Filmlexikon.
Term of the day · June 13
Iris Out
Editing · Terms

Iris Out.

Iris schließen.

Circular wipe where the image closes from edges to a point, created via iris diaphragm or digital radial mask.

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One pictogram per category. Click → A–Z of that discipline.

Camera 2.354 Lighting 1.205 Editing & Post 419 Sound 404 Art Department 202 Directing & Theory 480 VFX & SFX 613 Production 1.060 Grip & Stage 136 Stunts & Action 37 General 273 Manufacturers 49 Suggest + new

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60 terms
Theory Cabaret Kabarett Theatrical short form combining music, dance, satire — fragmentary, socially critical. Cinematic: montage… Camera · Terms Cable Cam Seilkamera Cable cam system using steel cables (8-12 mm) and motorized trolley for cameras up to 25 kg. Enables smooth… Lighting · Terms Cable Crossover Kabelbrücke Rubber cable bridge with vulcanized channels for power cables, supporting up to 18 tonnes. Modular crossover… General Cable News Network American news broadcaster — not a filmmaking term. Relevant only as production design reference or… Production Cable Television Kabelfernsehen Distribution network via coaxial cable with dedicated programming — technical basis for multichannel TV. For… Camera Cache Object or set piece blocking part of the frame — foreground tree, doorway, pillar. Creates depth and guides… Camera Cadrage Kadrage Deliberate frame composition — how subject is positioned, cropped, and arranged within borders. Weight and… Editing Caesura Zäsur Sharp, unmedialized cut — rhythm breaks, tension born from silence or jump. Bresson and Tarkovsky used it for… Camera · Terms Cage Käfig Modular housing system that wraps around the camera body, providing mounting points for monitors, mics, and… Theory Cahiers du cinéma French film journal since 1951—theoretical foundation of the Nouvelle Vague and auteur cinema. Established… Directing Cake Cutter Kuchenfilmer Director who prioritizes schedule over aesthetic choices — functional, no style. Delivers usable but… Camera · Lenses Caldwell Chameleon The Caldwell Chameleon is a modern anamorphic prime lens from the USA (2019) with a 1.79× squeeze factor. Camera · Terms Caldwell Photographic American manufacturer of extreme telephoto lenses (800–4000mm) with catadioptric systems for wildlife and… Theory Caligarism Caligarismus Expressionist visual language — distorted sets, skewed lines, harsh shadows after »The Cabinet of Dr… Art Department Caligarism Caligari-Stil Expressionist mise-en-scène with skewed angles, distorted perspective, harsh shadow patterns — builds… Camera Callier effect Callier-Effekt Negative prints brighter under transmitted light than reflected light — classic film-to-digital transfer… Production · Terms Call Sheet Tagesdisposition Binding daily work order for all departments, listing call times, locations, and technical requirements. Production Call Sheet Annonce Daily production schedule listing call times, locations, scenes, and crew assignments. Distributed night… Production Call Sheet Drehplan Daily shoot schedule distributed to crew and cast—who arrives when, which scenes, equipment needs, weather… Production · Terms Call Time Anrufzeit Scheduled arrival time for crew or talent. Production · Dienstleister Camalot Film Services Camalot Film equipment rental and service company – provides cameras, lenses, grip, and lighting equipment along with… Camera Camcorder Portable video camera with built-in recorder — once documentary and news standard, now largely replaced by… Camera Came Kamera British shorthand for film camera used on UK and commonwealth sets. Common in commands: 'Came one rolling?'… Production · Dienstleister Camelot Filmtechnik Camelot Filmverleih German camera rental company based in Berlin – one of the largest independent equipment rental houses… Directing Cameo Gastauftritt Brief, unannounced appearance by a recognizable figure — usually as inside joke or nod to a collaborator… Directing Cameo Brief, disproportionately high-profile guest appearance — typically A-list talent in 5–30 seconds of screen… Directing Cameo Cameo-Auftritt Brief, often unexpected guest appearance by a recognizable personality — designed as surprise moment. Works… Directing cameo appearance Gastauftritt Prominent or known person appears briefly — usually unexpected moment. Hitchcock with cameos in his own… Lighting cameo lighting Kameo-Beleuchtung Focused sidelight on