Shot Types & Composition
Camera Movement
Lenses & Focal Length
The Sound of Film
Director's Toolbox
100
The term for a shot that shows a person from the shoulders up
What is Close-up?
100
This is when the camera rotates left or right from a fixed point.
What is pan?
100
A lens at 18mm is considered this type.
What is wide-angle?
100
This crew member holds the boom pole and positions the microphone at the actors speaking dialogue on set.
What is boom operator?
100
These are the planned out shots via drawings or sketches before you film
What are storyboards?
200
This shot type captures a character or group of characters fully within the frame, showing their relationship to the surrounding environment.
What is a Wide shot?
200
Moving the camera up or down from a fixed position
What is Tilt?
200
A lens around 35-50mm is considered this type.
What is a normal or standard lens?
200
This type of microphone is most common on a boom pole for capturing dialogue
What is shotgun mic?
200
This is the first stage of the production process.
What is pre-production?
300
A camera angle that shows one character's perspective from behind another character's shoulder, often during a conversation.
What is an Over-the-shoulder (OTS) shot?
300
This is where the camera moves physically through space on a wheeled platform, creating a smooth, three-dimensional movement, unlike a zoom.
What is dolly shot?
300
A focal length of 85mm or more is considered this lens type.
What is Telephoto?
300
This is the spoken words between characters
What is dialogue?
300
The process of coordinating the movements, positions, and choreography of actors, crew, and equipment within a scene to create a visually compelling and narratively effective composition.
What is blocking?
400
A shot that shows what a character sees through their own eyes, immersing the audience in the narrative by placing them directly into the character's perspective.
What is Point of View (POV) shot?
400
This is where a camera is held by the operator's hands, rather than being mounted on a tripod or other stable support.
What is a Handheld shot?
400
The background appears _____ when using a telephoto lens
What is closer?
400
This type of sound effect is recorded in real life using props (e.g. footsteps, doors creaking)
What is Foley?
400
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY is an example of...
What is a scene heading?
500
This is a compositional technique where visual elements are balanced, often on either side of a central axis, to create a sense of order, harmony, and stability for the audience
What is symmetry?
500
The simultaneous physical movement of the camera and opposite focal length movement of the camera.
What is Dolly Zoom?
500
This is a very wide-angle lens with a field of vision covering up to 180°, the scale being reduced toward the edges
What is fisheye?
500
This is the sound that's always in the background of a scene.
What is ambience or room tone?
500
A single page of a screenplay, adhering to standard formatting, is generally considered to represent this amount of screen time.
What is one minute?