Decoding Video Production Terminology - Glossary
July 3, 2024
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SERVICES AND PHASES
Client Revisions
Changes or modifications requested by the client after reviewing a version of the video.
Process: Typically involves several rounds, each refining the video closer to the client’s vision.
Color Correcting
Adjusting the footage to ensure that colors, brightness, and contrast are consistent across all shots.
Purpose: Essential for ensuring that no single shot stands out as poorly balanced.
Color Grading
The process of enhancing the color, brightness, and contrast to create a specific visual mood or tone in the video.
Impact: Color grading can dramatically change the feel of a video, from a cold, blue tone that might suggest sadness, to a warm, bright tone that conveys joy.
Creative Editing
The process of assembling raw footage into a final product that tells a story compellingly and artistically.
Importance: Creative editing is not just about cutting and joining clips; it’s about pacing, mood, style, and the emotional impact of the video.
GFX
Acronym for Graphical Effects, which are graphics added during post-production.
Types: Includes text overlays, animated icons, and other graphic elements that enhance the informational content of the video.
Ingest
The process of transferring all footage and audio from the camera and other recording devices to the editing software where it will be edited.
Relevance: Ingesting marks the first step in post-production. It is crucial to ensure that all media is accounted for.
Internal Revisions
Revisions made within the post-production team before the client reviews the video.
Purpose: Ensures that the video meets internal quality standards and initial project requirements before client feedback.
Radio Edit
A temporary version of the video that includes only A-roll and background music, with text overlays instead of B-roll.
Purpose: Useful for formats where visual content is limited or as a preliminary version of the narrative for review.
Song Options
Tracks selected as potential background music for a project, which are sent for client approval.
Process: Ensures the chosen music aligns with the video’s tone and client preferences before implementing.
TOS
Acronym for “Text on Screen”, used to display key information directly to the audience within the video.
Application: Enhances understanding and engagement by highlighting important points or adding explanatory text.
VFX
Acronym for Visual Effects, which are digitally created enhancements or alterations added during post-production.
Capabilities: Can range from simple corrections to elaborate scenes that would be impossible to capture on camera.
TECHNICAL FOOTAGE PROPERTIES
Aspect Ratio
The relationship between the width and height of the video frame. The most common aspect ratio is 16:9, which is standard for widescreen formats.
Usage: Aspect ratio affects how your content will display on various devices.
Baked In
Any elements that are embedded in footage or final exports. This can range from graphics and text to color adjustments to audio elements.
Importance: The nature of what is baked in can affect and possibly limit how an asset may be used in the final video.
Frame Rate
The number of frames displayed per second in the video, commonly 23.976 fps (often referred to as 24 fps) for a cinematic look or 29.97 fps (30 fps) for smoother motion found in traditional broadcasts.
Choice: The frame rate affects the visual smoothness of the footage and can influence the viewer’s perception of its realism or style.
Headroom
The space between the top of the subject’s head and the top edge of the video frame.
Tip: Too much headroom can make the shot feel empty or disconnected, while too little headroom can make the shot feel cramped.
Horizon Line
A line that forms the shot’s balance and orientation. Such as the line between the sky and the ocean or a city skyline.
Purpose: Keeping the horizon line straight is key to avoiding disorienting video footage.
Noise
Visual distortion typically seen as random speckles or blocks over the video image, often due to high ISO settings, low light conditions, or camera choice.
Consideration: Noise can detract from the overall quality of the footage, but can be used stylistically in certain types of projects.
Resolution
The number of pixels in each dimension that can be displayed. For instance, 4K UHD has a resolution of 3840×2160 pixels.
Relevance: Higher resolutions offer more detail and are beneficial for modern displays.
Runtime
The total duration of the video.
Consideration: Knowing the intended runtime helps guide the editing process, ensuring the content is concise and impactful.
TRT
Acronym for “Total Run Time”, referring to the complete duration of all video footage available for a project, excluding audio.
Context: Helps in planning the scope of the editing process based on the amount of footage that needs to be reviewed and potentially used.
White Balance
The adjustment of warm and cool colors to ensure all colors are represented accurately in the scene.
Purpose: Proper white balance matches the true color of the shoot so that white objects appear white.
FOOTAGE USAGES
A-Roll
Primary footage that features the main narrative or spoken content, such as interviews or speeches.
Importance: A-Roll is crucial as it forms the backbone of your narrative, guiding the story you are telling.
B-Roll
Supplementary footage that provides context and enhances the visual story supporting your A-roll.
Application: B-Roll is used to cut away from the main footage, adding depth and interest, such as showing surrounding scenes or actions related to the spoken content.
Estab
Short for “establishing shot”, which sets the scene for the audience, showing the environment around the subjects or action.
