-production, VoiceOver, close-up, etc.

Then there are very specific terms like F-stop, boom, lav,

crane, dolly, aperture, over-crank, slip or slide, polar pattern,

proxies, dailies, the list goes on.

It’s not your job to know all the terms, but you do want to

understand some of the basics to be knowledgable when you

are planning or executing your project. You don’t want to get

“snowballed” in a meeting in front of your peers. BTW, a lot of

production folks are proud to talk shop in front of clients. We

think that isn’t terribly helpful, but a cursory understanding of

terms is a must to get the project you want completed with

excellence.

Here are 100 terms we think you should understand to make

your production the best it can be for you and your team.Pre-Production

Production - Camera Terms

Lighting Terms

Audio Terms

Camera Shots & Movement

Post Production - Video Editing

Audio Editing

General TermsPre-Production

Pre-production refers to all the activities that production teams

deal with before filming/recording content. The following is a list

of terms you’ll hear during the pre-production stage.

Outline

An outline is a written idea of the characters, props, and events

you’ll need to tell your story. You can use outlines to ensure

that your future script and storyboard keep your goals and

resources in mind.

Scenes

A scene is a sequence of continuous action on film. A scene

refers to an individual portion of your video where a character

or prop starts and finishes an action.

Script

A script is a written document that contains your story’s or

education information’s plot with characters, locations, and

dialogue written out. The script is focused on dialogue, with

short descriptions of visuals if needed.

With a script, you will know the elements necessary to produce

your video that your target audience will enjoy.Storyboards

A storyboard is a actual sketch of your story’s events: how

scenes will look. They can also include descriptions for camera

movement, character actions, and key dialogue. Typically, you

draw storyboards on a piece of paper. But you can also

visualize them in animation software as well. These can take

time, but properly executed are the guide for you when

production day(starts) become reality.

Shot List

A shot list refers to a detailed list of the shots your crew must

film (or animate) to tell your story. This can be done before,

after, or in place of a storyboard depending on the way you like

to work.

Video Assets

Your video assets are all of the necessary elements you will

need to produce your video.Production

Production refers to the list of activities you do while filming or

recording your video assets. Following is a list of terms you

may hear during the production stage.

Camera Terms

A-Cam

A-Cam refers to the main camera you’re using to film your

video. Many productions only use a single camera, but on

multi-cam productions, the A-Cam is the primary camera,

recording the most important footage.

A-Roll

A-Roll is all of your footage from your A-camera. This may be

your main interview or characters having a conversation.

B-Cam

B-Cam refers to the secondary camera and it supports or

complements the A-Cam. For example, if you locate your A-

Cam in front of the actor or interview speaking, your B-Cam

can capture another actor’s reactions or a side view of the

interview.

B-Roll

B-Roll is footage that supports your A-Roll. In a single-camera

scenario, B-roll is most commonly: detail shots, scenery,

working environment, etc.Camera Operator

The camera operator is the person who films the scenes and

shots from the shot list.

Depth of Field

Depth of field refers to perceived focus. What element is in

crisp focus, and what elements fall out of focus.

At a wide depth of field infers almost everything is perceived to

be in focus. A shallow depth of field conveys that your main

subject would be in focus, while that which is in front of and

behind the subject appears out of focus.

Director of Photography (DP)

The head of the camera and lighting crew, responsible for the

visual look of the production.

Focal Length

The distance (in mm) from the lens to the sensor when the

subject is in focus. Shorter focal lengths (e.g., 18mm) give

wide-angle views; longer ones (e.g., 85mm+) zoom in and

compress the background.

Frame

Frame refers to what you see on your monitor or viewfinder.

Sometimes on set you will hear, “is it in the frame”. That could

refer to an object you want in the frame of view, or equipment,

that you do not want in your frame. Your frame includes

everything that you choose to be there.Frame Rate

Videos are sequences of still images, or frames, assembled to

create motion. Frame Rate refers to the number of individual

images (frames) displayed per second (fps).

• 24 fps – Cinematic, “film look”

• 30 fps – Standard video/TV (US or NTSC Markets)

• 60 fps – Smooth motion, great for sports or slow-mo

• 120+ fps – Ultra-slow motion

Gimbal

A gimbal is a camera stabilizer. It uses electric motors to on 3

different axis. Gimbals can be handheld, rigged to drones or

attached to vehicles. Camera operators use them to record

stable footage while moving.

