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.

Open entry Surprise me
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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
Sound Jack Plug Klinkenstecker 3.5mm or 6.3mm mono/stereo audio connector — standard on set mics, mixers, headphones. Cheap, reliable… Art Department Jagged Type / Zigzag Font Zackenschrift Typeface with sharp, irregular edges—standard for comics and action titles. The jagged contours create visual… Sound · Terms Jam Sync Synchronization method using a single timecode transmission to multiple cameras and audio recorders, which… General Jane Generic female character placeholder in scripts and production docs — counterpart to "John". Used when… Theory Janespotting Jane-Spotting Cinematic approach centering female gaze and agency — counterpoint to male-dominated camera logic. Women as… Production Janus Films Iconic US art-film distributor founded 1956 — homes Godard, Tati, Bresson. Arthouse canon specialist. Now… Theory Japanimation Hand-drawn or digitally animated work from Japan with distinctive visual language — oversized eyes, kinetic… Theory Jazz Film Jazz im Film Narrative features centered on jazz as subject, cultural backdrop, or dramatic engine — biopics… Editing JCC (Jump Cutting Continuity) JCC Cut within a single location where the actor jumps position between shots — creates disorientation if not… Directing · Terms J-Cut J-Schnitt (Audio vor Bild) Audio overlap technique in which the soundtrack of the next scene begins before the visual cut – creates… Editing J-Cut J-Schnitt Audio precedes video cut — sound from next shot starts while previous image still runs. Creates transition… Directing · Terms J-Cut / L-Cut Cuts in which audio and image transitions do not occur simultaneously – audio leads the cut (J-cut) or… Camera J-D-C Scope Anamorphic adapter with 1.3:1 compression for digital cameras — narrow scope aesthetic without anamorphic… Camera · Terms JDC Xtal Express JDC Xtal Express: 1974 electronic camera speed module with quartz oscillator for precise frame rate… Camera · Lenses Jdc Xtal Xpres The JDC Xtal Xpres 100mm is a 2x squeeze anamorphic prime lens manufactured in Japan for Joe Dunton Cameras… Camera · Terms Jello Effect Jello-Effekt Rolling shutter artifact on CMOS sensors: image distortion caused by sequential line readout during fast… Theory Jesus Film Jesusfilm Narrative or documentary representation of Jesus's life — from historical epic to contemporary allegory. Core… Camera Jet Shot Rapid forward motion combining zoom and dolly — mimics jet takeoff intensity. Creates explosive, visceral… Theory Jeunesse dorée Cinematic portrayal of wealthy, carefree youth devoid of authentic struggle — glossy surfaces masking… Theory Jianghu Chinese narrative universe of bandits, wanderers, and codes outside civilization — structures kung-fu and… Camera jib Ausleger Pivoting arm with camera head — delivers vertical and horizontal sweeps from fixed base. Faster setup than… Camera Jib Arm Jib-Arm Articulated crane with camera mount on the jib head — delivers sweeping vertical and lateral moves from a… Camera · Terms Jib Shot Jib-Aufnahme / Schwenkarm-Aufnahme Camera movement using a pivot arm that enables vertical and arc-like movements, smaller than a crane but more… Directing Jidai-geki Japanese period-drama genre — samurai, feudal era, Edo settings. Defined by costume authenticity and sword… Theory Jidaigeki Japanese historical drama set in feudal or early-Edo periods — samurai, ninja, rigid codes. Visual trademark… Camera · Terms Jimmy Jib Remote-controlled camera crane with 360° pan range and up to 50 kg payload capacity, enabling smooth crane… Sound Jingle Catchy musical signature — 5–15 seconds — identifies station, brand, or production. In film: transition or… Editing Jittery Cut Schneller Schnitt Abrupt cut without motivating action — jump between close-ups or similar framings. Creates unease, urgency… Production Johannisthaler Filmanstalten (Jofa) Berlin studio complex, Weimar era — founded 1912, produced silent and early sound film. Major technical hub… Theory Johnston Office U.S. film industry censorship authority — 1930–1968 enforced Moral Code. Strictest content control in… Lighting · Equipment Joker Compact, battery-powered LED fixture with COB technology for mobile film production. Delivers up to 45,000… Lighting · Equipment Joker Bug Compact HMI or LED fixture with concentrated beam. Places highlights exactly where needed on faces or… Lighting · Equipment Joker Bug 1600 K5600 Lighting HMI fixture, 1600W, 5600K daylight with 91-mirror reflector. 