Film terms

A fabric that has a matte finish and its high opacity makes it ideal for blocking light.

A mirrored device that attaches to the camera, allowing the person being interviewed to see the interviewer while looking straight at the camera lens. This makes the interview more direct and engaging than an off-camera format.

A gimbal is a device used to mount a camera. The gimbal will smooth out any bumps normally visible when shooting handheld.

Handheld is when the camera operator is using the camera in his own hands, instead of on a tripod or a gimbal.

The trademark name of Osram’s brand of metal-halide gas discharge medium arc-length lamp, made specifically for film and entertainment applications. Hydrargyrum comes from the Latin name for the element mercury. The light temperature is daylight.

A specialized piece of equipment on which a camera is mounted in order to capture moving, sweeping, high, or angled shots.

The tools a person has assembled to help them with their particular job. For instance, a location scouting kit would include a camera and computer. Commonly heard terms are production kit, makeup kit, and craft services kit.

Lavs are usually hidden on the body of an actor and can pick up noises such as clothing or jewelry rustle. Lavs are not usually as dynamic as Boom Mics. See Boom.

The lens is the part that delivers the light to the sensor. The lens can have different apertures and focal lengths. These influence how the final image will look.

A digital file that transforms the color and tone of your image. It can convert colors and details in a source file to a new destination state. For example, you can use a LUT to convert a modern digital photo to the color and tone of older film stock.