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
Analog Recording
A means of recording audio or video whereby the recorded signal is a physical representation of the waveform of the original signal.
Film & Broadcast
Anamorphic
An optical system having different magnifications in the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the image.
Film & Broadcast
Angle of View
This is the size of the field covered by a lens, measured in degrees. However, because of the aperture masks in film, the angle of view for a given lens is generally described in terms of the height and width of a lens. (Cinematography).
Film & Broadcast
Answer Print
The first print combining picture and sound which is submitted by the laboratory for the customer’s approval. (Laboratory)
Film & Broadcast
Anti-Aliasing
Filtering of erroneous frequencies that are created during the analog to digital conversion process. (Sound/Picture)
Film & Broadcast
Aperture
A variable opening inside a lens that regulates the amount of light reaching the image plane. Also known as an iris. (Camera/Lighting)
Film & Broadcast
Apple Box
A box build of a strong wood or plywood which is capable of supporting weight. These may be of various sizes, the smallest of which is also known as a ‘pancake’ because it is nearly flat. (Lighting/Grip)
Film & Broadcast
Arc
A lighting unit that generates illumination from an electrical arc between two carbon electrodes. (Lighting)
Film & Broadcast
ASA
The exposure index or speed rating of a film which denotes the film’s sensitivity.
Film & Broadcast
Aspect Ratio
The proportion of picture width to height (1.33:1, 1.66:1, 1.85:1 or 2.35:1).
Film & Broadcast
Asperity Noise
(Hiss) Noise that is caused by minute imperfections in the surface of a recording medium (tape). (Sound)
Film & Broadcast
Assemble
The work of organizing and joining the shots of a film in the sequence in which they will appear in the finished print. (Film Editing)
Film & Broadcast
Associate Producer
This is normally the person who acts as the liason between a production company and the various personnel involved in the post production process.
Film & Broadcast
Associational Editing
The juxtaposition of shots in order to present contrast, comparisons or ideas. (Film Editing)
Film & Broadcast
Asynchronous Sound
Sound which is indigenous to the action but not precisely synchronized with the action.
Film & Broadcast
Atmosphere
Extras who are staged and photographed to portray normal human traffic needed to add detail in various script situations. (Production)
Film & Broadcast
Attenuate
To reduce a signal’s strength.
Film & Broadcast
Audible Spectrum
When wave motion in the atmosphere has a frequency that lies between 20 and 15,000 Hz it produces a sound which is apparent to the average human. (Acoustics)
Film & Broadcast
Automatic Slating
A camera attachment which records the film shot and take numbers and a visible sync mark which corresponds to a tone fed to an audio recorder.
Film & Broadcast
B-Wind
An indication of the emulsion position on a roll of film. A ‘B’ Wind indicates that the emulsion is facing out, or away, from the center or core of the film roll. (Film Editing)
Film & Broadcast
Baby
Usually a reference to a 1K light unit. It is also used to describe any light unit which is smaller than a standard size unit of comparable intensity (i.e. baby 1K, baby 2K, baby 5K, etc.). For grips, it refers to anything with a 5/8 inch stud (i.e. baby plate). (Grip/Lighting)