Film School

VOCABULARY

A-Roll

THE MAIN VIDEO THAT TELLS THE STORY AND SHOWS THE PEOPLE SPEAKING OR ACTING

B-Roll

EXTRA VIDEO CLIPS USED TO SHOW DETAILS, ADD CONTEXT, OR MAKE THE STORY MORE INTERESTING

Casting

CHOOSING WHICH ACTORS WILL PLAY EACH ROLE IN A FILM

Composition

HOW EVERYTHING IS ARRANGED IN A SHOT, INCLUDING WHAT’S IN THE FRAME AND WHERE THINGS ARE PLACED

Continuity

MAKING SURE THINGS STAY THE SAME FROM SHOT TO SHOT, LIKE PROPS, COSTUMES, LIGHTING, AND WHERE ACTORS ARE POSITIONED

Editing

PUTTING VIDEO CLIPS TOGETHER BY CHOOSING, ARRANGING, AND ADJUSTING THEM TO TELL THE STORY

Green Light

WHEN A FILM GETS OFFICIAL APPROVAL TO START BEING MADE

Logline

A SHORT 1–2 SENTENCE SUMMARY THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THE STORY IS ABOUT AND THE MAIN PROBLEM IN IT

Pitch

WHEN SOMEONE PRESENTS THEIR IDEA FOR A FILM TO OTHERS TO GET IT APPROVED OR SUPPORTED

Prop

AN OBJECT AN ACTOR USES OR INTERACTS WITH IN A SCENE

Reshoot

FILMING A SCENE AGAIN BECAUSE IT DIDN’T TURN OUT THE WAY IT NEEDED TO THE FIRST TIME

Rough Cut

AN EARLY VERSION OF A FILM THAT’S BEEN PUT TOGETHER BUT ISN’T FINISHED YET

Safety Shots

EXTRA SHOTS FILMED JUST IN CASE, SO YOU HAVE BACKUPS TO USE WHEN EDITING

Score

THE BACKGROUND MUSIC IN A FILM THAT HELPS SET THE MOOD AND SUPPORT THE STORY

Scout

TO LOOK FOR AND CHOOSE GOOD PLACES TO FILM SCENES

Script

THE WRITTEN PLAN FOR A FILM THAT INCLUDES THE DIALOGUE, ACTIONS, AND SCENES

Storyboard

A SERIES OF DRAWINGS THAT SHOW THE PLAN FOR EACH SHOT OR SCENE IN A FILM

Treatment

A WRITTEN SUMMARY THAT EXPLAINS THE STORY, CHARACTERS, AND IDEAS OF A FILM