Below is the DEF section of our film dictionary. Our goal is to create the most in depth film and television dictionary the internet has ever seen. If you would like to submit a term to our dictionary please feel free to get in contact with us HERE.
Film & Television Dictionary – Letter F
F-Stop: the name of the number associated with the opening in a lenses aperture.
Fade In: To fade in, is to come into an image by fading from white or black.
Fade Out: To fade out is to come out of an image by fading to white or black.
Feature: A feature is a film that is release in theaters on or video. They average 90 minutes in length.
Fernie: A term used for all purpose furniture pads that protect furniture, camera and talent, also used by sound to reduce unwanted noise.
Fill Light: Light used to fill in the shadows in a scene
Film Noir: A style and genre of film marked by pessimism, fatalism and menace.
Final Touches: The final tweaks hair, makeup and wardrobe departments make to the talent before cameras roll on the scene.
Finger: A very small flag.
Fire Watch: To “fire watch” generally means to stand watch on a set and keep an eye out for any hazards or issues. This may mean standing by set while crew has lunch or watching after a vehicle filled with equipment that is parked away from set. This task is usually given to production assistants.
First Assistant Director: Also known as the 1st AD, their main responsibility is to create and keep the schedule. The 1st AD gets involved in pre-production and works with the director and producers to create the shooting schedule for a project. The 1st usually has a 2nd and 3rd AD to help them along the way. During production the 1st runs the floor during the shoot, they are the main voice on set that is telling everyone what is happening.
First Positions: When the 1st AD calls for first positions it means that everyone goes back to where they need to be at the start of a take. Actors resume their starting marks, dolly moves back to its start point, lighting cues, special effects etc. all get ready to do a take again.
First Team: The main actors. Often times the 1st Assistant Director will call for the First Team when everything is ready.
Flag: A rectangular object used to cut and shape light.
Flame Bar: A gas powered bar used to simulate fire in a scene.
Flare: A flare is when light hits the camera’s lens, causing
Flashback: A part of a film or scene which refers back to an earlier part of the story or narrative.
Flat: A 4′ x 8′ lightweight and movable wooden structure that is used as part of a wall or backdrop in a studio and/or set.
Fluid Head: A tripod head that uses internal fluid to aid is smooth camera movements.
Focal Length: The distance from the optical centre of the lense to the film plane when the lens is focused to infinity.
Focus Puller: A.K.A. First Assistant Camera – The camera Assistant that adjusts the focus of the lens while filming.
Fog Filter: A filter that is placed over the lens to create a foggy effect.
Foley: Foley is sound that is created and recorded after principal photography to add to the soundtrack of a project. This may including recording someones footsteps or any other sounds that were not recorded on the shoot days.
Foley Artist: A Foley artist is the person responsible for creating the sounds that need to be added to a soundtrack, they may use pots, pans, food or any other items required to recreate sounds.
Footage: In 35mm and 16mm film days, the amount of film used during a shoot was measured by the foot, Therefore you filmed 35mm and 16mm film was referred to as “Footage”. In modern days, and video or film images captured is generally referred to as Footage.
Foot Candle: A measurement used for the intensity of a light source.
Foreground: Anything that is in front of a camera’s field of vision and not blocked by anything else.
FPS: Frames Per Second – Sometimes pronounced as ‘FIPS’
Freeze Frame: An image that is stopped or frozen in film, segment, scene or shot.
French Flag: A small adjustable flag used for shading the camera lense from light.
French Hours: A shooting day that begins with a one-hour sit down breakfast and followed by nine hours of work with no break. Food is usually served through out the day, so the crew can snack while they work
Fresnel: A type of convex glass lense used for focusing lights. Pronounces “Fre-Nell”
Frost: A semi-opaque sheet of plastic gel used to diffuse light sources.
Fuller’s Earth: A clay based “dirt” used on movie sets as double for real dirt.
Funded Development: When a project is put into funded development, it means that the studio or network has agreed to give the production company an allotted amount of money to develop the idea further. Once the development has been presented the studio or network will decide whether or not to green light the project.
