A–B–C–D–E–F–G–H–I–J–K–L–M–N–O–P–Q–R–S–T–U–V–W–X–Y–Z
NABET
National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians. A Film & TV union for technicians.
Narrative
The story being told in a film, including its structure, events, characters, and the way it unfolds.
Narrative Arc
The structure of a story’s beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.
Narration
The spoken commentary or storytelling in a film, usually provided by a narrator or character voice-over to guide the audience or provide context.
ND Filter (Neutral Density Filter)
- Glass filters that can be placed in front of the lens to darken the image.
- Plastic gels that can be placed in front of lighting fixtures to darken the light source.
Neutral Density (ND) Gel
A lighting gel used to reduce light intensity without altering color temperature.
Negative Cutter
A specialist who physically cuts and assembles the original camera negative according to the final edit decision list.
Negative Space
The empty or unoccupied space around the subject in a frame, often used for composition and mood.
Neo-Noir
A modern take on the classic film noir genre, often using similar themes and aesthetics.
Network
In TV, refers to a broadcast network (NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.); also used to describe industry connections.
New Deal
Industry term for a new camera setup or scene after a completed shot.
Newsreel
Short news films shown in theaters, especially pre-television era, often historical footage.
N.F.B. (National Film Board of Canada)
A Canadian public film and digital media producer and distributor, known for documentaries, animation, and socially relevant films.
N.G. (No Good)
Term used when a take or shot is unusable for technical or performance reasons.
Night-for-Day
Shooting during the day but using filters, underexposure, or color grading to simulate nighttime.
Noise Floor
The baseline level of noise in an audio signal; lower is better for clean sound.
Nodal Point
The exact optical center of a lens—important for accurate parallax-free pans, especially in VFX and panoramic photography.
Non-Diegetic Sound
Sound not originating from the world of the film (e.g., score or narration).
Non-Linear Editing (NLE)
Editing done on digital systems that allow random access to clips, letting editors move, trim, and rearrange shots out of sequence.
A digital editing method that allows clips to be accessed in any order (e.g., Avid, Premiere Pro, Final Cut).
NLE Timeline
The workspace in a non-linear editing program where shots are arranged.
Non-Union
Refers to productions or crew not affiliated with a labor union.
Nitrate Film
Highly flammable motion picture film stock used before safety film was introduced in the 1950s.
Notes Session
A meeting or written feedback round during editing or post-production to address changes.
Notation (Script Supervisor’s Notation)
The written markings script supervisors use to track continuity and takes.
Nose Room (Lead Room)
The space left in front of a character’s face in the frame, opposite the direction they are looking.
NTSC (National Television System Committee)
The analog color television standard used in North America and parts of Asia. Runs at approximately 30 fps / 60i.
Nut Graph
A brief summary paragraph in narration or script that tells the viewer what the story is really about.
Number One (On Set)
Slang for the lead actor on a call sheet.
Number Two (On Set)
Slang for the second lead actor.
That wraps up our Film & Television Dictionary – Letter N entries. This glossary is a living resource—new terms and updated definitions are added regularly as the industry evolves. If you have a suggestion or notice a term we’ve missed, feel free to reach out and share your input.
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