What Is Cinematography Terminology?

Cinematography terminology is the specialized language used on set to describe camera systems, lenses and optics, lighting tools and techniques, grip and rigging, camera movement, exposure and monitoring, color science, and workflow. It exists because set communication must be fast and precise.

Who This Cinematography Glossary Is For

This glossary is written for working crew and serious learners:

• Directors of Photography (DPs) and camera operators
• 1st ACs / focus pullers and 2nd ACs
• Gaffers, best boys, electrics
• Key grips, grips, rigging crew
• DITs, editors, producers, directors, and film students

How to Use This Page Efficiently

• Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to find any word instantly.
• Use the A–Z jump links to browse.
• Link to this page from blog posts, case studies, or service pages as your “terminology reference”.

Core Categories of Cinematography Language

Camera Department

Roles (DP/AC/DIT), exposure, monitoring, formats/codecs, camera behavior.

Lenses & Optics

Focal length, depth of field, anamorphic vs spherical, filtration, lens behavior (breathing, parfocal).

Lighting

Fixtures, modifiers, diffusion, power/distribution, lighting techniques.

Grip & Rigging

Stands, clamps, flags, safety, structural rigging for lights/camera.

Movement

Dolly/track, gimbals, Steadicam, cranes, aerial/drone language.

Color & Workflow

Log/RAW/LUTs, color spaces, dailies/proxies, handoff to post.

On-Set Slang

Shorthand that keeps sets moving (martini, last looks, etc.).

Complete A–Z Cinematography Glossary

A

Abby Singer

Second-to-last shot of the day.

AC (Assistant Camera)

Camera assistants; 1st AC pulls focus, 2nd AC slates and manages media.

Anamorphic

Lens format that squeezes the image horizontally, producing widescreen aspect ratios and characteristic flares/bokeh.

Apple Box

Wood box used to raise talent, props, or gear; full/half/quarter/pancake sizes.

Aspect Ratio

Relationship of image width to height (e.g., 16:9, 2.39:1).

B

Backlight / Rim Light

Light from behind the subject to separate them from background.

Barn Doors

Adjustable metal flaps used to shape a fixture’s spill.

Bates

Stage-pin power connector commonly used on film sets.

Best Boy

Second-in-command under the Gaffer (electric) or Key Grip (grip).

Book Light

Bounce into diffusion for extremely soft, wraparound light.

Burn In

Rolling camera briefly without a full reset (context-dependent slang).

C

Call Sheet

Daily production document listing schedule, locations, call times, and contacts.

Camera Report

Log maintained by 2nd AC for editorial/post notes.

C-Stand

Grip stand used for flags, arms, and small fixtures.

Check the Gate

Film-era “inspect for debris” phrase; still used colloquially.

Color Temperature

Measured in Kelvin; describes warmth/coolness of light.

Coverage

All shots needed to cut a scene.

D

Dailies

Processed footage for review (often lightly graded).

Dance Floor

Smooth surface (often plywood) for dolly moves without track.

DIT

Digital Imaging Technician managing on-set image pipeline and monitoring.

Dolly

Wheeled platform for smooth camera movement.

DOF (Depth of Field)

Range of acceptable focus in front of/behind the focus plane.

Dual Native ISO

Camera sensor with two optimized sensitivity levels.

E

ETTR

Expose To The Right; exposing brighter to preserve shadow detail.

Eyeline

Where the subject appears to look relative to the lens/camera.

Establishing Shot

Wide shot establishing location or geography.

F

F-Stop

Mathematical aperture value; not the same as transmission.

False Color

Exposure tool that maps luminance to colors.

Flag

Black fabric tool used to block or shape light.

Floppy

Large flag with fold-down section; used for negative fill.

Follow Focus

Device (manual or wireless) used to pull focus.

Frame Rate

Frames per second (24fps, 30fps, 60fps, etc.).

G

Gaffer

Head of the lighting department; executes the DP’s lighting plan.

Gamma

Brightness curve; how tones map from shadows to highlights.

Gimbal

Motorized stabilization system for smooth movement.

Global Shutter

Captures entire frame at once; avoids rolling shutter skew.

Grip

Department that shapes light and rigs/supports camera safely.

H

HMI

High-output daylight-balanced arc lamp; often used for “sun.”

Hot Brick

Fully charged battery.

HDR

High Dynamic Range imaging/viewing format.

I

Insert

Close-up of a specific object/action detail.

ISO

Sensor sensitivity; higher ISO typically increases noise.

IRND

ND filter that also reduces infrared contamination.

J

Jib

Crane arm for sweeping camera moves (non-telescoping).

K

Key Grip

Head of the grip department.

Key Light

Main light shaping the subject’s look.

Kelvin

Scale used to describe color temperature (e.g., 3200K, 5600K).

L

Last Looks

Final check by hair/makeup/wardrobe before rolling.

Lens Breathing

Change in image size/FOV during focus pulls.

LUT

Look-Up Table; color transform for monitoring or look creation.

Log

Flat gamma curve designed to preserve dynamic range for grading.

M

Martini Shot

Final shot of the day.

Matte Box

Holds filters and helps control flare.

MOS

Shot recorded without sync sound.

Movement

General term for camera motion (dolly, handheld, gimbal, etc.).

N

ND Filter

Neutral density filter that reduces light without changing color (ideally).

Negative Fill

Using black solids/flags to remove light and increase contrast.

Native ISO

Sensor’s optimized baseline sensitivity.

O

Operator

Person physically operating/framing the camera.

OTS

Over-the-shoulder shot framing.

P

Parfocal

Lens stays in focus while zooming.

Plate

Clean shot for VFX (no actors/moving elements), used for compositing.

Practical

Light source visible in frame (lamp, sconce, sign).

Prime Lens

Fixed focal length lens.

Proxy

Lower-resolution media for editing; relink to originals for finishing.

Q

Quiet on Set

Call to reduce noise before rolling.

R

Rec.709

Standard SDR color space/gamma used for most monitors.

Rigging

Building mounts/structures for lights/camera safely.

Rolling

Camera is recording.

RAW

Sensor data recording format with maximum grading flexibility.

S

Sandbag

Weight used to stabilize stands; basic set safety.

Slate

Clapperboard identifying scene/take; sync reference.

Speed Rail

Aluminum pipe used for rigging structures.

Stinger

Extension cord.

Striking

Callout that a light is turning on.

Shutter Angle

Motion blur characteristic (film-derived); often equivalent to shutter speed.

T

T-Stop

Aperture value based on actual light transmission.

Track

Rails for dolly movement.

Tail Slate

Slate at the end of a take.

Turning Over

Call indicating camera/sound is about to roll.

U

Undercrank

Shooting at a lower frame rate for faster motion on playback.

V

VFX

Visual effects work; plates and clean passes support compositing.

W

Waveform

Exposure monitoring tool displaying luminance values.

Wild Line

Dialogue recorded without camera rolling for clean audio.

Wrap

End of shooting day; also used for wrapping a department’s gear.

X

XLR

Common professional audio connector (often referenced on set even by camera crew).

Y

Yoke

Mounting bracket on many fixtures allowing tilt/attachment to stands.

Z

Zebras

Camera exposure warning stripes for highlights (and sometimes skin ranges).

FAQ: Cinematography Terminology

About This Glossary

This glossary is maintained as a practical reference for working sets and is designed to stay evergreen as terminology evolves with camera systems, lighting technology, and post workflows.