Baby Boom
Small suspension device for holding a microphone.
Back Focus
Adjusting the distance between the back of a lens and the camera target to attain the sharpest image possible of an object at infinity. Back focus adjustment determines whether a zoom lens will stay in focus when moved through its focal length range.
Background Generator
Electronic circuit that adds color to a blank background area.
Background Light
Light intended to illuminate a background. Gereally about two-thirds the intensity of the key light.
Background Music
Sound track music intended to enhance drama or visual elements during a production.
Background Project
See rear projection.
Backhaul
Sending a video feed from a local area via satellite back to the main distribution area for retransmission via satellite.
Back Light
Light directed from behind and above the subject used to separate and add dimension to a scene. Slightly stronger than front light.
Backlight Compensator (BLC)
A camera control that opens up the lens aperture two-to-three f-stops. Used to compensate for the error made by automatic iris circuits when shooting into light or against a bright background.
Backlight Switch
Camera control which overrides auto iris system and opens the iris two or three f-stops. Commonly used in backlit situations where auto-iris would result in dark skin tones and underexposure.
Back Porch
The portion of the waveform scan that represents the horizontal blanking just before the start of a new line of video.
Back-time
1)Timing a program backwards, from the end, instead of from the start. Gives time remaining figures.
2) Calculating time for a show backwards from the end to determine when segments should start in order to bring the show out on time.
Back-up Schedule
A “plan B” schedule of shots or scenes that can be substituted for a planned shooting schedule in case of illness of a principal actor, bad weather, mechanical or technical problems, etc.
Balanced Audio Input
An audio input into a device that consists of two conductor surrounded by a grounded shield.
Balanced Mic Balanced Line
Typically, a two-conductor audio cable enclosed in a metal shield, which, as a result is relatively immune to hum and other electronic interference. Unbalanced lines have only two conductors.
Ballast
An electrical transformer that changes electrical voltage for HMI lights.
Band
Range of radio frequencies.
Banding
A picture artifact or fault whereby smooth brightness or color gradients appear to be comprised of bands of brightness or color, often the result of too few bits used to represent each sample of a picture. Banding could make a billiard ball look like a sliced onion.
Bandwidth
1) The range between the lowest and the highest limiting frequencies of an electric system. In video, the term-measured in megahertz (MHz)-is used to describe the technical boundaries of equipment. NTSC television channels have a bandwidth of 6 MHz. The greater the bandwidth, the more information a television system can carry.
2) The amount of space available over the airwaves or through a cable for carrying information. A signal with more information requires more bandwidth to carry it.
3) The difference in Hz between the highest and lowest frequency components of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The total radio frequency range used by a signal.
Bar Chart
A graphic consisting of vertical bars which show the relative difference between selected variables.
Barn Door
Side and/or top flaps that attach to the front of a light and shape the difference between selected variables.
Barney
A cover for a video or film camera designed to protect it from dirt, rain, snow, sand, etc.
Bars and Tone
A carefully-controlled audio and video signal generally recorded at the beginning of a videotape and later used to properly setup playback equipment. “Bars” consist of a test pattern of color bars “tone” consists of an audio signal of a certain frequency at 0dB.
Barrel Connector
An adapter that allows two cables to be connected together.
Baseband Audio and Video
Composite audio and video, as opposed to RF modulated.
Base Light
Even lighting used over a set or production area. Often a set is initially lit with basic (base light) illumination, and then the key and back lights are added.
Base Station
Central digital control system used for adjusting levels, color balance, etc. of several studio cameras.
Basic Make-up
Primarty or elemental make-up. As opposed to corrective or character make-up, make-up intended to significantly alter or enhance appearance.
Bass
Audio tones of low frequency—typically below 300Hz.
Battery Light
A battery operated, portable light commonly used for ENG work. Often mounted on top of a camera
Baud Rate
The speed at which computer data is transmitted in terms of bits per second. Modems typically operate at 2,400 and 9,600 baud.
Bayonet Mount
A camera mount that locks a lens securely into place with only a partial turn. This contrasts with the C-mount that requires numerous turns to secure.
BBS
Electronic bulletin board system. An electronic source of text, images, real-time discussions, and computer programs available over telephone lines by computer modem hookups.
Beam
The direct flow of bombarding electrons in a television picture tube.
Beam Projector; Beam Spot Projector
A spotlight that projects a focused, hard and generally narrow beam of light often used to simulate sunlight coming through a window.
Beam-Spiltter Prism
1) The optical block in a video camera onto which three CCD sensors are mounted. The optics split the red, green, and blue wavelenghts of light of the camera.
2) A prism or dichroic mirror device used behind a color TV camera lens to divide the light into the three primary colors.
Beat
An assigned area covered by a reporter on a regular basis.
