Film Studies Glossary

My name is Romain Deleuze-Bisson and I'm starting my second year in the Film program of Collège Ahuntsic. This glossary will serve anybody who desires to learn about the film industry. In this glossary, you will find terms specific to the field of film production. Sometimes, for people who do not work in this environment, the names and numerous appellations can seem obscure. The purpose of this glossary is to help with that. After getting through my glossary, the uneducated reader will probably be able to identify the different roles on a film set and appreciate the work of the lesser known ones (director of photography for example). To make this glossary, I've used online dictionaries and Google Images.

director: noun; A person who is in charge of making a film and tells the actors how to play their parts.; Example: The film director has been looking for new actors since the ones he had left the project.; fr: Réalisateur
cinematographer: noun; A person who oversees or directs photography and camerawork in movie-making, especially one who operates the camera.; Example: The cinematographer has chosen the right focal length for this shot.; fr: Directeur de la photographie
aperture: noun; A space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, especially the variable opening by which light enters a camera.; Example: The iris was then closed to an even smaller aperture, and the results recorded in the same fashion.; fr: Ouverture
apple box: noun; Apple boxes are wooden boxes or crates of varying sizes with holes on each end used mainly in film production.; Example: He put the light on an apple box.; fr: boîte de pommes
art director: noun; The person responsible for overseeing the artistic aspects of a film, publication, or other media production.; Example: The art director is hesitating between two colours for the kitchen walls.; fr: Directeur artistique
boom pole: noun; A boom pole is a lightweight, extendable pole with a microphone attached to one end, used primarily in filmmaking and audio recording to position the microphone close to a sound source (like an actor's mouth) while keeping the pole and microphone itself out of the camera frame; Example: The boom pole has been useful for recording from afar.; fr: Perche
aspect ratio: noun; The ratio of the width to the height of an image or screen.; Example: The director has chosen a smaller aspect ratio to show that his character is feeling stuck in his life.; fr: Format d'image
auteur: noun; A filmmaker whose personal influence and artistic control over a movie are so great that the filmmaker is regarded as the author of the movie.; Example: This film was clearly made by an auteur filmmaker.; fr: Auteur
backlighting: verb; Illuminate from behind.; Example: We used backlighting on the subject.; fr: Rétroéclairage
barn doors: noun; A hinged metal flap fitted to a spotlight to control the direction and intensity of its beam.; Example: We used the barn doors where the light was going.; fr: Portes de grange
b-movie: noun; A low-budget movie, especially (formerly) one made for use as a companion to the main attraction in a double feature.; Example: Hollywood is producing a lot more B-movies than A-movies.; fr: Film de série B
cut: noun; A cut is the immediate and abrupt transition from one shot or scene to the next.; Example: Let's make a cut between the actor's lines.; fr: Coupure
dolly: noun; Apparatus (usually hydraulic) that moves with the camera on it.; Example: I want to use the dolly for this moving shot of the actor.; fr: Chariot
master shot: noun; Wide shot that shows the whole scene.; Example: We need a master shot of this room.; fr: Plan d'ensemble
steadicam: noun; Body rig used to stabilize the camera while it is in a virtual hand-held position.; Example: The camera operator will need a steadicam for this shot.; fr: Steadicam
two shot: noun; A medium close-up of two subjects.; Example: We need a two shot of the lead actors.; fr: Plan des deux sujets
room tone: noun; Room tone is a recording of the ambient sound of a specific location when no one is speaking.; Example: We need the room tone of the room because there will be a lot of silence between the actor's lines.; fr: Son ambiant
day for night: noun; Shooting a night scene during daylight hours. Can be achieved many ways, different stock, filters or developing procedures. Or, if indoors, by covering all windows and doors.; Example: To make it easier, we will shoot this scene day for night.; fr: Jour pour nuit
watch your back: phrase; Warning spoken when coming through or around set with an object that could potentially hit someone.; Example: I'm behind you with two tripods, watch your back!; fr: Derrière toi
angle: noun; An angle is the relative position of the camera in relation to the subject.; Example: I want to do a low-angle shot of the subject.; fr: angle