#1 Aspect Ratio (Jan 6)
The ratio of an image's width to it's height. The two common aspect ratios in video are 4:3 (standard) and 16:9 (widescreen). Standard is what is commonly used for TV, and widescreen is often used in film.
#2 White Balance (Jan 10)
To adjust the camera's light reading by pointing the lens at a white or gray card (angled to reflect the light in the room) so that it fills the camera's frame, then pressing the White Balance button. This will correct the color that it appears natural and true.
#3 "Back to One" (Jan 19)
What directors tell the cast and crew when a shot needs a retake. It means everyone goes to their starting places for that shot.
#4 Calling a Shot (Jan 21)
A director or assistant director usually calls the shots (each film or video take). The procedure usually goes like this.
A.D.; "Quiet on set!"
A.D. or Director; "Camera"
Camera operator;"Rolling!" or "Speed" (meaning filming has begun)
Clapper Loader/Slate (holding the slate so the camera can read it); "Twilight, Scene five, Take three."
Director; "Action!" (cue to the actors to begin their scene).
Director: "Cut!" (actors are to stop their action)
If the shot or scene needs another take, this is where you may hear "Back to one!"
#5 "Clear the Lens" (Jan 25)
What is called on a film set before a shot is filmed, meaning anyone not meant to be in the shot must move out of the camera's view, usually behind or far to the side of the camera.
#6 Voiceover (Jan 27)
A recorded narration that is put to video or film. A voiceover is done in postproduction, after editing, so that the narration flows well with the film. The narrator doing the voiceover might be describing what is happening on the screen, or might be the voice of a character's thoughts or reflections.
TECH TIP: To do a voiceover in iMovie; 1) click the voiceover icon/button in the center toolbar- it looks like a microphone 2) choose either "Record from Built-in Input" (this is the tiny mic at the very top of the computer) OR "Record from Built -in Input" if you are going to use an external microphone (see Ms Hawks about this). If you want to synch your narration to the action in your video without voicing over the existing dialogue, you may wish to click the "play project audio while recording" button. 3) Click the part of the clip you wish the voiceover to start, you will hear the countdown and see the project video turn red as the voiceover progresses. 4) You will have a voiceover track that you can cut, move or redo if you wish.
#7 Working Title (Jan 31)
A title used during the production phase of a film which may not be the title the film uses when it reaches the screen.
#8 Rough Cut and Final Cut (Feb 2)
Rough Cut: The stage of editing where all scenes/clips are assembled together into a project, but fine edits or cuts, sound, music and effects are not yet completed.
Final Cut: The final stage of an edited film where all components (sound, effects, titles, transitions, etc.) are done.
#9 Match Cut (Feb 4)
An editing cut that juxtaposes two shots that "match" each other visually or aurally (sound). Example; a close up shot of a screaming woman against a shot of a tea kettle whistling.
#10 Freeze Frame (Feb 8)
A shot in a film or vide where the image is frozen, so that it looks like a photograph and not a moving picture. It is often used for emphasis. TECH TIP: To create a freeze frame in iMovie, 1) place your cursor over the video frame in your project that you wish to make a freeze frame of, 2) hold down the Control button (keyboard, bottom left) 3) click the mouse - a selection window will pop up 4) choose "Add Freeze Frame" and a freeze frame will appear in your project just behind your selected clip.
#11 Montage (Feb 10)
A montage is a number of shots edited together, usually short, without dialogue and set to music. These quick shots are used to speed the passage of time in a narrative (as in an athelete training for a big event, or the progression of a love relationship).
EXAMPLE (written in standard screenplay format)
MONTAGE--Homer and Marge Fall in Love
#12 Superimpose (Feb 15)
To put an image or title over another video. Often the video on top of another video is transparent, so that both videos can be seen at the same time. If a title is superimposed, it is referred to as a "super," a term that is used in screenwriting.