face or object — rest stays dark, almost dramatic isolation. Rembrandt-like technique to… Camera Camera Kamera The recording device—film camera, digital cinema camera, or smartphone. On set, always means the complete… Camera Camera Angle Kameraperspektive Viewpoint from which the camera observes the scene — high angle, low angle, or eye level. Each angle carries… Camera Camera Angle Kameraperspektive Camera's spatial position relative to subject — overhead, eye-level, low. Defines psychological impact and… Camera Camera aperture Blendenzahl Lens f-stop (f/1.4, f/5.6, etc.) — controls exposure, depth of field, and light gathering. Lower number =… Camera · Roles Camera Assistant Kameraassistenz Support staff assisting camera department. Camera Camera axis Kameraachse Invisible line running through lens to subject — defines spatial relationship of all on-screen elements… Camera Camera Axis Kameraachse Imaginary line through the camera lens in the direction it points—defines the optical axis of the space… Sound camera boom Tonausleger Articulated pole with mic at the end — boom operator keeps it just above frame for clean dialogue. Essential… Camera · Technique Camera Car Kamerawagen Specially equipped vehicle for filming moving subjects, often carrying a Russian Arm/U-Crane, crew, and… Camera · Terms Camera Color Science Kamera-Farbwissenschaft Camera color science describes how a sensor captures light wavelengths and converts them to RGB data… Directing camera coverage Kameraabdeckung Full range of shots for a scene—wide, medium, close-up, inserts. Director plans coverage in advance to give… Camera camera crane Filmkran Heavy-duty crane with camera head on boom — vertical movements across 20–40 feet without stutter. Chapman and… Production Camera Department Kamerateam Everyone operating and moving the camera — cinematographer, focus puller, steadicam op, camera assistant. On… Grip Camera Dolly Dolly Wheeled camera platform on track or casters — delivers smooth, controlled lateral and forward movements… Grip Camera Dolly Track Kameraschiene Steel rail system for smooth lateral or forward/backward camera movement — dolly runs on track for precision… VFX Camera Frustum Kamera-Frustum The camera's 3D viewing cone—defined by near and far planes, field of view. Anything outside gets culled from… Grip Camera Head Kamerakopf Joint mechanism on tripod or crane — enables pan and tilt without tripod shift. Fluid head with friction… Camera Camera Height Kamerahöhe Vertical lens position relative to subject — defines power dynamics and perspective. Eye level feels neutral… Production · Terms Camera House Equipment rental company offering cinema cameras and support systems for professional productions. Production · Terms Camera Intern Kamera-Praktikant Entry-level position in camera department, providing support and learning production skills. Production Camera Log Kamerafilm Technical log filed by 1st AC — records focal length, focus marks, filters, lens issues per take. Critical… VFX Camera Mapping Projecting photographic footage onto 3D geometry—photos or video mapped to models to fake depth and detail… Camera Camera Movement Kamerabewegung Any physical displacement or rotation of the camera during a take — pan, dolly, tilt. Creates momentum or… Camera Camera Movement Kamerabewegung Any physical motion of the camera — pan, tilt, dolly, crane, steadicam. Adds energy and guides viewer… Camera Camera Moves In Kamera heranfahren Dolly or zoom toward subject — heightens focus and emotional intimacy. Key: dolly shifts perspective, zoom… Theory Camera Obscura Optical principle: light through small aperture projects inverted image on surface — foundation of all modern… Camera Camera Operator Kameraführer Operates camera per director and DoP instructions — manages focus, framing, and movement during roll. DP's… Camera Camera Operator Operator Technician who operates the camera physically — not the DoP. Translates direction into fluid movement. Steady… Camera · Roles Camera Operator Kameraoperator Executes camera movements planned by the DoP: pans, tilts, tracks, and stabilizes the camera during shooting. Camera Camera Placement Kameraposition Camera's spatial location and angle to the scene—determines perspective, power dynamics, emotional impact… Production · Terms Camera Prep Kamera-Prep The process of assembling, testing, and familiarizing crew with camera equipment before production begins.
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