Glossary of Essential Corporate Video Production Terms

Whether you’re a seasoned filmmaker or new to the world of video production, understanding these essential terms will help you navigate the process more effectively:

Pre-Production

  1. Big Idea: The overarching vision for your video project, including the message, target audience, and budget.

  2. Outline: A written summary of characters, props, and events needed for your story.

  3. Shot List: A detailed list of all the shots you plan to capture during filming.

  4. Storyboard: Visual representations of each scene, helping you plan camera angles and transitions.

  5. Location Scouting: Visiting potential filming locations to assess suitability.

  6. Video Assets: All the elements needed for your video, such as footage, images, and graphics.

  7. Draft Script: An early version of your video’s dialogue and narration.

Production

Camera Terms

  1. A-Cam: The primary camera used for filming.

  2. B-Cam: A secondary camera for alternate angles or backup shots.

  3. Depth of Field: The range of focus in a shot.

  4. Aperture (F-Stop): Controls the amount of light entering the camera lens.

  5. Prime Lens: A fixed focal length lens.

  6. Aspect Ratio: The width-to-height ratio of the video frame.

  7. Frame Rate: The number of frames captured per second.

  8. Zoom Lens: A lens with variable focal lengths.

  9. White Balance: Adjusting colors to appear natural under different lighting conditions.

Lighting Terms

  1. Key Light: The main light source illuminating the subject.

  2. Fill Light: Reduces shadows created by the key light.

  3. Backlight: Illuminates the subject from behind.

  4. Soft Light: Diffused, gentle lighting.

  5. Hard Light: Intense, focused lighting.

  6. Practical Light: Real-world light sources within the scene.

Audio Terms

  1. Ambient Sound: Background noise captured during filming.

  2. Decibel (dB): Unit of sound intensity.

  3. Polar Pattern: The directional sensitivity of a microphone.

  4. Boom Mic: A microphone on a long pole.

  5. Lavalier Mic: A small, clip-on microphone.

  6. XLR: A professional audio connector.

  7. Foley: Creating sound effects in post-production.

Types of Shots & Camera Movement

  1. Close-Up Shot (CU): Focuses on a specific detail or face.

  2. Medium Shot (MS): Shows the subject from the waist up.

  3. Wide Shot (WS): Captures the entire scene.

  4. Dolly: Moving the camera on a wheeled platform.

  5. Pan: Rotating the camera horizontally.

  6. Tilt: Rotating the camera vertically.

  7. Zoom: Changing the focal length during a shot.

Post Production

  1. Video Editing: Assembling and refining footage.

  2. Color Correction: Adjusting colors for consistency.

  3. Motion Graphics: Animated visual elements.

  4. Compression: Reducing file size without losing quality.

  5. Audio Mix: Balancing sound levels.

  6. Timeline Edit: Arranging clips in chronological order.

General Terms

  1. HD (High Definition): High-quality video resolution.

  2. UHD (Ultra High Definition): 4K video resolution.

  3. Aspect Ratio: The frame’s width-to-height proportion.

  4. Raw Footage: Unedited video files.

  5. Multimedia: Combining various media elements.

  6. Subtitle: Text displayed on-screen.

  7. Cut: Transition between shots.

  8. Thumbnail: The image representing your video.