Tech Tip: To superimpose a piece of video in iMovie: First, drag a selected clip and drop it over another clip in your project - a window will pop up - choose "Cutaway" Then, click in the Inspector of the clip you just dropped in, and choose "Clip Adjustment." From there, pull the Opacity bar down to about 50%, this will enable you to see both clips playing simultaneously, in a ghostlike effect.
#13 Production Value (Feb 17)
A movie with high production value has spent a lot of money on cameras, special effects, costumes, props, lighting, sets, crew, and probably talent (read; movie stars). It will have a slick, very Hollywood look to it. A movie with low production value looks like it was done on a very low budget; the sets, costumes and special effects are not so impressive or realistic. It is important to realize that a high production value does not necessarily mean the film will have a high entertainment value, i.e., be a movie you want to watch, nor does having a low production value mean the film will have a low entertainment value.
TECH TIP: To start a professional screenplay, first review How to Format a Screenplay at the scriptologist.com site. Here's the link to the professional screenplay for Raising Arizona by the Coen Brothers.
#15 Anthropomorphize (Feb 24)
To give human qualities to inanimate objects, animals, weather - anything not human. Many cartoon characters are anthropomorphic; Bugs Bunny is a rabbit that speaks and acts human, the Annoying Orange has human qualities.
#16 Good, Fast, Cheap Rule (March 28)
The Hollywood unwritten rule that you can make movies either:
A) Good and Fast, but not Cheap
B) Good and Cheap, but not Fast
C) Cheap and Fast, but not Good
In other words, good movies almost always require either Time or Money!
#17 Incidental Music (March 30)
Music that is written as background music for specific scenes or sequences. Incidental music pieces are not songs, but might have themes and are often related to the movie's genre - so that music written for horror or thriller genres are meant to be anxiety producing, romance movies often use soft piano pieces, etc.
#18 Foley (April 1)
Sound created specifically for movie scenes, involving "foley artists," special sound booths where they can view the film while recording, and various sound-making devices such as gravel boxes and fruit that is smashed with sticks (to simulate the crushing of skulls).
#19 Marketing & Distribution (April 4)
The final phases of movie making. Often even before the movie is completed, marketing campaigns are put in place to make the public aware of the movie (trailers, behind-the-scenes movies, billboards, ads). Distribution for film projects used to be to theaters and television only; now the distribution channels are much wider (theaters, TV, DVD, Internet devices; VOD sites, iPad, iPhone).
#20/21 Pitching and Greenlighting (April 11)
To pitch a film project means to present the idea for your film to a producer in order to get the okay to start the project. In Hollywood, when a studio or producer gives the okay, it's call greenlighting the project. Pitching is an art unto itself, and involves knowing your story or idea deeply, so you can field questions about it, thinking on your feet and presenting the idea in such a way that you get the producer excited about your project.
#22 Exposition/Backstory (April 13)
Exposition is the "exposing" of backstory about characters in a movie. It is used in literature as well as filmmaking. For instance, in Raising Arizona, before we begin the telling of the tale in the present time, "Hi" McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) tells in voiceover narration the story of how he met and married Edwina, and what drove them to become kidnappers. This backstory is important to the understanding and empathy for the characters.
FOR TOTD'S NUMBERS 23 AND UP, GO TO APRIL "TERMS OF THE DAY -PART TWO - LIGHTING"
The ratio of an image's width to it's height. The two common aspect ratios in video are 4:3 (standard) and 16:9 (widescreen). Standard is what is commonly used for TV, and widescreen is often used in film.
#2 White Balance (Jan 10)
To adjust the camera's light reading by pointing the lens at a white or gray card (angled to reflect the light in the room) so that it fills the camera's frame, then pressing the White Balance button. This will correct the color that it appears natural and true.
#3 "Back to One" (Jan 19)
What directors tell the cast and crew when a shot needs a retake. It means everyone goes to their starting places for that shot.
#4 Calling a Shot (Jan 21)
A director or assistant director usually calls the shots (each film or video take). The procedure usually goes like this.
A.D.; "Quiet on set!"
