The ultimate video jargon buster: 101 video terms explained

Do you know what ‘blend shape’, ‘recce’ and ‘tweening’ mean?

They may sound like gibberish, but mastering these key video terms is your ticket to creating amazing content with ease. So without further ado, here’s our video jargon busting list.

Our glossary of video production terms

1. 3D modelling: three-dimensional objects using computer software.
2. After Effects: popular software for creating motion graphics and visual effects.
3. Animatic: a preliminary version of the film combining storyboard images.

4. Aspect ratio: the proportion of the width and height of the screen/image.
5. Augmented reality (AR): enhancing real-world environments with digital overlays to create an interactive brand experience.
6. B-roll: supplementary footage that enriches the main footage.
7. Behind-the-scenes: content showing the process of how a product is made or insights into the brand’s operations.
8. Blend shape: technique in 3D animation to morph one shape into another.
9. Boom mic: a microphone which is placed over your subjects during a shoot, usually in an interview. It picks up the audio like a regular handheld mic would. We often also use a lapel mic too.
10. Brand awareness: The extent to which consumers recognise and remember a brand.
11. Brand storytelling: crafting narratives that convey a brand’s values, mission, or history to engage the audience emotionally
12. Branded content: content produced by a brand to engage its audience by aligning with values, interests, or storytelling rather than direct promotion.
13. Budget: the financial plan for the video project’s expenses.
14. Call sheet: a schedule of filming arrangements for a particular day.
15. Call to action: prompt that encourages the audience to take a specific action, like clicking a link or buying a product.
16. Case studies: in-depth analysis demonstrating the effectiveness of a brand’s product or service.
17. Casting: process of selecting actors or contributors for various roles.
18. Cel animation: traditional hand-drawn animation on celluloid sheets.
19. Computer-generated imagery (CGI): creating visual content using computer graphics.
20. Clapperboard: device used to synchronise audio and video during filming.
21. Close-up: a shot that tightly frames an actor’s face or an object.
22. Codec: compression-decompression algorithm used in digital video.
23. Colour grading: Adjusting the colours in the film to create a consistent atmosphere.
24. Composting: combining different visual elements to create a single image.
25. Content calendar: a schedule used by content creators to plan and organise publishing.
26. Content pillar: high-quality, in-depth content that serves as the foundation for other, smaller content pieces.
27. Content repurposing: adapting existing content into different formats to extend its lifecycle.
28. Conversion rate: the percentage of users who take a desired action after engaging with branded content.
29. Creative brief: a document used to outline the strategy of a creative project that details the project’s purpose, objectives and requirements
30. Creative director: the person who oversees the artistic aspects of the film.
31. Cutaway: a shot that interrupts the main action to show some other detail.
32. Director of photography (DoP): cinematographer responsible for the camera work.
33. Director: person who oversees the artistic, dramatic, and technical aspects of a film.
34. Dolly: a wheeled platform for smoother camera movements.
35. Easing: smooth transition of motion to make it appear more natural.
36. Editing: cutting and assembling various takes into a coherent sequence.
37. Establishing shot: a wide shot that sets up a location and context.
38. Evergreen content: content that doesn’t revolve around trends, regardless of passing time and changing culture.
39. Explainer video: a short video explaining a concept or product.
40. Fill light: secondary light to balance the key light and reduce shadows.
41. Final cut: the last edited version of the film.
42. Focus puller: individual who maintains the camera’s focus during shots.
43. Foley: creating everyday sound effects to enhance the audio experience.
44. Foreground: the part of the scene nearest the camera.
45. Frame rate: the number of frames captured per second of footage.
46. Gaffer: chief electrician responsible for the lighting plan.
47. Green screen: a green background used to digitally insert another background later.
48. Grip: crew member responsible for setting up and maintaining production equipment.
49. General views (GVs): shots that establish a specific location, subject, or activity.
50. How-to guides: instructional content that provides step-by-step guidance using the brand’s products.
51. Influencer marketing: collaborating with influencers to create content that promotes a brand or product authentically.
52. Infographics: visual content presenting data and information clearly and engagingly.
53. Interactive content: content that requires active engagement from users, such as quizzes, polls, and interactive videos.
