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
Sibilance
An exaggerated hissing in voice patterns. (Post Production)
Film & Broadcast
Sider
A device which cuts the light from the side of a lighting unit, usually a flag or a cutter. (Grip/Lighting)
Film & Broadcast
Sight Line
An imaginary line that is drawn between a subject and the object that he/she is looking at.
Film & Broadcast
Signal
The form of variation with time of a wave whereby information is conveyed in some form whether it is acoustic or electronic.
Film & Broadcast
Signal to Noise Ratio
This is the ratio of the desired signal to the unwanted noise in an audio or video record/playback system.
Film & Broadcast
Silk
A lighting diffusion or reflective material, formerly real silk. (Grip/Lighting)
Film & Broadcast
Single
A shot with only one subject in the frame. (Production)
Film & Broadcast
Single System
A method of recording sound and picture on the same medium, most typically used in news gathering.
Film & Broadcast
Single-Stripe
Magnetic film that contains a single audio track, which is coated with oxide.
Film & Broadcast
Skip Frame
An optical printing effect which eliminates selected frames of the original scene to speed up the action. (Laboratory)
Film & Broadcast
Slate
The identifier placed in front of the camera at beginning of a take.
Film & Broadcast
Slave
An audio tape or videotape transport, projector or mag film dubber whose movements follow the movement of a single master transport. Accomplished electronically by using SMPTE time code numbers or mechanically by motor linkage of sprocketed machines.
Film & Broadcast
Slug
A strip of blank leader or image-bearing film used as leader. (Film Editing)
Film & Broadcast
SMPTE
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
Film & Broadcast
SMPTE Time Code
Also known as Longitudinal Time Code. A high frequency signal that allows the accurate “locking” of film audio and video equipment. Locator information is displayed as numbers.
Film & Broadcast
Snake
A multi-channel audio cable intended for use with microphone level signals and/or line level signals. (Audio/Video/Electronics)
Film & Broadcast
Sound Designer
A film sound specialist responsible for the development and augmentation of all soundtrack material, or a significant portion thereof, and is ultimately in charge of the entire sound production. Occasionally, it is used to refer to a person who is responsible for creating unique sounds or sound elements which are incorporated into a sound track. […]
Film & Broadcast
Sound Effect
A recorded or electronically produced sound that matches the visual action taking place onscreen.
Film & Broadcast
Sound Master Positive
A sound print on made from the sound negative for producing duplicate negatives of the sound record track for release printing.
Film & Broadcast
Sound Mixer
The person responsible for capturing sound as it plays out live, determining microphone types and placement. (Sound)
Film & Broadcast
Sound Negative
A negative sound image on film which is obtained by exposure through a positive sound image.