Beaulieu
A lomm lightweight motion picure camera, the Beaulieu is used extensively for news and documentary coverage.
Beauty Shot
Identifying close-up shot of advertised product.
Below-the-line
Below-the-line refers to those figures in the budget that accrue after the film has begun. For example, expenses for crew, shooting, editing, and all production activities. This category may also include salaries not contractually agreed upon before shooting begins as part of the above-the-line costs.
Belt Lines
As part of managing conflict; a person establishes limits about what topics can be discussed.
Benevolence
In deception research, this is one of the motives for deception. Refers to using deception to protect the self esteem, safety, and/or general well-being of the other person.
Betacam
A broadcast-quality format developed by Sony and used in several types of camcorders.
Betamax
A consumer-quality ˝-inch videocassette format developed by Sony which eventually was supplanted by VHS
Bias Light
A dim light inside a camera directed toward the front surface of the CCD’s or pickup tubes intended to increase camera sensitivity while controlling video noise.
Bicycling
Routing a videotape from station instead of sending individual tapes to each.
Bidirectional
A microphone pickup pattern with two primary areas of sensitivity. Typically, in a figure-eight pattern.
Bilateral Terminating Strategy
One of Knapp and Vangelisti's five stages of a relationship's "coming together". This fifth stage is marked by the enactment of a private or public ritual to define the permanence of the relationship.
Binary System
A number system with a base of two. Each digit has only two possible states 0 or 1, or on and off. Binary numbers are the basis for computer languages.
BIOS
Basic Input/Output System. Computer device that manages communications between the basic computer and peripherals, such as the keyboard and monitor.
Bird
A satellite. Sometimes used as a verb to indicate the transmission of a video program or segment.
Bit
1) A binary digit. This represents the smallest unit of digital information. A bit is represented by either a 0 or 1.
2) The smallest increment of computer memory represented by a 0 or a 1.
3) A binary digit 0 or 1. The smallest amount of information a computer can handle.
Bit Speed
Speed at which units of digital information can be transmitted from one point to another.
Bite
Sound bite. A short interview segment with associated audio inteded as part of a production.
Bitmapped Image (BMI)
Image stored by specific pixel information. Capable of handling 16 colors, 256 colors, or True color.
Black Balancing
Electronically setting the black level of a camera to correspond to TV black.
Black Burst
A signal from the sync generator that includes all normal blanking and sync information along with black video.
Black Clipping
A circuit used to limit the black level of video so that it does not intrude into the sync.
Black Level
The darkest portion of the video picture. Reference black.
Blank shell
A blank shell is a powder-filled cartridge with no projectile.
Blanked Tape
A videotape intended for insert editing onto which black (or color bars) and a control track have been recorded. Also called a crystal tape.
Blanking
That time when the electron guns in the system are turned down to a low voltage so that they can return to the beginning of a new line or field.
Blanking a Tape
Recording black, sync and a control track on a videotape. The process of creating a blanked tape. Also called blacking a tape.
Blanking Interval
The retrace interval of 10.5 microseconds in which the effect of the electron beam is extinguished so that it can return from the right to the left side of the screen. Also the 1.3 millisecond interval in which the effect of the electronic beam is extinguished so that it can move from the bottom of one field to start scanning the top of the next field.
Blanking Pulses
1) Signals form the sync generator that signal the camera’s electron gun to go into blanking.
2) Video signal which blacks out a video image between successive scanning lines, fields and frames. See blanking interval.
Blaxploitation films
Commercial-minded films of the 1970s that capitalized on the drawing power of action films with black heroes became known as blaxploitation films. The design of these films exploited the popularity of black actors in screen stories that were often highly sensational. Crime plots with a superhero figure, such as the movie Shaft, directed by Gordon Parks in 1971, were common ingredients. Additional titles within the genre include Superfly, Melinda, TNT, Black Belt Jones, Three the Hard way, and Coffey, all filmed in the early seventies.
Blocking
To establish camera angles and positions and the movements and positions of actors before a production rehearsal.
Bloom; Blooming
A dark halo that surrounds bright areas in a scene caused by aberrations in the video process. Generally associated with tube-type cameras.
Blooper
An error in speech made by on-camera talent.
Blue Pencil
To edit or censor a script.
Blue Screen Process
Process of photographing action in front of a blue screen to make a matte special effect possible.
Blow-up
To blow-up, or to optically blow-up is to make a larger duplicate picture from a smaller gauge. It is possible to make an optical blow-up of a 16mm format to a 35mm format while still maintaining sufficient quality and definition for public release.
BMI
Broadcast Music, Inc. Agency that licenses the use of copyrighted music.
BMP
See bitmapped image.
BNC Connector
1) Standard twist-connector for attaching coaxial cable to professional video equipment.
