Media Terms

Narrative - How the story is constructed.

Mise-en-Scene- Refers to everything in the frame of the film. Including; lighting, set, props, staging and the movement of actors.

Setting - Refers to the time and place of the film.

Low Key Lighting- This light often causes shadow.

High Key Lighting- Looks very glossy and makes everything seem bright.

Low Angle- Where the camera is positioned low and is looking upward.

High Angle- Where the camera is positioned high and is looking downward.

Pan - The movement of a stationary camera on a horizontal axis. A camera on a tripod that moves from left to right.

Tilt - The movement of a stationary camera on a vertical axis. A camera on a tripod that moves up and down.

Tracking- The movement of a camera that is following the action. (Not stationary)

Handheld shot N Refers to a shot where the camera operator holds the camera.

Cut- one shot to the next. Used in editing.

Diegetic Sound – sound heard on screen.

Non-Diegetic Sound – sound outside the screen.

Pleonastic sound – When sound levels are increased to cause effect.

Sound bridge – Sound effect that links two scenes together.

Sting – a sharp sound often heard at the end of a scene or in a scene with tension. 

Synchronous – this is when a sound effect is matched with another technical event or action – this reinforces effect.

Asynchronous – this is when a sound originates from outside of the diegetic reality of the film; musical soundtrack.

Ambient – is used to create a particular atmosphere or a sense of place.

Voiceover – The voice of the character or a narrator which helps tell the story.

Added value – the sound that enriches a given image.

Empathetic sound – sound that creates empathy for characters, moments in films.