10 Video Production Terms You Should Know
All industries have an essential and specific vocabulary, and video production is no different. To someone not familiar with the industry, some terms may be confusing. To help, I put together a glossary of the top 10 video production terms you should know!
Pre-Production
Pre-Production is a broad term to encompass what needs to be done before getting on set and filming. Think of pre-production as the game plan that includes everything from budgeting and location scouting/set-up, to storyboarding and writing a script. Careful planning in the pre-production phase ensures a great video shoot!
Storyboarding/Storyboard
Think of a storyboard as a blueprint for your video. A storyboard is similar to a script, but, instead of words, it uses images to map out the scenes of a video. Text is often included in the storyboard, to describe movement, important elements, and sometimes lines, but the images are key to communicating how the visuals will be communicated.
Blocking
Blocking refers to the planning of physical movement. It can refer to actors or the movement of cameras and is usually done by the director.
Room tone
Room tone is the white noise that occurs in any space that is not sound-proofed. Often, room tone is desirable! You don’t always notice it, but almost all rooms have a low buzz or hum that we find eerie to not hear. Depending on the project, room tone is something you may or may not want. We sometimes will record the ambient noise we are shooting to use while editing during post-production. This ensures cohesion.
Shot
A Shot is the most basic component of a video. It refers to an uninterrupted series of frames. By combining different types of shots, we build your story!
Shot list
Think of a shot list as the director’s and cinematographer’s check list. A shot list breaks down the storyboard into shots that need to be taken and included in the final video. A shot list helps keep everyone on set on track, providing forward motion, and ensures that nothing will be overlooked.
Composition
Composition describes the arrangement of elements in a frame. It is an artistic skill that makes individual shots pleasing to the eye and also serves the purpose of moving the story forward. There are many “rules” to composition.
B-Roll
B-Roll is supplemental footage we take to fill out the world we are creating. It isn’t the main footage, but can be used to make transitions smooth, add details to support the scene, and make the final product more visually engaging.
Close up vs. Medium shot vs. long shot
While not a cohesive list of all the types of shots, close, medium, and long shots are the most commonly occurring shots. Long shots are often used to establish a scene. Medium shots are wide enough to include all the action in a scene, and close ups reveal the emotion and detail of a person or object.
Post-Production
After we wrap up on shooting, your project enters post-production. Post-production includes everything that happens after production–namely, editing. Your finished product will emerge from post-production.
Whether you're planning on working with SPOKE612 Productions or just curious about the video production industry, I hope this list has been helpful!
