walk-through
A rough rehearsal in which no cameras are used. Generally the actors walk from place to place and check their actions without speaking any dialogue.
wardrobe person
Individual responsible for selecting and supplying clothes and accessories for talent.
warm
A color picture that contains a noticeable amount of red or yellow.
watt
1)A unit of electrical power equal to the voltage times the amperage.
2)A measurement of electrical power.
waveform monitor
1)A type of oscilloscope or CRT that displays the amplitude of a video signal and its sync.
<2) A form of oscilloscope which graphically displays the levels of a video signal.
3) A piece of equipment that shows a graphic display of the black-and-white portion of the video signal.
wedge mount
Mounting device enabling cameras to be rapidly mounted and dismounted from cameras pedestals or tripods.
whip-pan
Swish pan. A very rapid camera panning action where subject matter is deliberately blurred. An early in-camera special effect used to link shots or sequences.
white balancing
1)Electronically adjusting a camera's chroma channels for a light source so that white will be reproduced as true white. Most cameras can automatically white balance when the operator fills the screen with a white card and pushes a white balance button.
2)The color balancing procedure for a video camera. Allows the camera to “see” white under a given lighting condition.
wide angle
A lens or a scene that represents an angle of view significantly wider than normal. A wide-angle lens or shot is either a prime lens with a focal length significantly less (at least 25 percent less) than a normal lens, or a zoom lens used at a focal length significantly less than normal.
wide-angle converter
Lens attachment that gives a wider angle of view by decreasing the lens's focal length.
widen out
The enlargement of the field-of-view by shortening the focal length of a zoom lens.
wild sound; wild track
Sound, generally background sound, recorded independently of the video and added during postproduction. Does not need to be synchronized with the video.
wild walls
In a studio, any walls ceilings or other major architectural elements that can be detached from the set and moved to make room for lights, camera cranes, dollies or special effects rigging.
window burn; window dub
An off-line copy of an original videotape that contains a permanent display of the SMPTE/EBU time code in the video.
windscreen
A small fabric or foam rubber cover for the top of a microphone that reduces or eliminates the sound of moving air or wind.
Window of Correction
The amount of time base error a TBC will correct, measured in video lines.
wipe/wipe the frame
1)Visual effect where a moving line or pattern acts as a border as one video signal gradually replaces another. As one picture disappears another is revealed.
2) The use of a moving foreground element that momentarily passes in front of the lens, obscuring the view of the subject of the shot. This serves the same purpose as the action cut and helps smooth the transition to a new shot in the scene.
wireless microphone
A microphone that has a built-in, low-power transmitter, or that is connected to a transmitter. Wireless mikes are commonly used when a mike cord would create a problem.
wireframe
Used in electronic graphics to form a "skeleton" of an object which is later electronically "fleshed out" (rendered) into a realistic image.
woofer
Large speaker, effective in reproducing bass.
working master
A final edited master tape which is kept in pristine condition after making copies. These copies are then used for subsequent copies.
work print
A copy of the original footage in a production. Used in off-line editing.
WORM (write once read many [times])
A videodisc system that permanently writes information onto a disk.
wowing
The audible, undesirable result of starting a record before the turntable has reached full speed.
writer
In television and film the individual responsible for writing the production script.
WS
Script designation for wide shot.
WYSIWYG
An acronym (pronounced "wizzywig") for what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Refers to a computer screen representation of text or graphics being the same as the subsequent hardcopy printout.
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