Chroma Key

A technique using a solid-colored background (often green) to

replace it with digital elements in post-production, common in

effects-heavy videos.

Sticks - Tripod

A three legged stabilizer for your camera. Commonly made

out of steel or carbon fiber, most include a Fluid Motion Head

for smooth movements for your camera.

White Balance

Adjusting the camera to ensure colors appear natural under

different lighting conditions, preventing color casts.Lighting Terms

Artificial Light

Artificial light comes from light sources that are controllable

and off-camera. Lighting instruments come in a wide variety of

shapes and styles and have specific specs and qualities to

help the crew attain the look the director is trying to achieve.

Natural Light

Natural light refers to the light produced by the sun, moon, or

any lighting that cannot be controlled, such as street lights or

the lights of a city at night.

Practical Light

Practical lights are light sources that are visible in your scene,

like a candle or lamp on top of your character’s desk. Ambient

lights can be used to help light a scene, or they can be used

with other light sources to add style to your scene.

Cinematographers use them to influence the mood and

ambiance of a scene.

Key Light

The key light is the main light source used to light your subject.

Your key light may be natural or artificial light.

Fill Light

Fill light is any secondary light source used to fill in shadows

on the main subject. Generally fill lights are used when

diffusing the light isn’t an option. A fill light could also be a

simple bounce card to “bounce/reflect” light into the shadow

side of a subject.Backlight

Backlighting a subject helps to separate them from the

background. This is also referred to as a rim or edge light, as it

creates a bright rimmed/edged outline on your subject.

Hard Light

Hard light is a direct, undiffused light source like spotlights or

direct sunlight. This type of light creates defined shadows with

hard edges, such as perfect outlines of people or shapes on a

wall. Hard light is often used in dramatic lighting where

shadows are desired.

Soft Light

Soft light is a diffused light source which creates a gentle

transition between light and shadow in your footage. Soft light

is also considered a Flat light, with the concept that you are

using it so you do not have shadows. Soft light can be ideal for

lighting people for interviews.

Diffuser

A diffuser is any material used to soften the light from a single-

point light source, like a spotlight, flashlight, or the sun.

Diffusers are mostly used to create soft light from hard light.

Color Temperature

Color temperature refers to the color of light that different

sources create. This is measured in Kelvin (K) and ranges from

2700 orange to 6500 blue (and everything in between). White

balance, what your camera sees, is based on the color temp it

sees. Correctly balanced, skin tones on subjects look natural

and true.Audio Terms

Ambient Sound

Ambient sounds provide the context of the scene’s location,

think car honks in a highway scene, water rushing in nature

scene, sirens in police scene or weights hitting the floor in a

gym scene.

Audio Level

The audio level refers to the volume at which you are

recording, which is measured in decibels (dB). Generally, you

want to keep your max level around -12dB to -6dB. Hitting 0dB

or higher may cause your audio to clip or distort. Distortion in

your audio cannot be fixed.

Boom Pole

A boom or boom pole is generally referred to the pole or arm to

which a microphone is mounted, and placed in a position

above (or below) the subject. They are used to get

microphones close to sound sources. Alternatively, properly

equipped they can give the crew the ability to place lights or

cameras where tripods or stands can’t be placed.

Cardioid

A cardioid microphone uses a polar pattern that captures

sound from the front and sides of the microphone. So it’s ideal

for a single person talking.Condenser

A condenser microphone is extra sensitive to sound, meaning

it is easier to distort your audio if your voice or sound from your

surroundings is too loud. However, they’re better at capturing

delicate sounds and voices than dynamic microphones.`

Decibel (dB)

A decibel is the unit of measurement for sound. For example, a

whisper is around 30 dB, while a movie theater can produce

sounds of 90 dB.

Dialogue

Dialogue is the main spoken track by actors or characters. It is

usually the main audio in any kind of video or movie.

Dynamic

Dynamic is a microphone that captures loud noises without

generating distortion. They’re perfect for recording music and

loud sounds.

