Video production glossary
Sometimes videographers forget who they’re talking to and make the assumption that everyone knows the ins and outs of video like they do. It’s important that everyone is on the same page when talking about creating a video and so we’ve created a handy video production glossary to help you with terminology you might not have heard before.
A camera
An A camera is the camera that is pre-dominantly used whilst filming. It’s likely that it’s a higher quality camera and will provide the majority of the shots.
B camera
A B camera is a secondary camera that is often used as a second angle in interviews or to collect less essential cutaway footage such as b-roll or pick-up shots.
B-roll/Cutaways
B-roll/cutaway footage is supplemental or alternative footage that is intercut with the main shot. This is usually footage that accompanies an interview or voiceover and generally mirrors what is being said.
Colour grading
Colour grading is the process of improving the colour of raw footage to make it more visually pleasing or to create a certain mood.
Depth of field
Depth of field refers to the distance between the element of the shot that is sharp and those that aren’t e.g. the interview subject and the background elements.
Gimbal
This is a piece of equipment that allows for smooth camera movement. One use for this would be to smoothly follow a running or fast moving subject.
Location scouting
Visiting the location of the shoot in advance in order to gather technical details and photographs.
Lower third
This is the text that appears at the bottom of the screen when someone is talking that gives information about who they are and/or what they do.
Mini doc
A mini doc is a short form documentary often between 3 and 10 minutes long.
Music licensing
Music licensing is the copyright permission purchased in order to use a particular song for your video.
On location
On location refers to filming outside of a studio space e.g. at your workplace or business.
Post production
Post production refers to the editing and colour grading process.
Pre-production
Pre-production is the stage before filming begins in which plans are created and discussed.
Raw footage
Raw footage is the footage in a completely unedited and unaltered form.
Rough cut
A rough cut is a very loose version of a video with very little work done to it. This gives an early impression of what the video will be like.
Run and gun
Run and gun refers to a particular style of filming when there is little time to gather footage. It often means little or no lighting, small crews and less specialist filming equipment.
Storyboard
A storyboard is a collection of images designed to show shot types and the order of shots for a video.
Super-cut
A super-cut is generally used to show what interview footage is available. It’s a collection of raw and unedited interview footage for the purposes of selecting particular soundbites.
Talking head
A talking head refers to a particular type of video in which the video is solely a person/people talking without any cutaway footage.
Wild track
A wild track is a sample of sound taken before or after an interview that helps the editor to seamlessly cut together interview segments. It’s also known as ‘room tone’.