20% heavier than 800W competitors… Lighting · Equipment Joker Bug 200 K5600 Lighting 200W HMI fixture, 2.1 kg; mobile fill and accent light with even distribution, no hot spot… Lighting · Equipment Joker Bug 400 K5600 Lighting HMI fresnel spotlight with 400W single-ended burner, adjustable beam angle (12°–60°), and 1.8… Lighting · Equipment Joker Bug 800 K5600 Lighting HMI spotlight, 800W SE lamp, 4.2 kg, adjustable beam angle 15–50°, 26,000 lux output; ideal… Lighting Jokester Compact HMI fixture at 575W or 1.2kW — quick setup, portable, perfect for location work and fast relight… Theory Jôruri Japanese puppet theater form with narrator voice — influences Japanese film language, especially voice-over… Theory Josei-eiga Japanese drama for adult women — centers on everyday life, relationships, internal conflict over action… Theory Jouissance Lacanian concept: extreme satisfaction beyond mere pleasure — often linked to pain or transgression… Camera JPEG Lossy compressed image format — baked-in camera processing, no grading room. RAW is mandatory for finishing… Theory Judaism Judentum Religious and cultural tradition — shapes narrative context, character motivation, and historical material… Production Jugendfilm-Verleih GmbH German film distributor specializing in children's and youth films — arthouse-focused, founded 1968. Curator… Directing Jukebox Musical Jukebox-Musical Narrative musical built on existing catalog of an artist or songwriter — story frames pre-written hits. Mamma… Editing Jump Cut Sprungschnitt Cut between two similarly composed shots of same subject — temporal discontinuity remains visible, creates… Directing · Terms Jump Cut Jump Cut (Sprungschnitt) A cut within the same shot in which time material is removed – creates visible jumps that convey tension… Directing Jump Scare Sudden cut, loud sound, unexpected visual jolting the viewer — cheap scare without psychological depth. Works… Production Jungle Dschungel Improvised workspace on set — cables, materials, props in controlled chaos. Everyone knows where things are… Lighting · Equipment Junior 2,000-watt tungsten-halogen spotlight with adjustable beam angle 12°–60°, standardized by Mole-Richardson in… Lighting · Equipment Junior Offset Arm Junior-Offset-Arm Junior Offset Arm connects Junior receiver (5/8") to Baby spigot (1/4") in 6, 12, or 18" lengths. Supports up… Lighting · Equipment Junior Pin Junior Zapfen 15.875mm stud (5/8″) for mounting lights to C-stands; supports up to 25kg vertically and allows 360° rotation. Lighting · Equipment Junior Receiver Junior-Aufnahme Receiver mount for film lights with 5/8"-27 TPI female threads; supports up to 2.5 kW HMI or LED panels, 360°… Lighting · Equipment Junior Stand Lightweight steel light stand with three collapsible legs and 16mm/5/8" receiver, supporting fixtures up to… Lighting · Equipment Junior to Baby Adapter Junior-auf-Baby-Adapter Aluminum or steel adapter reducing Junior receptacles (28mm) to Baby pins (16mm). Enables mounting compact… Lighting · Equipment Junior Wall Plate Junior-Wandplatte Wall-mounted fixture by Matthews Studio Equipment with 5/8" stud for lights up to 15kg; introduced 1967 for… Production Junket Organized press trip for film promotion — journalists visit set or premiere for interviews. Studio-funded… Camera · Terms Jupiter-11 Soviet 135mm f/4.0 telephoto lens by KMZ (1956–1992), based on Zeiss Sonnar design; known for warm color… Camera · Terms Jupiter-12 Soviet 35mm wide-angle lens (f/2.8–f/16), 8-element Biogon design, produced 1965–1994. Prized for warm color… Camera · Terms Jupiter-3 Soviet 50mm f/1.5 normal lens (1947–1990s) based on Zeiss Sonnar design. Exceptionally fast for… Camera · Terms Jupiter-37A Soviet 135mm f/3.5 telephoto lens by LZOS/Arsenal, based on Zeiss Sonnar design with lanthanum glass for warm…
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