A.D. or Director; "Camera"
Camera operator;"Rolling!" or "Speed" (meaning filming has begun)
Clapper Loader/Slate (holding the slate so the camera can read it); "Twilight, Scene five, Take three."
Director; "Action!" (cue to the actors to begin their scene).
Director: "Cut!" (actors are to stop their action)
If the shot or scene needs another take, this is where you may hear "Back to one!"
#5 "Clear the Lens" (Jan 25)
What is called on a film set before a shot is filmed, meaning anyone not meant to be in the shot must move out of the camera's view, usually behind or far to the side of the camera.
#6 Voiceover (Jan 27)
A recorded narration that is put to video or film. A voiceover is done in postproduction, after editing, so that the narration flows well with the film. The narrator doing the voiceover might be describing what is happening on the screen, or might be the voice of a character's thoughts or reflections.
TECH TIP: To do a voiceover in iMovie; 1) click the voiceover icon/button in the center toolbar- it looks like a microphone 2) choose either "Record from Built-in Input" (this is the tiny mic at the very top of the computer) OR "Record from Built -in Input" if you are going to use an external microphone (see Ms Hawks about this). If you want to synch your narration to the action in your video without voicing over the existing dialogue, you may wish to click the "play project audio while recording" button. 3) Click the part of the clip you wish the voiceover to start, you will hear the countdown and see the project video turn red as the voiceover progresses. 4) You will have a voiceover track that you can cut, move or redo if you wish.
#7 Working Title (Jan 31)
A title used during the production phase of a film which may not be the title the film uses when it reaches the screen.
#8 Rough Cut and Final Cut (Feb 2)
Rough Cut: The stage of editing where all scenes/clips are assembled together into a project, but fine edits or cuts, sound, music and effects are not yet completed.
Final Cut: The final stage of an edited film where all components (sound, effects, titles, transitions, etc.) are done.
#9 Match Cut (Feb 4)
An editing cut that juxtaposes two shots that "match" each other visually or aurally (sound). Example; a close up shot of a screaming woman against a shot of a tea kettle whistling.
#10 Freeze Frame (Feb 8)
A shot in a film or vide where the image is frozen, so that it looks like a photograph and not a moving picture. It is often used for emphasis. TECH TIP: To create a freeze frame in iMovie, 1) place your cursor over the video frame in your project that you wish to make a freeze frame of, 2) hold down the Control button (keyboard, bottom left) 3) click the mouse - a selection window will pop up 4) choose "Add Freeze Frame" and a freeze frame will appear in your project just behind your selected clip.
#11 Montage (Feb 10)
A montage is a number of shots edited together, usually short, without dialogue and set to music. These quick shots are used to speed the passage of time in a narrative (as in an athelete training for a big event, or the progression of a love relationship).
EXAMPLE (written in standard screenplay format)
MONTAGE--Homer and Marge Fall in Love
--Homer as a young man, knocks on Marges door, she opens it. He gives Marge a box of chocolates - she opens the lid - they all have a bite taken out. Homer grins sheepishly.
--Homer and Marge at the Movies, holding hands. Homer puts his arm around her shoulder but is actually reaching back to steal popcorn from the kid sitting behind her.
--Homer buys a cheap ring from a vending machine and proposes.
--Marge walking down the aisle in her wedding dress - Homer is waiting for her, but shaking like a scared puppy.
END MONTAGE
#12 Superimpose (Feb 15)
To put an image or title over another video. Often the video on top of another video is transparent, so that both videos can be seen at the same time. If a title is superimposed, it is referred to as a "super," a term that is used in screenwriting.
Tech Tip: To superimpose a piece of video in iMovie: First, drag a selected clip and drop it over another clip in your project - a window will pop up - choose "Cutaway" Then, click in the Inspector of the clip you just dropped in, and choose "Clip Adjustment." From there, pull the Opacity bar down to about 50%, this will enable you to see both clips playing simultaneously, in a ghostlike effect.
