Technique of Film Editing, Reissue of 2nd Edition, 2nd Edition

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Glossary of Terms

A

ACCELERATED MOTION. Means whereby movement in a shot is represented as taking place at greater

speed than it did in reality; opposite of SLOW MOTION.

ACTUAL SOUND. Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present

by the action of the fi lm: e.g., words spoken by a character on screen; words spoken by a character whose

presence has been previously visually established; the ringing of a bell which is either visible on screen or

accepted to be present in the room. The term is used throughout the text of this book in this specially defi ned sense.

See also opposite: COMMENTATIVE SOUND.

ANGLE. See CAMERA ANGLE.

ASSEMBLE. To carry out the fi rst process in fi lm editing, namely, to collect together the required shots and

join them in provisional order, thus producing a ROUGH CUT.

B

BACK-LIGHTING. Where the main source of light is directed towards the camera, thus tending to throw

the subject into silhouette.

BACK PROJECTION. Projection of a fi lm on to a translucent screen from a projector (placed behind the

screen) in order to provide a moving background for actors working in a studio.

BIG CLOSE-UP. Abbr. B.C.U. Shot taken with the camera nearer to the subject than would be necessary for

a close-up; in relation to a human subject, a shot of part of the face only. See also CLOSE-UP BLOOP. Small

opaque patch over a splice in a positive sound-track designed to smother any intrusive noise which the splice

might otherwise produce.

BRIDGING SHOT. Shot used to cover a jump in time or other break in continuity.

C

CAMERA ANGLE. Angle of view subtended at the lens by the portion of the subject included within the

picture area.

CAMÉRA-STYLO. The camera-pen, a word coined in 1948 to suggest the delicacy and fl exibility of the

instrument with which the new young French writer/directors would make their fi lms.

CEMENT. Cellulose solvent used for joining cinematograph fi lm.

CHANGE-OVER. Transition made from one reel on one projector to the next reel on a second projector

during the continuous projection of a multi-reel fi lm programme.

CHANGE-OVER CUE. Small spot or other mark made in the top right-hand corner of certain frames near

the end of a reel to give the projectionist a signal for the change-over.