TERMS
Action
scene description, character movement, and sounds described in the screenplay
voice-over; the voice of someone not seen in the image who is describing or commenting on the image that is taking place; often this is the character’s thoughts not said out loud
Voice Over
The text in all CAPS at the beginning of a scene that briefly describes the location and time of day.
Slugline
Crawl
This is a term used for superimposed titles or text intended to move across on screen.
A transition mostly used in older films. Stylistically shows one image dissolving into another.
Dissolving Shot
Shot
one image; there are many, many, many different types of shots
used as a transition or at the start of the slug line to indicate a sequence that happened in the past.
Flashback
Pull Back
The camera physically moves away from a subject, usually through a zoom or dolly action.
The dialogue from the incoming scene precedes the cut, and you hear the beginning of the dialogue in the outgoing scene.
Pre-lap
Match cut to
A transition between scenes where one thing becomes another.
Beat
used to suggest that an actor should pause before continuing; “beat” will be placed in parentheses – ex: (beat)
a series of shots, usually without dialogue, which quickly tells a section of the story.
Montage
An extremely brief shot, sometimes as short as one frame, which is nearly subliminal in effect.
Flash Cut
ECU
Means the camera is placed very close to the subject or action. Generally, this term would be left out of a screenplay and left to the director to decide. Use only when necessary.
A close-up of a person or thing. Basically, like the space has been squeezed out of the area between camera and subject.
Tight on
Establishing Shot
a shot from a distance that establishes the location; it shows the viewer where we are
direction for the actor to deliver their lines in a particular way.
Parenthetical
Aerial Shot
This suggests a shot be taken from a plane or helicopter (not a crane).
A play for television.
Teleplay
O.S or O.C
Off Screen or Off Camera
Parenthetical
direction for the actor to deliver their lines in a particular way; ex: (calmly) or (softly)
point-of-view; the position from which an action of subject is seen, often determining its significance.
P.O.V
Refers to action that moves from one location to another without any interruptions in time.
Continuous
Dolly
A mechanism on which a camera can be moved around a scene or location.
Used to show different scenes happening at the same time.
Undercutting