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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Filmmaking Terms Starting With B
The filmmaking terms that begin with B, in alphabetical order.
1–43 of 43 entries
Definitions of Filmmaking Terms Starting With B
Open any entry for the full definition, where the term comes from and the films that show it best.
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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
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