Discrete, metadata‑driven audio elements in a Dolby Atmos soundscape.
Filmmaking
Filmmaking Terms, A to Z
Go behind the camera and explore the art and craft of filmmaking. This category breaks down the technical and creative processes involved in bringing a movie to life — from cinematography and directing to editing, sound design, production roles, and special effects. Whether you're curious about how a scene is shot or how a film crew operates, dive into the world of practical movie-making knowledge.
- filmmaking terms
- 913
- of the whole glossary
- 30%
- starting letters
- 27
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All 913 Filmmaking Terms
Listed alphabetically, each with its one-line answer first. This page runs from Atmos Objects to Canon C70. S is the busiest letter here, with 146 entries. Jump to a letter to see only the filmmaking terms that start with it.
Filmmaking terms starting with A
6 of 56 on this page · all A entries
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An atmosphere track, also known as a background track, is a continuous audio recording that establishes the sonic environment and sense of place for a scene.
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Auro-Max is a hybrid immersive audio format that combines the channel-based strengths of Auro-3D with the flexibility of object-based sound design.
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A three‑layered immersive audio format adding height channels above traditional surround.
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A critical framework recognizing the director as the principal creative force of a film.
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An Autonomous Camera is a robotic camera system powered by artificial intelligence that can independently track subjects, frame shots, and execute complex movements without direct human operation.
Filmmaking terms starting with B
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The B camera is a secondary camera used during a shoot to simultaneously capture additional angles, coverage, or a different type of shot than the primary A camera.
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Supplementary footage used to enrich visuals, cover edits, and illustrate narration.
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B‑roll is supplemental or alternative footage intercut with A‑roll to enrich narrative and cover edits.
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A baby dolly is a compact, lightweight camera dolly designed for smaller crews and tighter spaces where a full-sized dolly is impractical.
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A back-light is a light source placed behind a subject, facing the camera, which creates a glowing outline or 'halo' effect on the subject's head and shoulders.
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An outdoor area on a studio property used for filming set pieces and exterior scenes.
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A backup mag is the secondary, verified copy of the raw footage captured on a film set during a given day.
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A diffused overhead lighting solution using an inflatable sphere
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To bang the scene is film set slang for completing the filming of a scene very quickly, often due to time pressure.
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Baselight is a high-performance color grading and finishing system developed by FilmLight, renowned in the feature film and high-end television industries for its powerful toolset and unique color science.
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A battery-powered genny is a large, portable, rechargeable power station that serves as a silent, zero-emission alternative to the traditional diesel generators used on film locations.
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A modular lithium‑ion power system enabling continuous, emission‑free operation
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In immersive audio, a bed channel is a static, channel-based audio layer that provides the foundational, ambient soundscape of a scene.
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A behind-the-scenes clip is a short video featurette that showcases the making of a film, offering audiences a glimpse into the production process, from stunt work to special effects.
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A large-scale miniature model used for highly detailed visual effects photography.
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'Black Magic' is on-set slang for the process of using black flags and materials to block or subtract unwanted light from a scene.
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Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K
Super 35 digital cinema camera offering 6K BRAW capture in a compact, budget-friendly body.
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High-resolution cinema camera with 12K BRAW capture aimed at VFX-heavy and premium productions.
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A photochemical process that omits the bleaching step to produce high-contrast, desaturated images.
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A technique using target-based vertex deformation for nuanced facial expressions and morphs.
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A scheduling technique that films scenes for specific actors or locations in grouped blocks.
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The process of planning and marking actors’ movements within a scene.
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A blocking rehearsal is the process on a film set where the director works with the actors and key crew to choreograph the movements and positions for a scene before filming.
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A Blue Code is an industry-specific term that can refer to a medical emergency on set or, in a different context, indicate that a scene involves nudity or simulated sexual activity.
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The blue hour is the brief period of twilight in the morning or evening when the sun is below the horizon and the sky is filled with a deep blue, indirect light.
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A chroma key technique using a blue backdrop for special effects compositing.
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A blue screen shoot is a visual effects technique that uses a solid blue background for chroma keying, allowing it to be replaced with another image in post-production.
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A body double is a performer who substitutes for a principal actor in a scene, typically chosen for their strong physical resemblance to the actor.
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A book light is a lighting setup that creates exceptionally soft, flattering light by bouncing a source off a white surface and through another diffusion layer.
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A book-light is a lighting setup that creates exceptionally soft, flattering light by bouncing a source off one surface and then diffusing it through another.
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A directional microphone mounted on a pole to capture dialogue while staying out of frame
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The boom operator positions microphones so dialogue sounds natural while cameras stay oblivious to the gear.
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A boom pole is a long, telescoping pole used by the sound department to position a microphone as close to the actors as possible without appearing in the camera's frame.
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A reflective surface used to redirect and soften light onto a subject
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A 'box,' often called an 'apple box,' is a simple wooden box used by the grip department on a film set for a wide variety of tasks, from propping up furniture to raising the height of an actor.
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A Brain Bar is the on-set digital command center for an In-Camera VFX production, where technicians and artists control the real-time 3D environment.
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BRAW (Blackmagic RAW) is an efficient, partially de-mosaiced raw codec from Blackmagic Design that combines raw quality with smaller file sizes.
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A breakaway shot shows a secondary action or detail, momentarily diverting attention from the main action before returning to it.
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Scene-by-scene inventory lists every element—from cast to cows—that must appear on camera.
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A Brompton processor is a specialized video processing unit that manages and calibrates the LED panels used in virtual production and live events.
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The ITU-R recommendation defining HDR television formats and transfer functions.
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'Buck Shot' is on-set slang for a camera shot that is wide and generic, often used as a simple establishing shot or basic coverage.
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A compact, cylindrical camera designed for unobtrusive point-of-view shots
Filmmaking terms starting with C
11 of 84 on this page · all C entries
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The C camera is a third camera used in a multi-camera setup to capture even more angles, often focusing on specific details, inserts, or wide establishing shots.
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A C-47 is the film industry's slang term for a standard wooden spring-loaded clothespin, used ubiquitously by grips and electricians.
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A versatile grip stand used to hold lights, flags, silks, and other equipment on set.
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A specially modified vehicle designed to mount and operate cameras for moving shots.
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Specific instructions for camera placement, movement, and framing to achieve the director’s vision.
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The crew member who physically controls the camera to capture each shot.
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Camera projection is a visual effects technique that projects a 2D image onto simple 3D geometry to create the illusion of a three-dimensional scene.
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A camera test is a series of filmed trials conducted during pre-production to evaluate the performance of cameras, lenses, and film stock, or to assess an actor's on-screen appearance.
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System that measures a camera’s position, rotation, and lens state so virtual scenes align with live action.
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The Canon C300 Mark III is a professional Super 35 digital cinema camera known for its Dual Gain Output (DGO) sensor, exceptional dynamic range, and robust internal RAW recording capabilities.
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The Canon C70 is a compact cinema camera that packs the sensor and features of the C300 Mark III into a smaller, mirrorless-style body with an RF lens mount.
Other categories
The Other Seven Categories
The rest of the glossary, each with its own A to Z index: genres and styles, characters and tropes, storytelling, industry and awards, pop culture and fandom, general terms, and the odd ones out.
