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Film & Broadcast Glossary

Film & Broadcast is about telling stories – whether fiction or factual. This combines high standards of training in production skills to make programs – dramas and documentaries for radio, television and cinema

Film & Broadcast

FAY

A 650 watt PAR light with daylight balance dichroic fliter. (Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Feather

Moving a ‘flag’ closer to or further away from a light source that it is in front of will feather (soften/harden) the shadow on the surface upon which the light falls. (Grip/Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Feed Lines

Lines of dialogue which are read outside camera range for the benefit of an ‘on camera’ or ‘on microphone’ actor or voice over artist.

Film & Broadcast

Fill Leader

Film leader used to fill in the blanks in picture workprint. (Film Editing)

Film & Broadcast

Film Base

The flexible, usually transparent support on which photographic emulsions and magnetic coatings are carried. (Film Editing)

Film & Broadcast

Film Cement

A common term for the welding solvent used in splicing film. (Film Editing)

Film & Broadcast

Film Notcher

A device used to punch out a small portion of the edge of a piece of film in order to permit electrical contacts on a printer to come together and thus activate light changes. (Film Editing)

Film & Broadcast

Filter

A transparent material having the ability to absorb certain wavelengths of light and transmit others.

Film & Broadcast

Fingers

Small flags used to control light. (Grip/Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Fixing

The removal of unexposed silver halides from the film during processing.

Film & Broadcast

Flat

Usually an agreement to perform work or provide a service for a fixed fee or wage which will not be affected by overtime restrictions of unexpected costs. Also used in terms of sets and set construction elements which are generally used to create walls.

Film & Broadcast

Flatbed

A modern film or sound editing system where reels are laid horizontally on “plates” on a mechanized table with sound and picture heads.

Film & Broadcast

Flicker

The alternation of light and dark which can be visually perceived.

Film & Broadcast

Float

Periodic vertical movement of the image which occurs as a result of mechanical faults in the camera, printer, or projector.

Film & Broadcast

Flood

The widest beam spread on a lensed light. (Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Flop-over

An optical effect in which the picture is shown reversed from left to right.

Film & Broadcast

Flutter

The rapid period variation of frequency caused by unsteadiness of the film or tape drive. (Sound)

Film & Broadcast

Flux

An amount of light which is present as measured in lumens.

Film & Broadcast

Foamcore

Polystyrene which is sandwiched between paper. It is used to relectors, soft boxes, and other items because it is stable and easily cut. (Grip/Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Focus Pull

The refocusing of a lens during a shot to keep a moving subject in focus or to change the person or object of attention. (Cinematography)

Film & Broadcast

Fog Level

The minimum density of the unexposed area of processed film.