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

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Glossary of Terms

SLOW MOTION. Means by which movement in a shot is represented as taking place more slowly than it

did in reality. Opposite of ACCELERATED MOTION.

SOUND-TRACK. Narrow path normally running along one side of the frames of cinematograph sound

fi lm, in which the sound is recorded in the form of a light trace varying in its light transmission.

SPECIAL EFFECT. Any effect which is introduced into a fi lm after shooting by the special effects depart-

ment, e.g., matte shots, “ ghost ” images, special montages.

SPLICE. 1. ( n .) A fi lm join. 2. ( v .) To join fi lm.

STOCK-SHOT. See LIBRARY SHOT.

SUPER-IMPOSE. To print two shots, one on top of the other, on the same length of fi lm, so that when

projected on the screen each can be seen through the other.

SYNC. See SYNCHRONISE.

SYNCHRONISE. To place, during editing, the sound-track in such a position relative to the picture track

that on projection a particular selected sound will be heard at the same instant as a particular selected image is

seen. In most cases, this is done in order to make the reproduced sound coincide with the appearance on the

screen of the sound’s natural source.

SYNCHRONISER. Apparatus which facilitates the mechanical operation of synchronising two tracks.

SYNCHRONOUS SOUND. Sound which has been synchronised with the picture.

T

TAKE. Single recording of a shot.

TILT. To turn the fi lm camera up or down in shooting so that the axis of the lens rotates through a vertical

plane.

TRACK. 1. ( n.) Abbreviation of SOUND-TRACK. 2. ( v .) To move the camera bodily forward or backward.

TRACKING SHOT. Shot taken with a tracking camera.

TROLLEY. Wheeled vehicle on which the camera can be moved while taking a shot.

TRUCKING SHOT. Shot taken when the camera is in movement on a truck or trolley.

TWO-SHOT. Shot framing two people, usually from the waist up.

W

WIDE-ANGLE LENS. Lens of short focal length with a wide angle of view and great depth of fi eld.

WIDESCREEN. Screen ratios wider than the 1:1.33 of the traditional sound cinema. Inaugurated in the

form of Cinemascope (q.v.). Later adopted throughout the industry in a variety of forms with ratios of 1:1.65

and wider.

WILD SHOOTING. Shooting the picture of a sound fi lm without at the same time recording the sound of

the action.