Lavalier

Lavaliers are a small microphones that can be clipped to an

actor’s clothing, or taped to their body under their clothing to be

completely hidden. They are excellent for recording audio from

moving actors when you don’t have a boom operator capturing

audio, or if the frame of the camera is so wide that having a

boom mic is impossible. They are also perfect for interviewing

multiple people to ensure everyone’s audio level is the same.Mic

A mic, or microphone, is a sound capturing device. Noise or

voice vibrates a small metal ribbon or capsule to replicate it

and give the ability to record it on a camera or other device.

Omnidirectional

Omnidirectional patterned microphones capture sound from all

sides of the microphone. You can use them for scenes with

multiple speakers or where you need to capture ambient noise

or room tone. They are frequently used outside in windy

conditions.

Polar pattern

A microphone’s polar pattern describes the directions (e.g.,

front, back, sides) from which the microphone can capture

sound.

Room Tone

Room tone is beneficial for the editor in post-production.

Simply put, it is the sound in the room or environment where

the filming or shoot is taking place, without anyone speaking.

Room tone can refer to sound from both indoors and outdoors.

XLR

An XLR cable is the industry standard cable connection for

microphones and recorders. These cables deliver balanced

audio signals and power to microphones that need auxiliary

power.Types of Shots & Camera

Movement

Close-Up Shot - CU

A close-up, also called a CU, is a shot of your subject in which

they fill most of the frame, hiding most of the background. Use

close-ups to highlight an important line from a character or

interview, to emphasize a reaction, or to show other important

details help tell a story.

Crane

A crane shot (or boom) is where a camera is physically moved

higher or lower on a crane or boom arm, revealing details and/

or subjects in the movement.

Dolly Zoom or Zolly

A dolly zoom, also known as a zolly, is camera movement and

lens zoom move in opposite directions. If the camera operator

zooms in, they have to dolly away from the subject. This

creates an uneasy effect where your character remains the

same size, while the background shrinks or grows behind

them.

Medium-Close Shot - MCU

A medium-close shot focuses on the character’s face but may

includes a portion of the background and the actor’s body.Medium Shot - MS

A medium shot usually shows from the waist up, and a portion

of the background.

Medium Wide Shot - MWS

A medium wide shot is a type of shot that sits between a

medium and a wide shot. It includes a more of the actor’s body

and more background elements.

Over-The-Shoulder Shot - OTS

An over-the-shoulder (OTS) frames a subject from behind

another actor, with part of their shoulder and/or head on the

side of the frame, with the main actor in the middle or opposite

side of the frame.

Pan

A pan is a camera movement that moves from left to right (or

vice versa) revealing objects, movement of characters,

vehicles, etc.

Point of View shot - POV

A point of view (POV) shot shows what an actor sees. This

shot allows viewers live the story from a character’s eyes - or -

Point Of View.

Pull or Push

A Pull is a camera movement where your camera operator

moves the camera away from your subject and a Push is

where your camera operator moves the camera closer to the

subject, without modifying the focal length.Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a photography rule where you use

imaginary lines (or an overlay template in your camera) to

divide your frame into thirds, vertically and horizontally. The

Rule states that you position the most critical elements of your

scene at the intersection of the thirds.Tilt

A tilt is camera movement from a fixed position, usually on a

tripod, and the frame moves vertically to capture a scene from

top to bottom (or vice versa).

Two-Shot

A two-shot includes two characters in the frame. A wide shot of

an interview is a common use.

Wide Shot - WS

A wide shot varies from scene to scene. With interviews it may

be used to show both interviewer and interviewee. In an

outdoor scene it may be used to establish the location - a

whole house, a car with actors in front of it, a cityscape. It gives

the viewer reference to where the scene takes place.

Zoom

Unlike a Pull or Push, a Zoom a camera technique performed

with a zoom lens, where you get your shot closer to or farther

from the subject without moving the camera.Post-Production

In the world of video production, post-production refers to all

the processes your producer does after filming/recording video

and/or audio assets. The following is a list of terms you may

hear during the post-production stage.

Video Editing

Captions

Captions are words displayed on a video that allows people to

read what actors are saying, or add context to a scene’s sound

—like mentioning that a song is playing, or calling out specific

sound effects. Captions are meant to make the video more

accessible for those with hearing impairments. Note: when

videos include subtitles in the same language as the spoken

words, they are called captions—not subtitles.