2) Widely-used connector used for video, sync and RF signals.
Boarder Merger
A composition problem in which subject matter is awkwardly and inappropriately cut off at one edge of the video frame.
Body Brace
A type of camera mount which attains some measure of stability by resting on the shoulder and attaching to the chest or belt area.
Body Wash
Body make-up by actors.
Boom/ Boom up or down
1)Cantilevered camera mount allowing adjustment of camera height. Also balanced pole device used to suspend microphone.
2)A boom is a long, mobile, telescopic arm with a microphone attached at one end that is usually held over an actor's head outside the camera's frame. The boom follows the characters and permits synchronous sound recording of the filmed scene.
3) The vertical movement of the camera on a boom. Since craning and booming essentially produce the same path, the terms are frequently used interchangeably.
Boom UP Boom Down
To raise or lower the height of a camera mounted on a boom or pedestal.
Bottom Line Statement
A single, simple, concrete, vivid statement that captures the essence of what a person is saying.
Bounce Light
An even, diffused light over an area that results from light being reflected off of the ceiling or wall in a room.
B-picture
The B-picture describes a movie that commonly appeared as the second film on a double-feature bill in the thirties, forties and fifties. It's budget was markedly less than that of the main picture sometimes known a the A-picture. This was reflected in the film through its use of lesser-known stars and reworked plots, often drawn from familiar genres such as science fiction or westerns. Though an object of scorn for many years, such films became of interest to film historians and popular culture enthusiasts as reflections of period attitudes and mores. Some B-pictures have achieved cult status for a variety of qualities such as quirkiness, innocence, comic undertones, or innovations in subject matter or technique.
Breakaway
1)A prop used during action sequences that looks real but is constructed so that it will break easily without harm to performers.
2)A breakaway refers to a property or part of the set made to break away easily without injury to the performer. For example, it may be a bottle, chair or miniature, such as an airplane, constructed to break up safely during a scene.
Breakdown
Analysis of script segments for the purpose of determining best sequence for shooting scenes and setups. Also referred to as “breakdown sheets.” Term also refers to analyzing a script for a cost analysis.
Breakaway/split edit/ L-cut
An edit where the audio and video do not automatically switch together, but one comes before or after the other. Often audio will come in before the corresponding scene starts.
Breakup
A brief interruption of video caused by a technical problem.
Bridge
Short visual or audio sequence designed as a transition between two program elements.
Bridging Shot
A shot inserted between two scenes to indicate a break in time or continuity.
Brightness Range
Range in reflectance from the darkest to the lightest subject matter in a scene as measured by a reflected light meter.
Broad
A broad-beam floodlight with a rectangular reflector used to light backgrounds and to throw light over a wide set area.
Broad-beam Lamp
A lighting instrument within a rectangular reflector that creates a broad, somewhat diffused light.
Buddy film
A buddy film usually deals with two protagonists, traditionally male but more recently female as well. Often very different in personality, the characters usually support and complement one another either through dramtic or comedic crisis. As travel is sometimes involved in such films as a stylistic device, many buddy films are also referred to as road movies. Road movies became especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s through the success of such films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Freebie and the Bean, The Last Detail, and California Split. Other examples of the genre areThelma and Louise, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, and Dumb and Dumber. Whether a crime drama, tragedy or farce, such a film generally serves as an examination of the nature of friendship.
Budget Tracking
A process whereby the actual expenses in a production are regularly compared to originally-projected expenses.
Build Up
Creating tension in a dramatic production by arranging scenes and selection music that build to a crisis or climax.
Bulk Erase
To completely erase an audio or videotape by the use of a strong electromagnet.
Bump Up
To copy segments form one videotape to a larger or higher quality videotape format.
Bump-down
Copying video information from higher-quality VTR format to a lower-quality one.
Burned In
SMPTE/EBU time code numbers that are a permanent part of the corresponding video.
Burned-in Time-code
As opposed to keyed-in time code, SMPTE/EBU time code numbers which are a permanent part of the corresponding video.
Burst/Color Burst
Reference signal used in video as the benchmark for hues.
Bus
1) A row of buttons on a switcher that allows a person to change between various video sources that are available in the system.
2) A single row of buttons on a video switcher.
Business
The realistic actions of actors that take place as a scene progresses. Examples would be reading a newspaper, knitting, lighting a cigarette, or fixing a drink.
Bust Shot
Camera shot of an actor from the waste up.
Busy
A scene that contains an inordinate amount of activity or distracting background elements.
Butterfly Diffuser
A large net diffusion screen used between direct sunlight and a subject to soften the harshness of the sun.
Byte
1) The smallest piece of computer memory that can be used as a distinct piece of information; made up of a group of bits.
2) Eight bits computer-language information used to define an alphabet character.
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