Film Techniques and Terminology: Camera, Editing, and Sound UPDATED
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
180° Rule This 'rule' suggests that in order to avoid confusing the viewer, the camera should
be kept on one side of the object being filmed, and thus helps viewers stay
oriented.
Anticipatory Setup A shot that implies by its framing or subject matter that something is about to
happen.
Aspect Ratio Relative frame size expressed as a ratio with the first number indicating the
horizontal and the second indicating the vertical.
Asynchronous Sound Any time the sound of a film does not match the action on screen.
Auteur Theory The controversial notion that the director of a film should be treated more or less
like an 'author' of a novel.
Backlighting The effect created when the strongest light in the shot is placed behind the
subject.
Breen Code (or Breen Office) This technique is often used in films that have been classically edited.
Bridge A short shot or scene that serves as a transition between two longer scenes.
Classical Editing Editing designed to create a great deal of continuity or linear chronological
'smoothness' in a scene.
Close Up A shot in which an object is filmed from a short or extremely short distance, so
that it tends to fill up much of the screen.
Continuity The illusion that different shots are really part of a continuous whole.
Crawl The use of written material, often exposition, that moves slowly (crawls) up, down,
or across the screen.
Cross Cutting See 'Parallel Editing'.
Cross-Fade (dissolve) This technique is sometimes used to imply some sort of connection between the
subject matter of the two shots.
Distortion In general terms, any time a sound, image, or time frame has been changed from
the way it may be found in reality.
Dolly Shot (tracking shot) Dolly shots are indispensable when a director wishes to follow the action of
moving subjects.
ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT Answers
180° Rule This 'rule' suggests that in order to avoid confusing the viewer, the camera should
be kept on one side of the object being filmed, and thus helps viewers stay
oriented.
Anticipatory Setup A shot that implies by its framing or subject matter that something is about to
happen.
Aspect Ratio Relative frame size expressed as a ratio with the first number indicating the
horizontal and the second indicating the vertical.
Asynchronous Sound Any time the sound of a film does not match the action on screen.
Auteur Theory The controversial notion that the director of a film should be treated more or less
like an 'author' of a novel.
Backlighting The effect created when the strongest light in the shot is placed behind the
subject.
Breen Code (or Breen Office) This technique is often used in films that have been classically edited.
Bridge A short shot or scene that serves as a transition between two longer scenes.
Classical Editing Editing designed to create a great deal of continuity or linear chronological
'smoothness' in a scene.
Close Up A shot in which an object is filmed from a short or extremely short distance, so
that it tends to fill up much of the screen.
Continuity The illusion that different shots are really part of a continuous whole.
Crawl The use of written material, often exposition, that moves slowly (crawls) up, down,
or across the screen.
Cross Cutting See 'Parallel Editing'.
Cross-Fade (dissolve) This technique is sometimes used to imply some sort of connection between the
subject matter of the two shots.
Distortion In general terms, any time a sound, image, or time frame has been changed from
the way it may be found in reality.
Dolly Shot (tracking shot) Dolly shots are indispensable when a director wishes to follow the action of
moving subjects.