#13 Production Value (Feb 17)
A movie with high production value has spent a lot of money on cameras, special effects, costumes, props, lighting, sets, crew, and probably talent (read; movie stars). It will have a slick, very Hollywood look to it. A movie with low production value looks like it was done on a very low budget; the sets, costumes and special effects are not so impressive or realistic. It is important to realize that a high production value does not necessarily mean the film will have a high entertainment value, i.e., be a movie you want to watch, nor does having a low production value mean the film will have a low entertainment value.
#14 Screenplay Format (Feb 22)
Hollywood screenplay format is very specific, and must be followed exactly if you wish to be viewed as a professional. Screenplays that do not follow the format will be refused by studios, agents, and professionals in the movie industry. The main elements of a professional screenplay are:
Title: Always on its own title page.
Scene Heading/Slugline: Shows location of scene and time of day, always capitalized, location first followed by time of day, e.g., INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
Action: Describes what is happening in the scene, and ALWAYS written in present tense, e.g., Teacher Ms. Hawks crosses the room and sees a student texting under a desk.
Character/Dialogue Heading: Capitalize characters when first introducing them in the action description, e.g., SARAH looks up at teacher, tries to sneak phone into her pocket.
Character names in dialogue headings are capitalized and centered.
Dialogue: center dialogue under character name, no spaces, not capitalized.
TECH TIP: To start a professional screenplay, first review How to Format a Screenplay at the scriptologist.com site. Here's the link to the professional screenplay for Raising Arizona by the Coen Brothers.
To open a screenplay template; 1) open your Pages software (icon looks like an ink bottle and pen). 2) Choose Miscellaneous from under Word Processing. Choose the Screenplay template from here. A professionally formatted screenplay will appear, written mostly in latin text. We will be going over how to use this template in class.
To give human qualities to inanimate objects, animals, weather - anything not human. Many cartoon characters are anthropomorphic; Bugs Bunny is a rabbit that speaks and acts human, the Annoying Orange has human qualities.
#16 Good, Fast, Cheap Rule (March 28)
The Hollywood unwritten rule that you can make movies either:
A) Good and Fast, but not Cheap
B) Good and Cheap, but not Fast
C) Cheap and Fast, but not Good
In other words, good movies almost always require either Time or Money!
#17 Incidental Music (March 30)
Music that is written as background music for specific scenes or sequences. Incidental music pieces are not songs, but might have themes and are often related to the movie's genre - so that music written for horror or thriller genres are meant to be anxiety producing, romance movies often use soft piano pieces, etc.
#18 Foley (April 1)
Sound created specifically for movie scenes, involving "foley artists," special sound booths where they can view the film while recording, and various sound-making devices such as gravel boxes and fruit that is smashed with sticks (to simulate the crushing of skulls).
#19 Marketing & Distribution (April 4)
The final phases of movie making. Often even before the movie is completed, marketing campaigns are put in place to make the public aware of the movie (trailers, behind-the-scenes movies, billboards, ads). Distribution for film projects used to be to theaters and television only; now the distribution channels are much wider (theaters, TV, DVD, Internet devices; VOD sites, iPad, iPhone).
#20/21 Pitching and Greenlighting (April 11)
To pitch a film project means to present the idea for your film to a producer in order to get the okay to start the project. In Hollywood, when a studio or producer gives the okay, it's call greenlighting the project. Pitching is an art unto itself, and involves knowing your story or idea deeply, so you can field questions about it, thinking on your feet and presenting the idea in such a way that you get the producer excited about your project.
#22 Exposition/Backstory (April 13)
Exposition is the "exposing" of backstory about characters in a movie. It is used in literature as well as filmmaking. For instance, in Raising Arizona, before we begin the telling of the tale in the present time, "Hi" McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) tells in voiceover narration the story of how he met and married Edwina, and what drove them to become kidnappers. This backstory is important to the understanding and empathy for the characters.
FOR TOTD'S NUMBERS 23 AND UP, GO TO APRIL "TERMS OF THE DAY -PART TWO - LIGHTING"
