Chapter 1 Motion Picture Language 39Pan – Th e turning of the camera to the left or right, such as when mounted
on a tripod.
Point-of-view shot – A shot that is from the point of view of a character in the
fi lm. Th is can be quite obvious, such as a hand coming into the screen, or it can
be more subtle, such as from the context of other shots in the sequence.
Pull-out – A shot in which the camera moves away from the subject, widening
the view.
Push-in – A shot in which the camera moves towards the subject, narrowing
the view.
Rule of thirds – In an image, the height and width can be equally divided into
thirds. According to this principle, the four points in the space where the two
vertical lines and two horizontal lines meet are the areas of most dynamic
interest to the viewer, and the top and bottom thirds of the frame are where
horizon lines should stretch.
Screen direction – Th e movement of subjects in relation to the camera,
particularly to the left or right sides of the screen.
Sequence – A series of shots that form a distinct storytelling unit or unifi ed
passage in the fi lm, much like a scene in a play.
Shot – A recorded series of images that show a view, either fi xed or moving,
which duplicates a passage of real time. It can be cut into smaller pieces
through editing. Also, the passage of time can be lengthened or shortened by
recording more or fewer frames than is technically appropriate per second
of normal time, commonly known as slow or fast motion.
Static shot – Shot in which the framing does not move; generally, the camera
is mounted on a tripod for stability.
Steadicam – A camera-stabilizing system introduced by Garrett Brown in
1976, worn by the operator for steady camera movement. Th e Steadicam
rig is generally used to photograph smooth-looking shots while the camera
operator is moving on foot.
Storyboard – A series of still images, usually drawings, representing individual
shots arranged in sequences for motion picture production.
Tilt – Adjusting the angle of the camera in an upwards or downwards fashion,
as when mounted on a tripod.
Two sh ot – A shot that includes two characters; oft en a close or medium shot.
Voice-over – A voice heard with moving images but not spoken out loud by
any character who is physically part of the sequence shown on the screen.
Wide shot – A shot that takes in most or all of the space of the scene in view,
whether a room or an open space, oft en fi lmed with a wide-angle lens.Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).