Closed Captions

Closed captions allow the viewers to turn the captions on or off.

Often you will find subtitles for other languages other than the

primary language of the video available as closed captions.

Compression

Compression is the process of reducing the file size while

maintaining quality. The more compression you apply, the

smaller the file size will be. However, you run the risk of

lowering your quality as well. Compressing your final files,

reduces the amount of storage space necessary to save your

files.Color Correction

Color correction is the process of adjusting your video’s colors

to get to a neutral point – where white, actually looks white.

This process is vital, as the location and lighting you record

with can affect how your camera captures color.

Color Grade

Color grading, takes place after color correction. It is the

process of adjusting your video’s colors to create a specific

aesthetic or style.

Cut

A cut occurs between one shot and another and indicates that

time in the story is continuing. It’s when you go from one scene

to the next, without a transition. A cut is also the action of

dividing a single clip into multiple clips on your timeline.

Also, a CUT is commonly referred to as a version of the story.

You may hear - “Your cut is ready for review.”

Dissolve

Traditionally a dissolve is a transition effect used to fade to or

from one scene to another, and indicates a change in time, into

the future, or in an historical perspective.

Edit

Editing refers to all steps in piecing together your final video

after you’ve finished filming/recording. In the editing process,

you modify the image, story structure, and sound to get to a

finished video.Export

Exporting is the process of processing your edited footage or

animation into a format others can see, like .mov or .mp4.

Freeze Frame

A freeze-frame is a still image—from your video - that is

“frozen” and extended to its desired length, and has no motion.

Graphic

Graphics refers to Computer Generated Images, or CGI. They

are visual assets you add into your video. Common formats for

graphics are: PNG, JPEG,TIFF, PSD, PDF,EPS

J-Cut / L-Cut

Editing techniques where audio from the next shot starts

before (J-cut) or continues after (L-cut) the visual cut, for

smoother transitions.

Lower Third

A graphic overlay at the bottom of the screen displaying

names, titles, or information.

Motion Graphics

Motion graphics are visual assets—like text or shapes—that

include movement. Some examples: animated typography,

explainer videos, graphic loops, infographics.

Non-Linear Editing (NLE)

The modern digital editing process allowing non-sequential

access to footage, as opposed to old tape-based linear editing.Open Captions

Open captions are captions viewers can’t turn off. They are a

great option if you want to stylize your captions to meet brand

standards, or if you know people might be watching your video

without the audio turned on, like while scrolling through their

social media feeds.

Proxies

Proxies are lower-resolution versions of your camera’s footage

that most video editing software creates, that allows you to edit

your video without bogging down your computer’s processor

power.Raw footage

Raw footage refers to footage no one has edited. This can be

video, film transfers to video, photos, finished graphics,

branding elements, audio recordings, etc.

(Raw footage can also refer to footage shot in a RAW format,

an unprocessed format that allows you to more control and

more processing steps in editing.)

Rendering

Rendering is the process of preparing your video files inside of

your editing software to see a real-time preview of edit. In most

software this step must be completed to export for viewing

online.

Rendering Time

The rendering time is the amount of time it takes your

computer to render your video.

Rough Cut

An initial assembly of footage without final effects, color, or

audio mix, used for review.Sequence

A sequence can be several things.

• In animation, a sequence is a combination of still images

that produce an animated moving one.

• In video and film, a sequence is the assembly of multiple

shots to create a scene — a sequence of events.

• In Adobe Premiere Pro, a sequence is their term for your

timeline, the working space in which you edit your video.

Subtitles

Subtitles are words displayed on a video in a language other

than the original language. Subtitles are commonly used for

dialogue, but you can also translate audio descriptions as well.Thumbnail

Thumbnails are still images for your video that appear on video

hosting platforms and streaming services before a person

plays your video. You can use thumbnails to introduce a

potential viewer to your video’s content.

Timeline

The timeline is a name given to the software representing the

horizontal area in animation and video editing, where you build

your video. It is a visual representation of the editing process of

cuts, dissolves, transitions, effects, audio, etc.

Vignette

A vignette is a visual effect where the video’s frame is

darkened around the edges. Vignettes are stylistic and bring

focus toward the middle of the screen.Audio Editing

Audio Mix

The audio mix is the decibel level at which individual audio

tracks are mixed together in the editing process. It is the

delicate balance between dialogue, room tone, music, ambient

noise, and sound effects.

