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Filmmaking Terms Starting With P

The filmmaking terms that begin with P, in alphabetical order.

1–60 of 74 entries

Definitions of Filmmaking Terms Starting With P

Open any entry for the full definition, where the term comes from and the films that show it best.

  • P3-D65

    A wide-gamut color space based on DCI-P3 primaries with a D65 white point.

  • P3-D65 Trim

    A P3-D65 trim is a specialized color correction pass that adapts a theatrical film master to the specific color standards required for high-end home entertainment and streaming platforms.

  • Pacing

    Pacing is the perceived speed at which a story is told, determined by factors like scene length, editing speed, and the rate of plot progression.

  • Page Count

    The page count is the total number of pages in a screenplay, a crucial metric used in the film industry to estimate a movie's potential runtime.

  • Page Per Minute Rule

    The page-per-minute rule is a widely used industry guideline which estimates that one page of a properly formatted screenplay corresponds to one minute of screen time.

  • Pan & Scan

    A reprojection process cropping widescreen films to fit narrower screens

  • Panavision DXL2

    Large-format cinema camera system combining Panavision optics with RED sensor technology and color science.

  • Paper Tech

    A Paper Tech is a pre-production or rehearsal session where creative and technical teams walk through a scene's cues and transitions on paper before implementing them on set.

  • Paperless Shoot

    A paperless shoot is a film production methodology that aims to minimize or eliminate the use of paper documents by utilizing digital alternatives.

  • PAR Can

    A PAR Can is a simple, robust lighting fixture consisting of a housing ('can') and a PAR lamp, which produces a powerful, non-focusable, oval-shaped beam of light.

  • Parallax Error

    In virtual production, a parallax error is a visual glitch where the 3D background on an LED wall does not move correctly in relation to the camera's perspective.

  • Parallel Editing

    An editing style that juxtaposes separate storylines to draw thematic comparisons

  • Parenthetical Formatting

    A parenthetical is a brief direction for an actor, placed in parentheses within a dialog block, that clarifies the tone, intent, or action accompanying a line.

  • Pencil

    A tool traditionally used for marking continuity notes and scene details on set.

  • Pencil Test

    A pencil test is a preliminary version of an animated sequence created from the animator's rough pencil drawings to check timing and motion.

  • Phantom Flex4K

    High-speed digital cinema camera capturing extreme slow motion with crisp detail and robust triggering.

  • Pick-Up Shot

    A brief, supplemental shot added after principal photography to address coverage gaps or continuity errors.

  • Pick-Up Unit

    A pick-up unit is a small film crew assembled after principal photography has wrapped to shoot minor additional shots or reshoots.

  • Pickups

    Pickups are minor shots or portions of shots filmed after principal photography has wrapped to supplement or fix issues discovered in the edit.

  • Picture Vehicle

    A picture vehicle is any automobile, truck, motorcycle, or other form of transportation that appears on camera during a film production.

  • Picture Wrap

    Picture wrap signifies the completion of principal photography for an entire film project.

  • Pillarboxing

    Adding vertical bars to display narrower aspect ratios on wider screens

  • Pinterest Board

    A Pinterest board is a digital collage used as an essential tool in film pre-production for creating and sharing a movie's visual identity.

  • Pixel Tube

    A pixel tube is a modern, tube-shaped LED lighting fixture where individual sections, or pixels, can be controlled independently for color, intensity, and effects.

  • Plate Playback Server

    A plate playback server is a high-performance computer system used on set to play back pre-recorded background footage, known as plates, onto LED screens for virtual production.

  • Polarizing Filter

    A camera lens filter that reduces reflections and enhances color saturation.

  • Polishing

    A script polish is the final stage of the rewriting process, focusing on refining dialogue, pacing, and formatting rather than making major structural changes.

  • Porta Video

    'Porta Video' is an outdated term for a portable video playback system on a film set, the precursor to the modern, more complex Video Village.

  • Post-conform Change-list

    A post-conform change-list is a data file that tracks edits made to a film after the picture has been 'locked' and sent to other post-production departments.

  • Post-Credit Stinger

    A brief additional scene appearing after the end credits to tease future content or provide closure.

  • Post-Production

    The stage after filming that focuses on editing, visual effects, and sound design to complete the film.

  • Potato Light

    A 'potato light' is a humorous slang term for a very simple, often bare-bulb, utility light used on a film set for general illumination rather than for artistic lighting.

  • Power Window

    A Power Window is a shape-based masking tool used in color grading to isolate a specific region of the image, allowing for targeted adjustments to be applied exclusively within that area.

  • PQ Curve

    A perceptual quantizer transfer function standardized for HDR distribution.

  • Practical Effect

    An on-set effect achieved without digital manipulation, using physical methods and materials.

  • Practical Lighting

    On-screen fixtures double as diegetic illumination, blending narrative logic with cinematographic needs.

  • Pre-Production

    The planning phase of a film project involving design, logistics, and resource allocation before shooting begins.

  • Prelight

    A prelight is the practice of setting up and programming the lighting for a scene before the main actors are required on set.

  • Premix

    A premix is an intermediate stage in audio post-production where related sound elements, such as dialogue or sound effects, are blended together into a sub-mix before the final mix.

  • Prep Day

    A prep day is a paid day of work for a crew member that occurs before principal photography begins, dedicated to preparation, planning, and organization.

  • Previs

    Previs is a 3D computer-animated visualization of a complex film sequence, created during pre-production to plan intricate camera work and action.

  • Previsualization

    Previsualization, or previs, is the advanced process of creating a digital, often 3D-animated, mock-up of complex film sequences to meticulously plan the shots, camera work, and technical execution before filming.

  • Primary Color Correction

    Primary Color Correction is the foundational stage of color grading where broad adjustments to brightness, contrast, and color balance are applied to the entire image simultaneously.

  • Prime Lens

    A fixed focal-length camera lens prized for optical clarity and wide apertures

  • Principal Photography

    The primary phase of shooting a film when the majority of the footage is captured by the production crew.

  • Printmaster

    Final approved mix master combining dialogue, music, and effects into delivery-ready stems or beds.

  • Producer Notes

    Guidance from producers focusing on logistical, budgetary, and narrative efficiency in a script.

  • Producer’s Cut

    A version of a film edited under a producer’s supervision, often differing from the director’s creative vision.

  • Production Coordinator

    Production coordinators orchestrate the paperwork and logistics that keep call sheets, travel and gear flowing on time.

  • Production Design

    The overall visual concept of a film, encompassing sets, locations and props.

  • Production Mix

    The production mix is the live audio mix created on set by the production sound mixer during filming, combining signals from various microphones into a coherent track for dailies and editorial use.

  • Production Notes

    Comprehensive records of daily shoot progress, challenges, and operational decisions.

  • Production Report

    End-of-day summary logs pages shot, scenes completed, expenses, injuries, and equipment notes for studio oversight.

  • Production Sound Mixer

    The production sound mixer heads the on-set audio team, guaranteeing usable dialogue for post-production.

  • Production Supervisor

    Production supervisors track cost reports, union compliance and cross-departmental logistics so chaos never reaches the set.

  • Prompt Library

    A prompt library is a curated, organized collection of text commands used to achieve consistent and high-quality results from generative AI tools within a production workflow.

  • Prop List

    A prop list is a detailed breakdown, generated from the script, of every single property or 'prop' that appears in a film.

  • Props Master

    The person in charge of acquiring, maintaining, and organizing all props used during filming.

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