Welcome to the Film & Television Dictionary – Letter D, your guide to essential filmmaking terms, movie terminology, and production jargon starting with the letter D. Whether you’re a film student, aspiring crew member, or industry professional, understanding this language is key to thriving on set and in the editing room.
This collection goes beyond quick definitions. In addition, we include history and practical usage.You’ll learn the meaning, history, and practical use of terms such as Dailies, Day player, Donut, and Duvetine. From technical camera terms to on-set slang, this film glossary is designed to help you speak the language of filmmaking with confidence.
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Film & Television Dictionary, Letter D
Dailies
The raw footage, usually viewable the day after shooting. Viewed by the Director, Cinematographer and Producer to insure they are getting the correct images.
Dance Floor
Smooth wooden flooring laid down for dollies.
Day for Night
Shooting during the day, but shooting in such a way that the footage looks like night.
Day Player
An actor hired on a daily basis, usually for minor roles or short appearances.
Deal Memo
Paperwork filled out by crew member outlining payment and crew member information.
A short-form contract outlining the basic terms of employment for cast or crew.
Deep Focus
Focus pulled deep into a frame.
A cinematographic technique where both foreground and background remain in sharp focus.
Deferral
Usually refers to payment or rates. Often used in addition to a lower rate as an incentive. Often a warning sign that the production might not be up to par or that you will never get paid.
Delivery
The final version of a film/show submitted for distribution or broadcast.
Depth of Field
The area within the frame that is seen as in focus.
Desaturate
To reduce color intensity in an image; often used for stylistic or emotional effect.
Development Hell
Industry slang for when a project gets stuck in endless development without moving into production.
D.G.A. (Directors Guild of America)
Directors Guild of America.
D.G.C. (Directors Guild of Canada)
Directors Guild of Canada.
Digital Negative (DNG)
A raw image format often used in digital cinema cameras.
Digital Zoom
Cropping into the image to simulate zooming, resulting in lower image quality compared to optical zoom.
Diffusion
White paper or cloth put in front of lights to soften light quality.
Director
Main creative force behind film or project.
Director’s Cut
The version of a film’s edit that best shows the Director’s vision for the film.
The version of a film that represents the director’s preferred edit, often longer or different than the released version.
Director of Photography (DOP)
The person in charge of the overall look of the film when it comes to camera and lighting.
Dirty Single
A close-up or medium shot that includes a sliver of the other character in the foreground.
Dissolve
The gradual transition from one image to another.
Transition where one shot gradually fades into another.
Distribution
The process in which a film is being made available to watch.
The process of making a film available to an audience (theatrical, streaming, broadcast, etc.).
Ditty Bag
Bag used by a department or crew member to keep and carry tools.
Diving Board
The front board of a dolly.
Dolly
A four wheeled vehicle that rides on dolly track and is used to move camera.
Dolly Grip
Grip in charge of camera movement. They set up dolly, lay track and work with DOP to create camera movement on a dolly. Key grip often times acts as dolly grip on smaller sets.
Dolly Track
The track on which a dolly sits and movies. Usually comes in 4foot, 8foot and various curves.
Donut
A ring that is placed around the lens to seal gaps between the matte box and lens.
Dot
A small round flag.
Double
A net or scrim that reduces amount of light by 1 full stop.
Downstage
Toward the audience or camera; a term borrowed from theatre.
Drag
The resistance or tension applied to a fluid head or slider when panning or tilting.
Dress
Dressing is when the art department arranges materials on a set, such as furniture and artwork.
Dry Hire
Renting equipment without an operator.
Dry Run
The rehearsal of a scene of shot where camera does not roll.
Dual System Sound
Audio recorded separately from the camera and synced in post.
Dubbing
Replacing the audio on a project with a better quality sound mix. Dubbing also refers to replacing dialogue with an alternate language for international releases.
Dulling Spray
Spray used to dull reflections on set.
Dupe
A duplicate of a film element or file, often used in post-production.
Dutch Angle
A crooked angle often used to show tension in a scene.
Duvetyne
Black cloth used to block light. Cloth flags and large blacks are made of this material.
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That wraps up our Film & Television Dictionary – Letter D entries. This film glossary is continuously updated with new terminology, so check back often as we expand and refine definitions.
Looking for more filmmaking terms? Use the A–Z index above to browse the full dictionary, or head straight to Letter E to continue building your knowledge of movie terminology, production tools, and on-set language.