Example: A wide shot of a bustling cityscape before cutting to a busy street-level scene.
PRODUCTION
A-Cam
The primary camera used on a shoot, which is typically framed wide.
Usage: A-cam is typically responsible for shooting key scenes, and its footage is used as the primary narrative thread in the edit.
B-Cam
The secondary camera on a shoot that is used to capture alternate angles, cutaways, or B-roll and is typically framed tighter than the A-Cam.
Functionality: B-Cam enhances the A-cam recordings, giving editors more options to work with during post-production.
Composition
The framing of a subject and background: tight, mid, wide.
Impact: Good composition is essential for creating visually appealing and balanced images that attract and hold the viewer’s attention.
Depth of field
The range within a shot that appears acceptably sharp and in focus. Depth of field can be shallow (More blur) or deep (More in focus).
Visual: Depth of field is used to focus the viewer’s attention on specific parts of the frame or to create a sense of space and scale.
Exposure
The overall brightness of the image.
Consideration: Proper exposure is crucial for capturing footage that has enough detail in both the shadows and highlights.
Green Screen
A green or blue backdrop used in filming to make it easier to replace the background in post-production digitally.
Advantage: Allows for great flexibility in editing, as any background can be added to the scene, ranging from simple colors to complex images.
Natural Light
Light from the sun outdoors or through windows vs artificial lights.
Challenge: Natural light can provide a beautiful and cost-effective lighting solution, but it also requires careful planning around the weather and time of day.
Pan
A horizontal camera movement, left to right or vice versa.
Impact: Panning can dynamically introduce new elements or broaden the context within a scene.
Rack Focus
A technique where the focus shifts from one subject to another within the video frame to direct the viewer’s attention.
Use: Effective in scenes where two subjects are important, but one needs to stand out momentarily.
Slate
A visual tool used at the start of a recording take to display details such as the scene, take, and shot numbers.
Function: Assists in organizing and synchronizing footage during the editing phase.
SOFTWARE
Cut
An instant change from one scene or shot to another.
Significance: Cuts are used to continue a sequence, change the scene, or introduce new elements to the story.
Fade
A type of transition where the scene gradually dips to black or white (fade-out) or emerges from black or white (fade-in).
Context: Fades are often used at the beginning or end of a scene to suggest the start or conclusion of a sequence.
Motion Tracking
A process that tracks the movement of objects and elements in the footage, allowing other visual elements to follow the same path or position.
Functionality: Essential for adding visual effects that need to interact with footage, such as text overlays or CGI elements.
Rotoscoping
A post-production technique where frame by frame the footage is traced.
Application: Rotoscoping is used to extract/remove objects from a scene for visual effects, or for motion graphics.
Timeline
The graphical representation of all video, audio, and graphical elements in a video editing software.
Purpose: Allows editors to adjust all elements to create a cohesive final product.
Transition
The effect that occurs between two clips. It can involve more complex effects like wipes or dissolves.
Utility: Transitions are used to help signal changes, or add stylistic flair to the video.
AUDIO
Downbeat
A term used in music to describe the first beat/accent of a measure/bar of a song This is often emphasized in editing to align cuts or transitions of the music.
Application: It is useful for editors to create rhythmic and engaging cuts that enhance the viewer’s attention.
J-Cut
A video editing technique where the audio from the next scene starts before the video cuts to it.
Effect: This technique can smooth transitions between scenes, making the edit feel more natural and less jarring.
L-Cut
Similar to a J-Cut but the audio from the current scene continues playing over the start of the next scene.
Usage: Helps maintain audio continuity across cuts, especially useful in dialogue-heavy scenes.
Natural Audio
Sound naturally captured during filming, typically with an on-camera microphone.
Role: Adds realism and context to the video, anchoring the visuals in a tangible audio landscape.
Sound space
The audible environment created by combining sound effects with natural audio.
Objective: Enriches the video’s atmosphere and depth and enhances the viewer’s sensory experience allowing them to feel further immersed with the video.
Voiceover
Narration added to a video, recorded separately from the visual footage.
Function: Provides additional information, context, or commentary to support the visual content, often guiding the viewer through the story.
ARCHAIUS RESOURCES
Details Form
A document that contains specific information related to the project, such as shooting details and project expectations.
Utility: Keeps everyone organized and ensures all team members are aligned with the project’s needs.
Storyboard
A visual representation of the video’s narrative flow, following the script.
Utility: Guides the production process, ensuring each scene is shot according to the planned visual narrative.
Style Guide
A document detailing the specific visual and auditory preferences of the client, including fonts, logos, color schemes, and more.
Importance: Ensures consistency across all content produced for a particular client or brand.