In the dynamic world of video production, understanding the technical words and phrases is key to effectively communicating and collaborating with directors, crew, cinematographers, and editors.
Whether you're a budding producer or a seasoned marketer, I recommend knowing these terms to enhance your comprehension. When I first started out as a video producer, having a stronger understanding of these basic video production terms strengthened my understanding of the craft and my connection with the production team:
Storyboard
Once you have an idea for a video, all you need to do is film, then edit, and publish it, right? Working in video production, I’ve learned that creating content is not as easy as 1, 2, 3. Well-produced videos are conceptualized and planned out ahead of time so everyone involved knows what to expect and has a visual representation for what the video’s scenes will look like.
One of the many video production terms that can be vital for the pre-production process is a storyboard. It’s a visual reference of a video's sequence of shots or scenes that are often illustrated with drawings or images, but can also be done with animation software. Storyboards may also include short descriptions, camera shot styles, and character movement to provide a sense of how the different shots will look and what they depict.
Developing a storyboard or script is essential for understanding how the story will be told in your video. In today’s world that’s saturated with advertising, asking folks to buy another product or donate to another cause is overwhelming to audiences. That’s why you need to take the time to identify how you’re helping audiences solve problems they’re facing and why they should care about what you have to offer. A storyboard will help you outline how you’re going to tell your story and show the value of what you do.
B-Roll
While you may not notice it, videos often contain lots of different clips and shots. Some shots may include scenery or close-ups of an object to show an important detail. Each one plays a role in telling and connecting the story together.
This footage is often referred to as one of two video production terms: A-Roll and B-Roll. Your A-Roll is footage with the main focus of your story such as a video interview or characters having a conversation. B-Roll is supplemental footage used to enhance storytelling. It also comes handy when covering edits in the main footage such as removing a part of dialogue or a lengthy interview answer. It can include any secondary footage like detailed shots, establishing shots, and close-ups.
Watch this video below for more on the differences between the two and how they’re used in marketing videos and cinematic films.
Gimbal
How do videographers get such smooth shots when filming handheld? While some stabilizing can be done in post-production, more than likely equipment was used to help steady the camera or phone while capturing a scene.
A very popular piece of equipment for this purpose is a gimbal. This electronic camera stabilizer attaches to a camera or phone and serves as a base for holding the device upright. One of the great things about it is that it can be used to film stable footage and smooth out any unwanted shaking when moving the camera.
Backlight
There are many video production terms when it comes to lighting, and one that changed how I experience the filming process is backlighting. Why is that? Before working as a video producer, I never realized videographers are considering ways to separate their subject from the background. A small detail, but one that can make a difference in your video.
Backlighting is a specific technique that involves placing the light behind and above a subject to separate them from the background. It’s also referred to as a rim light since it creates a bright rimmed outline on your subject. You may also hear the term hair light, which is used to create the same effect and illuminate (you guessed it) a subject’s hair.
There are many more types of lighting in addition to the ones I’ve discussed. How can you tell them apart? This video breaks down the different types of lighting and how they’re used to set a scene and tone.
White Balance
Something people often forget about is that what they see with their eye does not always get shown in exactly the same way through photo or video. One of the reasons for this is that light has a color temperature that can create a certain color cast. Ever wonder why your photo has blue or orange tones? It all has to do with color temperature.
That’s where white balance comes in. White balance is a camera setting that makes sure white objects look white regardless of the lighting conditions. While most cameras can set the white balance automatically, many videographers do this process manually so the camera doesn’t adjust white balance while filming. Most videographers and photographers will use a gray card or a color checker to use in post production for color correction. So, if they ask you to hold up a card with gray or many different colors, you’ll know what they’re up to!
Lavalier
An often overlooked part of video production is sound. Microphones are powerful instruments that can pick up even the smallest noise. Air conditioners and refrigerator buzzes are often culprits to recording clean sound.
There are numerous kinds of microphones and sound recording devices out there, but the most common is lavalier. Often referred to as a lapel mic, lavaliers are small microphones that can be clipped to an interviewee's clothing or collar. They can also be taped to an interviewee’s body underneath their clothing so the microphone is fully hidden.
You’ll often find lavaliers used when a videographer is a one-person crew and doesn’t have someone to hold a boom mic overhead or it’s too difficult to hide a boom mic. If you’re having a video produced that requires filming multiple people for an interview, recording their audio with a lavalier is essential to isolate their audio tracks and eliminate background noise.
Room tone
How often do you think about the ambient sound in a room? The thought never crossed my mind until I started working in video production.
What is room tone and why does it matter? Room tone is the natural sounds that occur in a location either indoor or outdoors. It’s also sometimes referred to as the sound of “silence” in a room. When filming a video, it’s challenging to find an environment that’s completely absent of background noise. That’s where room tone comes in to be used in post-production for smoothing out unwanted noise or adding to moments without dialogue in a scene.
The next time you’re with a production crew and hear the sound technician call “Room tone!” you’ll know it’s time for everyone to be silent so they can get a clean recording of ambient room noises.
Motion Graphics
One thing you’ll notice about videos is that they have more than interviews, b-roll, and photos. Many have animated text or shapes that move across the screen to support telling the story captured in the video. These animated visual assets are known as motion graphics.
Motion graphics often involve bringing movement to graphic elements that may normally remain static. The difference between motion graphics and animation is that motion graphics often don’t have “natural” movement like animation. Instead, your video editor will have to figure out what kind of movement will work best for your design elements.
You’ll often find motion graphics used to introduce information. This can include a short animation to create a branded intro or outro, also known as a bumper. You’ll also see them used in the lower region of the screen that often shows a company logo or a person’s name and title, also referred to as lower thirds.
Understanding these fundamental video production terms empowers marketers and creators to communicate effectively, collaborate seamlessly, and refine their working process. While there are many more terms, this is a good place to get started whether you've frequently collaborated with video crews to produce your projects or if this is your first time working with a video production team. Knowing these concepts helps establish a common understanding between you and the team that can open up a world of creative possibilities.
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