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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11 disciplines, one language

Topics.

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
Grip · Equipment Sachtler German manufacturer of high-quality tripods and fluid heads. Industry standard for professional camera… Lighting · Terms sACN Ethernet-based lighting control protocol transmitting DMX512 data over IP networks, supporting up to 63,999… Grip · Equipment Saddle Sandbag Sattel-Sandsack Saddle-shaped sandbag that straddles C-stands and light stands to prevent tipping in wind; weighs 5–30 kg and… Directing Sad Ending Unhappy or tragic finale—protagonist fails, dies, or loses what matters most. Emotionally intense, risky with… Production Safe Area Picture area guaranteed visible on all monitors and TV sets—typically 90% of frame. Critical for graphics… Camera Safety film Sicherheitsfilm Non-flammable cellulose acetate film base — industry standard since 1950s. Replaced explosive nitrate stock… Production · Terms Safety Line Sicherungsleine Rope or cable used as a backup safety measure for suspended or elevated performers. Production · Terms Safety Meeting Sicherheitsbesprechung Briefing covering safety protocols and procedures. Production Safety / Safety Officer Sicherheit Responsible person for all workplace safety regulations on set — stunts, rigs, heights, pyrotechnics… Camera · Terms Safety Shot Safety Safety shot: backup take of an already-filmed scene using steadier camera work and conservative exposure… Production · Terms Safety Supervisor Sicherheitsbeauftragter Staff member responsible for on-set safety compliance. Theory Saga Multi-part film series with continuous narrative and recurring characters across installments — Star Wars… Sound Sampling Abtastung Converting continuous analog audio into discrete digital data points — determines later sound quality and… Sound Sampling Rate Abtastrate How many times per second audio gets digitally measured — 48 kHz is broadcast/film standard, 44.1 kHz for… Theory Samurai Film Samuraifilm Genre exploring Japanese samurai and feudal society — Kurosawa, Takeshi, Tarantino. Defined by swordcraft… Camera · Terms Samyang South Korean cinema lens manufacturer known for fast T1.5 optics, 200° focus rotation, and linear focus… Camera · Terms Samyang XEEN Samyang XEEN: Cine lens series featuring consistent gear rings and T-stops, designed for professional film… Camera · Terms Samyang XEEN CF Samyang XEEN CF: Six cine lenses (16–135 mm) with carbon-fiber housing, 20% lighter than standard XEEN… Camera · Terms Samyang XEEN Meister Samyang XEEN Master: Cinema lens series with eight prime focal lengths (14–200mm), constant T1.5 aperture… Grip · Equipment Sandbag Sandsack Fabric bag filled with sand used to weight down tripods, C-stands, and other grip equipment to prevent… Sound · Equipment Sanken Sennheiser-quality Japanese microphone manufacturer specializing in ultra-directional interference tube… Sound · Equipment Sanken COS-11 Sanken COS-11: omnidirectional electret condenser lavalier microphone with 4mm capsule, 0.3g, 50Hz–20kHz… Camera · Terms Sankor 16C Soviet anamorphic adapter from the 1960s by Sankor Corporation; produces distinctive horizontal lens flares… Camera · Terms Sankor 16D Sankyo projection lens from 1965 with 2x compression ratio; now prized as vintage anamorphic adapter for… Camera · Technique Sankor Anamorphic Sankor Anamorphot Soviet anamorphic adapter lenses by LOMO with 2:1 compression, producing distinctive oval bokeh and blue… Theory Satire Exaggerated critique of society through ridicule and sarcasm—intent is subversive, not merely funny… Art Department · Terms Saturation Sättigung Saturation describes color intensity from neutral gray (0%) to maximum color strength (100%). In DaVinci… Theory · Terms Save the Cat Blake Snyder's screenwriting technique where the protagonist performs an unselfish, sympathetic act early on… Grip · Equipment Scaffold Clamp Gerüstklemme Mechanical clamp with 48mm bore for securing lights and grip equipment to round pipes; standard weight… VFX Scaling Skalierung Enlarging or reducing footage or VFX elements — lossless formats mandatory to avoid degradation. Standard in… Post · Equipment Scanity / DFT Scanity / Scanity HDR Scanity / DFT Scanity High-speed film scanner manufactured by DFT (Digital Film Technology), capable of scanning 35mm and 16mm film… Theory Scan Line Scan-Linie Horizontal raster line in digital imaging — legacy of analog broadcast, visible at low resolution or as… VFX · Unternehmen Scanline VFX Scanline VFX / Scanline Visual Effects VFX studio based in Munich and Los Angeles. Specializes in fluid simulation, particularly water dynamics… VFX Scanner Film digitization device — converts 35mm or 16mm into high-resolution data for post-production. Essential for… Camera · Lenses Scanoscope The Scanoscope is a vintage American-made 50mm anamorphic lens with a 2x squeeze, originally manufactured by… Camera · Technique Scene Szene A scene is a continuous action unit in one location at one time. General Scene Szene Dramatic unit at one location, one time — spans multiple shots and cuts. On set, you work in scenes, not… Directing Scene/Event Begebenheit What happens in front of camera—a dramaturgical unit within a sequence. Not the shot, not the scenario, but… Camera Scene-Referred Image Raw sensor data capturing actual scene luminance — unoptimized for display. Foundation for color grading and… Directing Scene Resolution Auflösung einer Szene The moment tension or mystery is clarified — conflict resolved, secret revealed, question answered. A scene… Directing Scene-stealing Szenendieb Actor who draws focus from the intended subject through presence or unexpected gesture — often unintentional… Editing Scene Transition Szenenwechsel Move from one scene to the next — can be hard cut, optical dissolve, or narrative-driven. Defines pacing and… Production · Terms Scenic Artist Bühnenbildmaler Craftsperson who paints and finishes scenic elements and set pieces. Production · Terms Scenic Painter Kulissenmaler Specialized artist who paints sets, backdrops, and scenery. Camera · Terms Schneider Cine-Xenar Schneider Cine-Xenar: 16mm C-Mount lenses for Bolex cameras, focal lengths 16–75mm, known for soft rendering… Camera · Terms Schneider Digicon Schneider Digicon prime lens series for digital cinema cameras with fixed focal lengths 25–180mm, constant… Camera · Terms Schneider Kreuznach Schneider Kreuznach is a storied German optics manufacturer known for high-quality cine and photo lenses… Camera · Terms Schneider Radiant Soft Schneider Radiant Soft – Schneider-Kreuznach diffusion filter with radial microlenses scattering light 2–15°… Camera · Terms Schneider Xenon FF Schneider Xenon FF series of five fixed focal length lenses (25–100mm) for full-frame sensors, known for… Camera · Lenses Schneider Xenon FF Prime Full-frame prime cinema lenses offering consistent optical performance across a wide focal length range. Sound · Equipment Schoeps German microphone manufacturer known for the modular Colette system: interchangeable capsules… Sound · Equipment Schoeps CMIT Schoeps CMIT: compact supercardioid shotgun microphone with 10 dB-A self-noise, ideal for boom work in… Theory Schoolboy Film Pennälerfilm Youth film set in school environment — idealistic plots, friendship dramas, first love. Genre cinema for… VFX Schüfftan Process Schüfftan-Effekt Half-silvered mirror glass in front of camera combines live-action with miniature set in single frame… Lighting · Terms Schuko European standard power connector (230V/16A) supplying film lights up to 3.7kW, commonly used for LED panels… General · Terms Science Fiction Science Fiction is a film genre that explores futuristic or alternative worlds with technological, scientific… Theory Science Film Wissenschaftsfilm Documentary or narrative format conveying scientific knowledge to general audiences — balancing accuracy with… Grip · Equipment Scissor Clamp Scheren-Klemme Spring-loaded clamp with 50–80 mm jaw width and 5/8" stud for tool-free mounting of small lights to props… Lighting · Terms Scissor Lift Scherenhubbühne Hydraulic work platform with scissor-style lift mechanism. Safely elevates gaffer and equipment to working… Camera · Terms Scissors Crane Scherenkran Telescopic crane using a scissor mechanism for extension, offering an alternative to traditional arm…
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