Academic Terminology
script - the blueprint or roadmap that outlines a movie through visual descriptions, actions of characters, and their dialogue
scene heading - a short description of the location and time of day also known as a slug line (example: Tatooine Planet - Day)
slugline - another name for scene heading
character - the subjects or individuals we follow on the journey of the story
action - the moving pictures we see on screen. Also, the direction given by a director, indicating the filming begins
dialogue - the speeches between characters in a film or a play
WEEK OF APRIL 27TH - MAY 1ST
WEEK OF APRIL 20TH - 24TH
INT - indoors
EXT - outdoors
POV - Point of View; a camera angle placed so as to seem the camera is the eyes of a character
transition - A script notation denoting an editing transition within the telling of a story. For example, DISSOLVE TO: means the action seems to blur and refocus into another scene, and is generally used to denote a passage of time
treatment - A scene by scene description of a screenplay, minus all or most of the dialogue
flash back - A scene from the past that interrupts the action to explain motivation or reaction of a character to the immediate scene
WEEK OF MAY 4TH - MAY 8TH
pre-production - Any activity on a program that occurs prior to the time that the cameras begin rolling
production - the act or process of producing something
post production - Any of the activities performed after a program has been shot
multiple casting - When an actor plays more than one character
screenwriting - The art of writing scripts for a visual medium
SFX - Abbreviation for Sound Effects
WEEK OF MAY 11TH - MAY 15TH
O.C - Abbreviation for Off Camera, denoting that the speaker is resident within the scene but not seen by the camera
V.O - Abbreviation for Voice Over, denoting that the speaker is narrating the action onscreen
O.S - Abbreviation for Off Screen, denoting that the speaker is not resident within the scene
PAN - A camera direction indicating a stationary camera that pivots back and forth or up and down
PSA - public service announcement
Cue - A signal to a performer to begin a specific speech or action; to prompt
WEEK OF MAY 18TH - 22ND
pitch - To verbally describe a property to a potential buyer in the hope it will be bought
program proposal - Written document that outlines the process message and the major aspects of a television presentation
showrunner - A writer/producer ultimately responsible for the production of a TV series, week to week
content specialist - A person who works with the script writer and is considered to be an expert in the program's subject matter
rack of focus - when a shot had a narrow depth of field and part of the image is out of focus
NAT sound - natural sound, such as band music, recorded for broadcast
WEEK OF MAY 26TH - 29TH
rule of thirds - a composition rule that divides the screen into thirds horizontally and vertically
MOD - The closest an object can be in camera but still be in focus
Ad lib - Dialogue in which the characters or actors make up what they say in real time on the movie set or on stage. From the Latin ad libitum, "in accordance with desire."
example - Network Connectivity Problems, Abby Called Out, Dean Winchester's Catchphrase, The Animal Cracker Speech, & The Psych Pineapples