A Guide to Video Production Terms For Our Clients
At Winter Summer Media, we strive to simplify the process for our clients and that means we like to avoid using complex video production terms. We know the use of jargon can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially for those who have never worked with a video production company before.
The catch 22 is that sometimes we need to talk about certain features and add-ons that you may want included in your production. Enter: our Legend. Here we’ve compiled a list of 22 video production terms you may find helpful when it comes to completing your video package.
Legend:
Titles
Lower Thirds
Subtitles
Narration / Voiceover
Colour Correction
Colour Grading
Music License
Sound Effects
On Camera Consult
Custom Thumbnail
Script Writing
Teleprompter
Shot Gun Mic
Lav Mic
Storyboarding
Logo/Branding Incorporation
Setup Time
B-Cam
B-Roll
Call Sheet
Shot List
Rough Cut
Titles
Titles are short snippets of text overlaid on top of a video. These can be used at the beginning of a video, to indicate a new segment, or at the end of a video.
Lower Thirds
These titles are smaller in size and are generally found on the bottom half of a video. They can be used when introducing a person, location, or date.
Subtitles
Subtitles, sometimes called captions, refer to the transcribed audio in your video. There are generally 2 types of subtitles. The first is “burned” into the video which means it is a part of the final edit and is always visible. The second style of subtitles is an independent text file that is created and uploaded separately from your video. On platforms like YouTube and Facebook, this text file gives viewers the option to turn subtitles on or off.
Narration / Voiceover
Narration is audio recorded from a voice actor to accompany your video and help relay a message to the viewer. We work with highly skilled and bilingual actors that do voiceover work for a wide variety of video projects.
Colour Correction
The process of colour correction involves giving your video a consistent and natural look. We take the raw video footage and adjust exposure, white balance, contrast, and correct any colour issues. This ensures the colours in your video will appear as the eye would see them.
Colour Grading
Colour grading is another step that can be done to give your video a more stylized finish. This is where we adjust the colours to achieve a more creative or dramatic look that you may want emphasized in your video.
Music License
Any music or sounds we use in your video are copyright free. We have access to an incredible catalogue of unique music tracks that are licensed for use across all platforms and outlets.
Sound Effects
In some cases, your video will benefit from additional sound effects that could not be captured on camera. We can incorporate audio files that will enhance your video and better explain the storyline. Examples include wildlife sounds, crowd sounds, busy traffic ambience, etc.
On Camera Consult
It’s normal to feel nervous about going on camera. Our team provides on camera consults to help coach you through your filming experience and provide valuable tips to make sure you feel comfortable and look your best on camera.
Custom Thumbnail
Before a viewer clicks on your video, a still image is displayed online called a thumbnail. We create custom thumbnails that can include a scene from your video, click-worthy titles, or a combination of imagery and text. These thumbnails are edited and sized according to each specific platform (ie YouTube, Web, Instagram and Facebook).
Script Writing
The dialogue and story of your video is critical to the video production process. Script writing refers to the process of converting the story into screenplay format which includes the dialogue, actions, and descriptions of each scene. Our team is experienced in assisting with a variety of scripts from funny commercials to emotional announcements.
Teleprompter
A teleprompter is a device that electronically displays your script directly in front of the lens of the camera. It allows you to read at a consistent pace while maintaining eye contact with the camera. This is a cost-effective way to simplify your video announcements and leads to a smoother day on set.
Lav Mic
A lavalier ‘lav’ microphone is a small microphone that discreetly clips onto a subject’s clothing. It allows the speaker to have their hands free and is often used in interviews, demonstrations,
Shotgun Mic
This type of microphone is generally used to record audio from a distance. This means they can be placed outside of the frame, further from the subjects and still capture audio effectively. Because of their increased sensitivity, shotgun mics also tend to sound more natural.
Storyboarding
A storyboard is a sequence of images that demonstrates how a video will unfold, shot by shot. You can think of it as a preview of your video, showing you a visual representation of each scene. This is a pre-production service we offer for more complex video productions that benefit from having their video broken down before a shoot.
Logo/Branding Incorporation
We can incorporate existing branding into your video by including your company logo files, fonts, and brand colours. These features can be added in the titles and animations of your edit and help your video match consistently with your other content.
Setup Time
This refers to the time it takes for our team to set up a production which includes the cameras, lighting and audio. Our total setup time fluctuates significantly depending on the complexity of a shoot and it generally takes at least an hour to set up and often less to take down.
Three-Point Lighting
This is the standard term for lighting of a subject or a scene. On set, we strategically position three sources (key light, back light and fill light) to obtain optimal results.
B-Cam
B-cam refers to the second camera being used in your video production. This camera captures a secondary angle in an interview and/or background footage that is used in your video. A B-cam may be a lower-end camera by the same manufacturer as the primary camera being used.
B-Roll
This refers to the supplementary footage used to compliment the main shot of your video. Examples could be establishing shots of a location, detailed shots of the subject in your video, anything that can be used to build a more complete picture of your storyline.
Call Sheet
A call sheet is a detailed schedule used on set days of the production process. It outlines the details of the shoot and well as the times, breaks, crew required for each scene, etc. This is usually an internal document but we may send it out to our clients if they will be heavily involved on set.
Shot List
A shot list is a detailed document used to describe the shots that will make up a video. This will include the camera, angle, length, location, frame rate, and other relevant details.
Rough Cut
This is what we call the first edit of your video. Despite the word rough, at Winter Summer we deliver this as a finished version of your video complete with music and any effects. This first edit is ready for review and revisions if need be.
We hope this list of video production terms helped to explain some of the many video features we offer. If you have any questions at all, or if you’re interested in something you don’t see on our list, feel free to shoot us a message and a member of our team will be in touch.
