glossary
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glossary

If you have any difficulties understanding the terminology, please use the search function below to find detailed explanations of the terms you are looking for.

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  • Call sheet

    Document which sets out the time that each actor should arrive at a rehearsal or recording.

  • Cam L

    Camera left - standard script abbreviation for left as seen by the camera looking towards a set or whatever is being shot.  Distinct from stage left which is the left hand side of the set looking towards the camera, from the actor's point of view.

  • Cam R

    Camera right - standard script abbreviation for right as seen by the camera looking towards a set or whatever is being shot.  Distinct from stage right which is the right hand side of the set looking towards the camera, from the actor's point of view.

  • Camera card

    A camera card relates to the camera script.  The card is attached to the relevant camera and the camera operator then uses it as a constant reference as to which shot needs to be covered by them next.

  • Camera script

    A script which shows details of camera shots and movements, sound requirements and lighting changes.

  • Candlepower

    A measurement of light, generally that which is output from an electric lamp.

  • Cans

    Slang for headphones or earphones.

  • Caption

    Lettering or artwork that appears on the screen.

  • Capture Card

    A type of computer card with video and/or audio inputs which allows the computer to import an analogue signal and convert it to a digital file.

  • CCU

    Electronic controls for a video camera, allowing certain features of the camera to be operated remotely from a control room.

  • Channel

    On audio mixers, the pathway along which each individual input travels before being mixed into the next stage (usually a sub-group or the master bus). Each channel will typically have an input socket where the source is physically plugged in, followed by a sequence of amplifiers / attenuators, equalisers, auxiliary channels, monitoring and other controls, and finally a slider to adjust the output level of the channel.

  • Character generator

    Electronic equipment used to produce name captions, other word graphics and simple symbols which can then be added to a programme either in the edit suite or in a studio.

  • Charged Coupled Device

    The image sensing device of video and television cameras -- the component which converts light from the lens into an electrical signal. Made up of pixels - the more pixels, the higher the resolution. CCDs are commonly referred to simply as "chips". They replaced previous tube technology in the 1980's. Larger CCDs can naturally accommodate more pixels, and therefore have higher resolutions. Common sizes are 1/3" (pro-sumer level), 1/2" and 2/3" (professional level). Consumer cameras generally have a single CCD which interprets all colours, whereas professional cameras have three CCDs -- one for each primary colour.

  • Cherry picker

    An extremely tall mobile crane used as a camera platform to enable camera operators to obtain very high angle shots.

  • Chromakey

    A technique which allows a foreground scene to be superimposed on a background image from elsewhere.  This effect is obtained by recording the foreground action against a coloured (usually blue) screen or background, keying then allows the blue that has been recorded to be replaced by another image.  It is essential that nothing in the desired foreground action contains the same colour as the background.  If an actor is wearing a blue suit, for instance, most of his body will disappear when the keying replaces a blue background. Similar techniques inlude: CSO, blue screen, Ultimatte and virtual studio.