Film Terminology “C”

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Cinema Verite

An approach to documentary filmmaking that made possible through development of lightweight cameras and portable recording equipment. It emphasises naturalistic and unobtrusive observation of subjects, often capturing real-life events as they unfold

Continuity Editing

A style of editing marked by its emphasis on maintaining continuous and seemingly uninterrupted flow of action in a story. Classical or Invisible editing.

Cross-Cutting

Switching back and forth between two or more scenes in different locations that are occurring simultaneously in order to create the feeling of parallel action.

Cut-away

A shot of short duration that supposedly takes place at the same time as the main action but is not directly involved in the main action Signup and view all the answers

Call sheet

A listing in which actors and crew will be required for which scenes, and when they will be required Signup and view all the answers

Cheater cut

Introductory footage at the beginning of a series episode to overview what happened in the previous episodes Signup and view all the answers

Clapboard

Also known as the clapper. A small board which holds information identifying a shot. It is filmed at the beginning of a take. Also called a slate or “sticks”. Signup and view all the answers

Colorisation

Digitally altering a black and white film to include colour. Signup and view all the answers

Crossfade

Fading out of one scene and into another. Can also apply to sound files. Signup and view all the answers

Cyclorama

A seamless, floor-to-ceiling curved backdrop used on studio sets to create a background of a scene. Often used to represent the sky on such sets. Signup and view all the answers

Colour temperature

It is a measurement of the colour of light, and important in that film is much more sensitive to colour temperature than our eyes are. Is measured on the scale of the scientist Lord Kelvin. Signup and view all the answers

C-stand

A type of light stand with fixed legs that swing out, or together when not in use, usually equipped with an arm, and typically used to hold a flag. Signup and view all the answers

Cameo role or cameo appearance

A brief appearance or voice part of a well known person. Signup and view all the answers

Chroma key compositing, or chroma keying

A visual effect/post-production technique for compositing (layering)two images or video streams together based on colour hues (chroma range). The technique has been used in many fields to remove background from the subject of a photo or video. Signup and view all the answers

CinemaDNG

An industry-wide open file format for digital cinema files. It is uncompressed high quality video format and usually available on cinema cameras. Signup and view all the answers

Crossing the line

Breaking the 180 degrees rule typical of continuity editing. Signup and view all the answers

Caption

The descriptive, printed line(s) of text that occasionally appears on the screen, usually at the bottom of the frame, to describe the time/place, or to translate a foreign word/phrase. Signup and view all the answers

Crane shot

A camera shot taken from a large camera dolly or electronic device (a piece of apparatus, such as a crane), resembling a a extendable mechanical arm, that can raise the camera up in the air above the ground 20 feet or more. Signup and view all the answers

Crawl

Refers to superimposed screen titles or text intended to move across, up, down or diagonally on the screen. Signup and view all the answers

Cue Cards

A device printed dialogue provide to help an actor recite their lines; an electronic cue card is called a teleprompter. Signup and view all the answers

Call time

The time that all crew needs to be on set by. Signup and view all the answers

Cold reading

When actors read or perform materials with little or no rehearsal. Signup and view all the answers

Composite

A shot made up of several other shots or elements using post-production software. Signup and view all the answers

Colour correction

A technical process that fixes colour issues and makes footage appear as naturalistic as possible. Signup and view all the answers

Colour grading

The technical and creative process that adds atmosphere and emotion to shots by colouring footage in new, often unnatural ways. Signup and view all the answers

CGI

Computer-generated-imagery Signup and view all the answers

Cinema Verite

A documentary filmmaking approach using lightweight cameras and equipment to capture real-life events naturally and unobtrusively.

Crossfade

Fading out of one scene and into another. Can also apply to sound files.