Marketing Film Glossary
Filmmaking can be an exciting, yet daunting process. The video production process is full of niche lingo that can be hard to follow. Check out our comprehensive guide of terms you’ll likely hear on set!
Here at Olivine, we bring our extensive filmmaking background to the world of tech to create cinematic marketing videos for tech companies. We’ve found that our filmmaker’s lexicon can sound foreign to our clients, so we’ve compiled some of the most common terms you might hear throughout the making of a film, organized by phase of the process.
Pre-production
A successful pre-production phase sets the stage for a successful day on set. All the planning, scripting, and scheduling occur during pre-production. Here are some terms you might hear before the cameras start rolling.
Treatment
A one-pager that outlines what a film will be about and the story it will tell. Typically, the treatment is written before going into scripting and storyboarding.
Storyboard
A visual outline that’s comprised of a series of still images to illustrate the planned order and type of shots for a film.
Shot List
A detailed list that outlines all the camera shots and their specifics, such as the type of camera, the type of lens, and shot size and shot type.
Call Sheet
A sheet with all the essential film day scheduling information, like individual call times, shooting locations, contact lists, and shooting schedules. This helps keep the film moving on schedule and keeps the cast and crew in sync.
Schedule
A timeline of the three production phases (pre-production, filming, post-production) that includes where and when actions are executed and production resources that are used.
Film day
The big day! At Olivine, we coordinated all logistics for a single or multi-day shoot. Our crew arrives early to unload the gear and set up the equipment. Then, we work through our shot list and conduct interviews. These are some terms you might hear on the set.
Composition
How all the elements (subject, props, set, etc.) are arranged in a frame.
4k Resolution
4k is an ultra-high-definition resolution that captures 4000 horizontal pixels x 2,000 vertical pixels.
6k Resolution
6k gives you over a third more resolution and gives you greater detail than 4k resolution, capturing footage at 6,144 horizontal pixels x 3,160 vertical pixels.
Teleprompter
A display device that uses a monitor and a one-way mirror. Teleprompters allow speakers to read a script organically and at their own pace while looking directly into a camera.
B-roll
Supplemental footage that intercuts the main shot. It is typically spliced into interviews to provide context, add depth, further illustrate your story, and engage your audience.
Cinematic style
Characteristic of motion pictures and actual films you might see in the theaters.
Wild Sound
Audio that is recorded without visuals to capture the natural ambient sound of a space. It helps keep the background noise of a film more consistent and achieve a more organic and consistent audio track.
Room Tone
Similar to wild sound, the room tone captures the natural sound of an environment, but without dialogue.
Post-production
Post-production is where the story comes to life! At Olivine, we begin by editing content and sharing cuts to receive feedback from the client. Typically, we see about two to three rounds of revisions using software like Vimeo or Frame.io. Once the picture is locked in, we bring in music and graphics, sound editing, and color touch-ups. Here are some terms you’ll hear after the director calls scene.
First Cut
The first assembly of all the shots into chronological order. It is a first full draft and will typically undergo several revisions before going into the rest of the post-production editing.
Color Correction
A process in post-production where the colors of the raw footage clips are adjusted to be more coherent and visually appealing. Color correction can help bring a film to life and achieve certain moods.
Sound Mixing
A process that involves layering sounds and matching audio levels to ensure all the sounds blend seamlessly and organically.
Licensed Music
Copywrited music that can be purchased and used legally in videos. Using licensed music ensures that a film will not face copyright claims or blocks when published online.
Title Overlays
A text element that appears onscreen over a video. In documentary-style videos, title overlays typically display content like names, professions, locations, etc.
The Crew
While the director may get all the press, they are only one of the many creative minds involved in a film’s production. For example, here at Olivine, 27 people were involved in making a film series we produced for Envoy. Below are some crew members you might work with throughout the production.
Director
The director serves as the creative lead and sets the look and feel of the film.
Executive Producer
The executive producer oversees administrative and financial matters of the film, including staying on budget, hiring a crew, and assuring production quality.
Director of Photography
The director of photography, or DP, works alongside the director to determine the look, lighting, and composition of the shots.
1st AD
The assistant director, or AD, takes care of the logistics and scheduling of the film. They manage the shooting schedule, create call sheets, and take care of the cast and crew.
Key Grip
The key grip is the primary technician who manages all the equipment that supports the camera.
Gaffer
The gaffer is in charge of lighting. They work closely with the camera crew and director of photography to convey a certain mood or tone using lighting.
Quotes on the set
News flash– no one says “lights, camera, action!” on film sets anymore. Here is some filmmaker’s jargon you’re more likely to hear.
“10/1”
Code for a bathroom break
“Martini shot”
The last shot of the day
“Flying in”
When a person (or thing) is en route to the set
“Back-to-one”
After a take, the 1st AD might instruct the cast and crew “back to one,” which directs everybody back to their starting positions of the shot for another take.
“Crafty”
Short for craft services, a film production position tasked with providing the cast and crew with snacks and refreshments.
Being on a film set can be a fun and new experience. Here at Olivine, we love guiding our clients through our seamless filmmaking process. And we always make it fun!