Equalization

Audio files are composed of sound waves that have different

frequencies from across the audible spectrum. We often

describe this as the tone of the sound. Equalization is the

process of adjusting the levels of different frequencies to

change the overall tone of the finished audio.

Foley

Foley is the art and science of creating sounds during the post-

production that help the story, but were not filmed/recorded on

set. In a controlled recording studio, foley artists watch the

video or film in real-time and perform the actions at the same

speed as the actors to create sound effects that match up

perfectly to the action on screen.

Lip Sync

Lip sync is when an actor or animated character’s mouth

mimics the audio that someone else (e.g., voice artist) has

recorded.

Sound Effects

Audio tracks you add on to your footage to enhance or support

the message your video is trying to convey.Sound Design

The process of creating and layering all audio elements to

enhance the video's atmosphere and narrative

Voiceover

A voiceover is a dialogue audio track that is only heard in a

video or film, the voice actor is not seen. Common voiceovers

are: narrator of a story, a character’s thoughts or a trainer in a

tutorial video.General Terms

The following is a list of terms you might hear during any stage

of the video-creation process.

Animation

Animations are rapid sequences or frames, of different

drawings that move when combined.

Aspect Ratio

The proportional relationship between a video's width and

height (e.g., 16:9 for widescreen). Important for ensuring

videos display correctly on different devices.

Background Noise

Background noise is any undesired sound that makes it into

the footage, typically without the film crew noticing.

Codec

Codec stands for Compression - DECompression. It is a

method for encoding and decoding video files (e.g., H.264,

HEVC). It affects file size, quality, and compatibility during

export.

Content

Content is information a company or individual creates so

another person can consume it.Digital Audio Signal

A digital signal is a type of signal that doesn’t have a

continuous variation in voltage. Computers, alarms and many

digital devices produce digital signals.

Footage

Generically, footage refers to material cameras capture.Format

A format, or file format, is a form of data storage. The format of

your audio and video files influences their size, quality, and the

devices that can play them.Video Resolution

A measurement of a video’s image quality based on the

number of pixels used to produce a video. Pictures and frames

with more pixels have a larger resolution, file size, and

generally better quality.

FHD – full high definition (1080p)

Full high definition is a video resolution made of 1920 pixels

wide and 1080 high, with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

HD – high definition (720p)

High definition refers to a video resolution of 1280 pixels wide

and 720 high, with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

HDD – hard drive disk

A hard drive disk is a data storage device that saves data on a

platter—a spinning “plate” of magnetic material. HDDs are now

inexpensive and widely available; however, they are less

reliable and much slower than SSDs.

OverlayAn overlay is a visual asset placed on top of another visual

asset. Examples: titles, lower third titles, brand logos, captions.Pixel

A video pixel, short for "picture element," is the smallest unit of

a digital image or video frame that represents a specific color

and brightness. The total number of pixels in a video

determines its resolution and overall clarity.

SD – standard definition (480p)

Standard definition is an older video resolution made with 720

pixels of width and 480 of height. Because of this, it has an

aspect ratio of 4:3 (for old square televisions) as opposed to

modern wide screens with an aspect ratio of 16:9.Storage

Storage refers to a device where you save images, sound, or

multimedia assets for current or future use. File sizes are most

common in Kilobytes(KB), Megabytes (MB), Gigabytes (GB),

and Terabytes (TB). Thanks to the metric system, these sizes

are easy to remember.

1,000KB=1MB

1,000MB=1GB

1,000GB=1TB

SSD – solid-state drive

A solid-state drive is a data storage device that saves data in

integrated circuits instead of a disk. Solid-state drives are

much faster, consume less energy, and are more expensive

than HDDs.

Stock Footage

Pre-recorded video clips available for license, used to

supplement original footage without additional shooting.Timecode

A sequence of numbers representing

hours:minutes:seconds:frames, used to synchronize video and

audio during editing.

UHD – ultra high definition (4K)

Ultra high definition is a video resolution made of 3840 pixels

wide and 2160 high, with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Know the terms

Understand the difference between a frame size and a frame rate, A-roll and B-roll, Soft Light and Hard light.

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