Glossary

Quartz:
Tungsten-Halogen lights or lighting units. The name is derived from the material which encloses the lighting element. (Lighting)
Reaction Shot:
A shot of a player listening while another player's voice continues on the sound track. (Production)
Reduction Printing:
The production of a copy of a film which is of a smaller size than the original.
Relational Editing:
Editing of shots for the purposes of comparison or for the contrast of content. (Film Editing)
Release:
A contractural document giving the production company the right to use a specific person or place.
Re-recording:
The process of mixing all edited music, effects and dialog tracks of a film or video production to mono, stereo, multichannel or whatever audio format is desired for the final print master.
Reverse action:
An optical effect in which the action appears backwards from its chronological sequence. (Laboratory)
Reverse angle:
A shot that is turned approximately 180 degrees in relation to the preceding shot. (Cinematography)
Rim:
A hard backlight, is generally on the same level as the subject, that casts more light than the key light. (Lighting)
Riser:
(1) a cylindrical metal device placed betwen the dolly head and the camera base to raise the camera. (2) a prebuilt platform used to raise the set, camera, or lights. (Grip/Lighting)
Room Tone:
The "noise" of a room, set or location where dialog is recorded during Production. Used by film and dialog editors as a "bed" to form a continuous tone through a particular scene. This is often confused with ambience, which might be sound effects and/or reverberation added when the dialog is mixed.
Rough cut:
A preliminary trial stage in the process of editing a film. Shots are laid out in approximate relationship to an end product without detailed attention to the individual cutting points. (Film Editing)
Score:
The original-music composition for a motion picture or television production which is generally recorded after the picture has been edited.
Scrim:
A metal 'window screen' that can be placed in front of a lighting unit to decrease the lighting intensity by a predetermined amount. (Grip/Lighting)
Scrub:
Moving a piece of tape or video back and forth to locate a specific cue or word.
SDDS:
Sony Dynamic Digital Sound System. a film sound format which encodes eight tracks of digital audio outside of the sprocket holes on both edges of a film print. (Sound)
Second Unit:
A photographic team that shoots scenes which do not involve the principal cast, such as stunts, car chases, or establishing shots.
Sensitivity:
An indication of recording or playback efficiency as might be measure of a microphone or audio tape recorder.
Set Dressing:
Items of decoration which are not designated in the script or by the director as part of specific action. (Production)
Shiny Boards:
A grip reflector used for reaiming sunlight to provide a key or fill light. (Grip/Lighting)
Shotgun Mic:
A highly directional microphone, usually with a long, tubular body; used by the production sound mixer on location or on the set for film and television productions.
Siamese:
A splitter that divides a power line into two parts. (Grip/Lighting)
Sibilance:
An exaggerated hissing in voice patterns. (Post Production)
Sider:
A device which cuts the light from the side of a lighting unit, usually a flag or a cutter. (Grip/Lighting)
Sight Line:
An imaginary line that is drawn between a subject and the object that he/she is looking at.
Silk:
A lighting diffusion or reflective material, formerly real silk. (Grip/Lighting)
Single:
A shot with only one subject in the frame. (Production)
Signal:
The form of variation with time of a wave whereby information is conveyed in some form whether it is acoustic or electronic.
Signal to Noise Ratio:
This is the ratio of the desired signal to the unwanted noise in an audio or video record/playback system.
Single System:
A method of recording sound and picture on the same medium, most typically used in news gathering.
Slate:
The identifier placed in front of the camera at beginning of a take.
Slug:
A strip of blank leader or image-bearing film used as leader. (Film Editing)
SMPTE:
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
SMPTE Time Code:
Also known as Longitudinal Time Code. a high frequency signal that allows the accurate "locking" of film audio and video equipment. Locator information is displayed as numbers.
Snake:
A multi-channel audio cable intended for use with microphone level signals and/or line level signals. (audio/Video/Electronics)
Sound Designer:
A film sound specialist responsible for the development and augmentation of all soundtrack material, or a significant portion thereof, and is ultimately in charge of the entire sound production. Occasionally, it is used to refer to a person who is responsible for creating unique sounds or sound elements which are incorporated into a sound track. (Sound)
Sound Effect:
A recorded or electronically produced sound that matches the visual action taking place onscreen.
Sound Mixer:
The person responsible for capturing sound as it plays out live, determining microphone types and placement. (Sound)
Sound-on-Sound:
A method in which previously recorded sound on one track is rerecorded onto another track while new material is added.
Soundtrack:
Generically refers to the music contained in a film, though it literally means the entire audio portion of a film, video or television production, including effects and dialog.
Specular:
A term used to describe highly directional, focused light. This is often perceived as a very 'hard' light. (Lighting)
Spill:
Light that is escaping from the sides of a lighting unit, or any light that is falling where it is not wanted. (Grip/Lighting)
Splice:
The act of joining two pieces of film or video by any of several methods. (Film Editing)
Split Screen:
An optical or special effects shot in which two separate images are combined on each frame.
Spot:
On a lensed light, the smallest beam spread. (Lighting)
Spotting:
Used in scoring and sound effects editing to identify the specific scenes or points where music cues or effects cues will take place. Usually, this will include information on length and style.
Steadicam Operator:
An individual who used a stabilizing mournt for a camera, which mechanically isolates the camera operator's movement, allowing a very smooth shot, even during movement of the individual.
Steaming Video:
A delivery method of the video whereby the finished product is placed onto a web-server allowing it to be viewed by website viewers, without the viewer downloading the file.
Stinger:
A single extension cord. Most often referred to a single 'hot' extension that is left lying around for occassional use. (Grip/Lighting)
Striking:
The breakdown process of a camera position, location, or set.
Suicide:
A term for a distribution wiring connector with male plugs at both ends, (Grip/Lighting)
Surround Sound:
Sound that is reproduced through speakers above or behind the audience.
Sweeten/Sweetening:
Enhancing the sound of a recording or a particular sound effect with equalization or some other signal processing device.