Glossary

K (Kelvin and Kilo):
Kelvin is the unit of measurement used for absolute temperatures and color temperatures. Kilo is used to describe the wattage in lighting.
Key Grip:
The chief grip who works directly with the gaffer in creating shadow effects for set lighting and who supervises camera cranes, dollies and other platforms or supporting structures according to the requirements of the director of photography. (Production)
Key Light:
The main light on a subject. (Lighting)
Kick:
An object with a shine or reflection on it from another object. (Grip/Lighting)
Kiss:
A light that gently brushes a subject. (Lighting)
Latitude:
The range between overexposure and underexposure in which a film or video will still produce usable images. (Camera)
Lavalier Mic:
A small microphone that can be easily hidden on a piece of clothing so as not to be seen by the camera.
Leko:
An ellipsoidal reflector spot light. Usually used for theatrical purposes. (Lighting)
Level:
The ratio of an acoustic quantity to a reference quantity. a measurement of amplitude in decibels. (acoustics)
Library Shot:
Stock footage shot or other footage which is germane to a given visual presentation but which was not generated for that specific film or television presentation. (Film Editing)
Looping:
A continuous sound track that runs repeatedly in playback as a guide for re recording. (Post Production)
Lowboy:
A heavy duty rolling stand, usually with a combo head, but without the height of a 'highboy'. (Grip/Lighting)
Lowkey:
A high contrast lighting style with lost of shadows and large areas of darkness. (Lighting)
Lowpass Filter:
A filter that attenuates frequencies above a specified frequency and allows those below that point to pass.
Magenta:
A redish-purple color which is the complementary color of green.
Masking:
A phenomenon whereby one or more sound "trick" the ear into not hearing other, weaker, sound that are also present. (audio)
Match Cut (match-action cut):
A cut made on action or movement between two shots in which the action has been overlapped either by repetition of the action or by the use of more than one camera. (Film Editing)
Match Dissolve:
A dissolve linking images which have similar content. (Film Editing)
Match-Image Cut:
A cut from one shot to another shot having an image of the same general shape as the one in the prior shot. (Film Editing)
Matching action:
The process of aligning or overlapping the shots of a film sequence in order to achieve a smooth transition from the action in one shot to the action of the succeeding shot. (Film Editing)
Maxi-Brute:
A 9 light unit with (9) 1000 watt PaR 64 lights. (Lighting)
Meat axe:
An grip arm-like accessory which is designed to clamp onto the hand rail of a studio overhead catwalk, or other suitable surface, and has a gobo head at the end of the arm. (Grip)
Medium Shot:
Filling the camera frame with a person's head and chest, or similar object.
Mickey:
An open faced 1K lighting unit. also known as a 'Redhead'. (Lighting)
Microphone Impedance:
The nominal load impedance for a microphone indicates the optimum matching load which utilizes the mike's characteristics to the fullest extent. Impedance is a combination of dc resistance, inductance and capacitance, which act as resistances in ac circuits. an inductive impedance increases with frequency; a capacitance impedance decreases with frequency. Either type introduces change in phase. (acoustics)
MIDI:
Musical Instrument Digital Interface. a machine protocol that allows synthesizers, computers, drum machines and other processors to communicate with and/or control one another. (Sound)
Mix:
Electrically combining the signals from microphones, tape, and/or reproducers and other sources. (Post Production)
Mix Cue Sheet (cue sheet):
A sheet having several columns for notations of footage, fades. volume levels, and equalizations which are used in mixing sound tracks where each column usually represents one track.
Montage:
The assembly of shots and the portrayal of action or ideas through the use of many short shots. (Film Editing)
MOS:
Silent filming. Traditionally explained as Motion Omit Sound.
M-S (Mid-Side):
A stereo microphone technique where two microphones are incorporated into a special configuration for recording. (audio)
Multichannel:
In film, used to refer to a final mix that includes more than stereo information (i.e., LCRS or six-channel surround formats).
Multimedia:
A production that uses a combination of different media forms. Some common combinations include: video footage and Flash®, video footage and photographs, or 3-D files, along with a number of other media tools.
Multitrack:
An audio tape recorder capable of handling more than two tracks of information separately.
Musco Lights:
An array of permanently crane mounted HMI lights. (Lighting)