Media Terminology

I've put up some media terminology so we can get use to using it and the more terminology we learn the more we can add really (:

Big Close-up - a shot taken very close to the subject (closer than would be necessary for a close-up), revealing extreme detail. 

Bridging shot - a shot (cut) used to cover a break in time, or other break in continuity.

Close-up -  a shot taken very close to the subject ( or with the subject of the shot very large in the frame)

Continuity of motion - the flow of action from one shot to the next as it is placed on the screen at the cut point. Placing the significant action at the end of a shot in the same area of the screen where the significant action will begin in the next shot.

Cross-cut - the intercutting of shots from two or more scenes so the fragments of each scene will be presented to the viewers attention alternately. - see parallel action

Cut - in editing, a single unbroken strip of film

Dissolve - a gradual merging of the end of one shot and beginning of another produced by the superimposition of a fade-out onto a fade-in of equal length.

Establishing shot - a shot used near the beginning of a scene to establish the inter-relationship of details to be shown subsequently in closer shots.

Fade-in -  a shot which begins in total darkness and gradually lightens to full brightness. or To gradually bring sound from inaudibility to required volume.

Fade-out - the opposite of a fade-in.

Jump cut - A cut which breaks the continuity of time by jumping forward from one part of an action to another.

Library shot - a shot used in a film, but not originally taken for that film.

Long shot - a shot taken from a considerable distance. Often the LS serves as an establishing shot. (i.e., a human figure taken so it is shorter than the height of the screen)

Master shot - a shot which covers an entire piece of dramatic action (usually a long shot, or wide shot).

Medium close-up  - a shot between a MS and a CU. (i.e., a human figure taken from the chest up)

Medium shot - a shot between a LS and a MCU (i.e.,. a human figure taken from the waist up)

Pan - to rotate the camera about on its vertical axis.

Parallel action - a device of narrative construction in which the development of two pieces of action are presented simultaneously.

Rough cut - first assembly of a film which the editor prepares from selected takes, in script order, leaving the finer points of timing and editing to a later stage.

Scene - action that occurs in one location at one time.

Sequence - a series of shots or scenes which has a beginning, middle and end (like a chapter in a book).

Shot - a recording of a single take.

Synchronize (sync) - to place sound and picture in their proper relationship.

Take - a recording of a single shot.

Tilt - to turn or rotate the camera up or down in shooting.

Connotation - The implication of such ideas or feelings.


Denotation - The action or process of indicating or referring to something by means of a word, symbol.