Lexicon Movie
French/ English
You who follow this blog regularly, you already know it but this summer I worked on one of the next original creations by Canal+ : Black Baron. This series, produced by Kwaï productions, has been performed by Ziad Doueri. Ziad is Lebanese and has worked extensively in the USA, in particular on the films of Tarantino (Reservoir dogs, Pulp Fiction etc…). Anyway, all this to say that the French vocabulary that are usually used on a film set shortly, on certain productions, explode into a thousand pieces and it is the English vocabulary/american who takes over. Not that the director does not make effort, quite the contrary, but simply because, when we have the habit of using a language, the habits die hard in the swirl of the flow of the day as Much awareness of this vocabulary in English/ American, however, already present ;o)
I noted these words during the whole shoot so you can transcribe them today. I added other so that you can have, learn, learn this vocabulary in case tomorrow you’d be on a shoot in French or English.
Has
Accessory = Prop
Prop master = Prop man
Lead actor : Lead actor
Turn on = Switch on
Angle of view = camera angle
Announcement ! = slate it
Increase the light = sun in
On trays you can hear it, sometimes, an electro or a chief op to say : “it should be dimmer this projo “. The aim and put a dimmer, a sort of box (dimmer) that allows you to raise or lower the light.
Foreground/ foreground = Foreground
B
Focusing ring : the Focusing Ring
White Balance = White Balance
Editing : Editing bench
It is in the box = It’s a wrap
This expression is here to announce the end of filming and not to say that something is in the box ;o)
Black box = Black box
Edge = Cut-off
Brightness = Brigthness
C
Cable = wire
Frame = frame
We’re talking about making a frame, or modify a framework.
Subjective camera = Sujective shot
cube = Apple box
A cube is a cube of wood (of different sizes) that have the grips. One can often hear a machino say : “bring me a 15/20” it is the size and therefore the name of the cube in question. There are different sizes of apple box : full apple box, half apple box, quarter apple box, pancake
Stunt = stunt man
Field/ counter field = angle/ reverse angle or reverse shot
I leave you the link on the field and against the field here
Trolley Dolly = dolly
I leave you the link to the article on the dolly
Clape = slate or clapboard
Backlight = backlight
Against-angle = tilt shot
Costume = wardrobe
Cut ! = cut !
D
Decor = set
Cutting (technical) = shot breakdown
E
Ellipse = jump to
Exposure = exposur
F
Included = extra
Fuzzy = fuzzy
In the sense that the point is not there, the plan is fuzzy
Fade = fade
You already know fade in and fade out, fade in and fade out
G
Form = gaffer tape
The gaffer this is the self-adhesive that grips or assistants to cam use. It is scotch tape very sticky and solid.
Close up : close up
Crane = notch
There is also the platform that enables you to mount a projo. This is called = cherry picker
Pig : Sand bag
The sled is a bag of colored sand (black, orange) which allows to set a door, to put a stop to the wheel of a car, but especially to lester’s feet projo to prevent it from falling off.
H
Out-of-field = off screen
I
Image : Frame
As for a framework that we saw earlier
Freeze frame : freeze frame
The
Lens = lens
Daylight = daylight
Light from the front : front light
Diffused light : diffused light
M
Smoking Machine = smoke machine
Engine ! = roll camera, roll sound
N
Socket number = take number
Sharpness = sharpness
O
Lens = lens
Shutter = shutter
Shadow of microphone = mike shadow
Opening = aperture
P
Pan = pan shot
Actually it says : pan, it is shorter, and there is quite the wish of the director. Pano right = pan to the right, the pano on the left = pan to the left etc…
Pan up = Tilt up, pan down = tilt down
Perch = boom
Foot camera = camera tripod
If you just say ” tripod “, it also includes very well ;o)
For the plans I will let you go see the article on the values and their meaning here : https://www.commentfaireunfilm.com/?p=5713
Plan = shot
Shot = establishing shot
Plan of work = shooting schedule
Overall Plan = long shot
Plan insert = insert shot
Plan diving = high angle
Plan against diving = low angle tilt shot
Plan foot = full figure
Plan fixed = static shot
Wide = wide shot
Medium shot = medium shot
Close-up = close-shot
Plan tight = tight shot
Depth of field = deep focus or depth: of field
R
Connection = continuity shot
Fitting movement = matching-cut
Rail dolly track = track
Slow = slow motion
Crop = reframe
Rehearsal = rehearsal
S
Backup = back up
Sole camera = mount
T
Temperature colour = color temperature
Dolly back = tracking out
Dolly = tracking in
Ultra wide angle lens = fish eye
Excited by the sound = speed
Word that tells the sound engineer to signify that he begins to record the sound. Before the actors begin to play it is necessary : to be put in place, the silence, ask for the engine, the sound engineer said : “it turns” (speed) wait until the wizard its says in his turn : “camera is running “, ad,
V
Frosted glass = frosted glass
Optical glass = optical glass
Speed = speed
Camera car = tracking because
The off-voice = voice-over
Pane camera = flap
Z
Zoom = zoom out (or zoom lens)
That’s it for this article on the French vocabulary/ English on a film set. I know, I doubt, that this is an article a little peculiar because I don’t give you advice per se. So here is a tip that may be of interest to you, go to the website : Anglais5minutes you will be able, among other make an English test ;o)
But know one thing, the shootings are becoming more “americanized” or ” anglicized “. Often, technicians, producers and directors to use this type of vocabulary, of language. Just like the article on the vocabulary of the series ( https://www.commentfaireunfilm.com/?p=7086), you need to master this jargon, especially if tomorrow you want to be on a plateau. So I may be cases of saying ” you must “, I believe I should moderate my remarks,…it is necessary that you have knowledge, it can make you of the services ;o)
Starting next week, I will give you an article with more conventional ;o)
Soon,
Tom