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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

Counter

A device for measuring lengths of film by counting the number of frames.

Film & Broadcast

Coupler

A chemical incorporated into the emulsion of color film stocks which produces a dye image associated with the developed silver image.

Film & Broadcast

Cover Set

A location which is kept in reserve to serve as an alternate shooting site in case the chosen shooting site is unusable. It is most commonly used in the context of shooting planned for an out of doors location. (Production)

Film & Broadcast

Coverage

An indeterminate number of more detailed shots which are intended to be intercut with a master shot or scene. (Production)

Film & Broadcast

CP Filters

Color printing filters made in precise density values for the colors; yellow, cyan, and magenta. (Cinematography)

Film & Broadcast

CRI

Color Reversal Intermediate. This is a duplicate color negative which is made by the reversal process. (Laboratory)

Film & Broadcast

Cribbing

Short pieces of lumber which are used for various grip purposes. (Grip/Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Crossfade

The gradual mix of sound sources accomplished by the simultaneous manipulation of two or more mix console faders. (Post Production)

Film & Broadcast

Crossmodulation Tests

Tests which are used to determine the correct negative and print densities for a variable area optical sound track. (Sound)

Film & Broadcast

Crossover

The frequency at which a signal is split in order to feed separate parts of a loudspeaker system. (Sound)

Film & Broadcast

Crosstalk

In stereo, this is the breakthrough between channels measured as separation (in decibels) between the wanted sounds of the desired channel and the unwanted sounds from the second channel. (Sound)

Film & Broadcast

Cucoloris

A perforate material used to break up light or create a shadow pattern. Also known as a cookie. (Grip/Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Cue Patch

A piece of self adhesive magnetic or metallic material placed on the edge of film as a means of actuating a printer light change or an automatic stop on a projector. (Film Editing)

Film & Broadcast

Cueing

A term with a broad range of meanings depending on the particular context. For Voice-Over Narration or Dialogue Replacement: The marking of the cue point in a way which will permit a signal to be given to the ‘talent’ to begin each element of work at the appropriate time. In General: Any system used by […]

Film & Broadcast

Cup Blocks

Wooden blocks with a dish or indentation in the center which are used to keep the wheels of light stands from moving. (Grip/Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Cutaway

A single shot inserted into a sequence of shots that momentarily interrupts the flow of action, usually introducing a pertinent detail. (Production/Editing)

Film & Broadcast

Cutting

The selection and assembly of the various shots or sequences for a reel of film.

Film & Broadcast

Cyan

A blue-green color which is the complementary color to red.

Film & Broadcast

Cyc Lights

Row lights for evenly illuminating a cyclorama or other background. (Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Cyclorama

Permanent background built in a studio which is nearly always coved or curved at the floor line to create a shadowless, unending backdrop. (Grip/Lighting)

Film & Broadcast

Dailies

The first positive prints made by the laboratory from the negative photographed on the previous day. It also now refers to video which is transferred from that original negative. (Laboratory)