The study of stories
Narratology
AN INSTANTANEOUS TRANSITION FROM ONE SHOT TO ANOTHER
Cut
A SHOT IN WHICH A CHARACTER IN A FILM RESPONDS TO EVENTS PRESENTED IN ANOTHER SHOT
Reaction Shot
SOUND THAT COMES FROM WITHIN THE NARRATIVE WORLD OF A FILM.
Diegetic Sound
THE ALTERNATION OF SHOTS OF TWO PEOPLE IN CONVERSATION THAT CONFORMS WITH THE 180 DEGREE RULE.
Shot/Reverse Shot
THE JUXTAPOSITION OF TWO OR MORE SHOTS TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM
Editing
EDITING THAT ALTERNATES TWO OR MORE LINES OF ACTION GOING ON IN DIFFERENT PLACES, USUALLY SIMULTANEOUS.
Parallel Editing
A SHOT TRANSITION IN WHICH A “FADE OUT” IS SUPERIMPOSED ON A “FADE IN."
Dissolve
SOUND THAT COMES FROM OUTSIDE THE NARRATIVE WORLD OF A FILM
Nondiegetic Sound
An edit that interrupts a particular action and intentionally or unintentionally creates a discontinuity.
Jump Cut
The subject matter or raw material of a narrative, or what is told.
Story
A SHOT TAKEN ON THE AXIS OF A CHARACTER’S LOOK. IT IS USUALLY PRECEDED OR FOLLOWED BY A SHOT OF THE CHARACTER
Point-of-view-shot
A SYSTEM OF EDITING THAT USES CUTS TO CONSTRUCT A COHERENT TIME AND SPACE, AND TO TELL STORIES CLEARLY AND EFFICIENTLY
Continuity Editing
A gradual change in the size of an image and the relative distances between its foreground and background planes caused by the adjustment of a lens with variable focal length.
Zoom
A shot in which the camera is moved on a wheeled platform that follows a determined course.
Dolly Shot
THE CAMERA MUST STAY ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE NARRATIVE ACTION TO INSURE CONSISTENT SPATIAL RELATIONS AND CONSTANT SCREEN DIRECTION FROM SHOT TO SHOT
180 Degree Rule
A CUT LINKING A SHOT OF A CHARACTER LOOKING OFFSCREEN AND A SHOT OF WHAT THE CHARACTER IS LOOKING AT.
Eyeline Match
A SHOT TRANSITION IN WHICH THE IMAGE GRADUALLY DISAPPEARS FROM VIEW (USUALLY TO BLACK). / A SHOT TRANSITION IN WHICH THE IMAGE GRADUALLY BRIGHTENS INTO VIEW.
Fade Out/In
A CUT THAT SHIFTS THE FRAMING OF AN ACTION WITHIN A SCENE BY PICKING UP THE MOVEMENT IN ONE SHOT IN A SECOND SHOT, AT THE EXACT MOMENT IT BREAKS OFF, MAKING THE ACTION APPEAR CONTINUOUS.
Match-On-Action
SOUND FROM THE MIND OF A CHARACTER INSIDE THE NARRATIVE WORLD THAT CANNOT BE HEARD BY OTHER CHARACTERS.
Internal Diegetic Sound
A form of editing developed by Soviet filmmakers in the twenties, often discontinuous, which emphasizes the graphic, rhythmic, and often discontinuous, which emphasizes the graphic, rhythmic, and conceptual relationships between shots.
Montage
THE NARRATIVE WORLD OF A FILM, INCLUDING OFF-SCREEN SPACE AND THE ACTION THAT TAKES PLACE WITHIN IT.
Diegesis
A SHOT TRANSITION IN WHICH ONE IMAGE GRADUALLY TAKES THE PLACE OF ANOTHER THROUGH A HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, OR DIAGONAL MOVEMENT ACROSS THE SCREEN, WHILE BOTH IMAGES REMAIN DISCREET
Wipe
Two successive shots whose compositional elements are similar.
Graphic Match
The ordering of the story into particular temporal and spatial patterns using film techniques, or how the story is told.
Plot