54. Key light: the primary source of light in a scene.
55. Keyframe: a significant frame where a new position or pose is established.
56. Kinetic typography: moving text to convey ideas or evoke emotions.
57. Lapel/lavalier mic: a clip-on microphone that can be discreetly hidden under clothing. Gives excellent sound quality and a must for when contributors are speaking on camera.
58. Livestreams: real-time broadcasting to engage directly with the audience through Q&A sessions, product launches, or events.
59. Location scouting: finding and securing locations to film in.
60. Lower third: text graphic on the lower part of the screen, displaying additional information – usually a name, job title and where they work.
61. Masking: isolating a part of an image using a mask layer.
62. Medium shot: a shot that shows the actor from the waist up.
63. Motion capture (Mo-Cap): recording the movement of objects or people.
64. Motion graphics: graphics that use video footage and animation to create the illusion of motion.
65. Over-the-shoulder shot: a shot looking over the shoulder of another person, usually during conversations.
66. Pan: horizontal movement of the camera.
67. Pose-to-pose: key poses are planned first, then in-between moves are animated.
68. POV (point of view) shot: a shot meant to show what a character is seeing.
69. Producer: person responsible for the financial and managerial aspects of a film.
70. Recce: a pre-filming visit to a location to determine its suitability for shooting. You’d be looking for how accessible it is, if it’s the right size/space and any potential light and sound issues.
71. Rendering: the process of generating the final visuals from computer graphics.
72. Rigging: creating a skeletal structure for a model to enable movement.
73. Risk assessment: created by producers to analyse any potential risks on set and avoid any incidents.
74. Rotoscoping: tracing over live-action footage to create realistic animation.
75. Script: the written text of a film, including dialogue and directions.
76. Sound design: creating the audio landscape of a film, including effects and ambience.
77. Sound mixer/operator: the person responsible for capturing all audio elements on set.
78. Squash and stretch: technique to give animated objects a sense of weight and flexibility.
79. Steadicam: a stabilising mount for smooth camera movement.
80. Stop Motion: animation created by photographing each frame individually.
81. Storyboard: visual plan for animation and motion design sequences.
82. Straight ahead animation: animation technique where scenes are drawn frame-by-frame from start to finish.
83. Testimonials: content featuring satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences with the brand.
84. Tilt: vertical movement of the camera.
85. Timeline: the chronological order of clips and sequences in editing software.
86. Tracking shot: a shot that follows the subject using a camera on a dolly or track.
87. Transition: animation effect between scenes or segments.
88. Tweening: creating intermediate frames between keyframes in animation.
89. Two-shot: a shot featuring two characters together.
90. User-generated content (UGC): content created by consumers about a brand or product that can be shared by the brand.
91. Vector animation: an animation based on mathematical equations for clean, scalable graphics.
92. VFX (visual effects): integrating computer graphics with live-action footage.
93. Video series: episodic videos that provide ongoing value or entertainment while promoting the brand.
94. Viral content: content designed to be highly shareable and quickly spread across the Internet.
95. Virtual reality (VR): immersive content experiences using VR technology.
96. Voiceover: an unseen voice used to narrate a live action film or animation. The voice over artist can be chosen based on their tone, accent and will be directed to fit a films style or pace
97. Walk cycle: sequence of frames showing a character walking.
98. Webinars: live or recorded online seminars providing valuable information and brand insights.
99. Wide-angle lens: a lens with a short focal length for broader shots.
100. Zoom lens: a lens that allows variable focal length.
101. Zoom: changing the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear closer or farther.

Now you know video terminology…go forth and create

So there you have it – a crash course in video terminology that cuts through the clutter.

With these definitions under your belt, you’re equipped to navigate the world of video production and editing with confidence. No more feeling like an outsider when the pros start throwing out loads of technical video jargon.

Remember, video technology is constantly evolving, so keep learning, keep adapting, and most importantly, keep creating.

Maybe your next step is to work with an award-winning video production agency? That’s us. We make everything from animations to brand films and explainers.

 

Written by Grace Dunsby, Producer at Definition.

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