Film Language Glossary Developed by Columbia School of the Arts. Used for testing. 24 180-Degree Rule The 180-degree rule of shooting and keeps the camera on one side of the action. 3-D Film 3-D film has a three-dimensional, stereoscopic form, creating the illusion of depth.... Aerial Shot An aerial shot is typically made from a helicopter or created with miniatures (today, digitally), showing a location from high overhead. Aspect Ratio Aspect ratio refers to how the image appears on the screen based on how it was shot--the ratio of width (horizontal or top) to height (vertical or side) of a film frame, image, or screen. Black-and-White Film Black-and-white film contains an emulsion that, when processed, changes colors into various shades of gray. Camera Angle Camera angle refers to where the camera is placed in relation to the subject of the image. Camera Movement Camera movement refers to the actual or perceived physical movement of the camera apparatus through space. Canted Angle (Dutch Angle) A canted angle is when the camera is tilted, usually to suggest imbalance, transition, or instability. Celluloid Cellulose nitrate was the original transparent material used as a base for film, which was then coated with light-sensitive emulsion. Chiaroscuro Chiaroscuro refers to strong contrasts between light and dark. Cinema Verité Cinema verité is a French term that means "true cinema" or "cinema truth." Cinematography Derived from the French word cinématographe, cinematography literally means "writing in movement" and is generally understood as the art and process of capturing visual images with a camera for cinema. Cinerama Cinerama is a process of simultaneous filming by three cameras. The cameras are pointed at different angles and are then projected by three synchronized projectors and shown on a curved screen. Circular Pan A circular pan is a shot in which the camera rotates 360 degrees around a fixed axis. Clapboard (Slateboard) Before each take, a clapboard appears in front of the camera, with the number of the take written on it. Close-up A close-up is a shot in which a person's face fills most of the screen, although the term can also refer to any shot that appears to have been taken at close range (or through a telephoto lens), and in which an object appears relatively large and in detail. Color Film Color film has been a possibility since the beginning of cinema. Technical problems and economic circumstances early on meant that it was not until the 1950s that color was viable in the film industry. Crane Shot A crane shot is achieved by a camera mounted on a platform, which is connected to a mechanical arm that can lift the platform up, bring it down, or move it laterally across space.