Your Go-To Glossary for Video Production Terms

Video Shouldn’t Feel Mysterious

When you’re leading a campaign or overseeing brand strategy, you want to trust your partners, including your video team. You don’t need to know how to operate a camera or adjust lighting ratios, but understanding the terms used during a project can go a long way.

Clear communication makes everything easier: giving feedback, understanding timelines, reviewing cuts, and making better decisions faster.

This glossary breaks down the most common video production terms you’ll hear across every phase of a video project, from the first discovery call to the final delivery. Whether you're planning a product video, a customer story, or a multi-part series, this guide will help you stay informed and confident throughout the process.

Pre-Production Terms

Planning, strategy, and setting the stage

Pre-production is the foundation of any successful video. This phase focuses on defining the concept, identifying resources, and preparing everything required for a smooth shoot. Good pre-production minimizes stress, maximizes efficiency, and keeps the creative team aligned with your goals.

Script

The script lays out the spoken words and visual flow of the video. Some scripts are tightly written, like product explainers or executive messages. Others are looser, like outlines or interview discussion guides for interviews or testimonials. A well-structured script keeps everyone aligned on message and tone before the cameras roll.

Storyboard

A storyboard uses images, drawings, or frames to illustrate what the final video will look like. This visual representation helps communicate the creative vision to your team and stakeholders. Whether animated or live-action, the storyboard sets expectations for framing, movement, and pacing.

Shot list

The shot list is a document that outlines every scene and angle to be captured during filming. It includes notes on camera setups, talent direction, transitions, and framing. The list keeps production efficient and ensures all necessary footage is captured.

Treatment

A treatment is a short, creative document that explains the concept, tone, and visual style of the video. It often includes reference images and language that sets the mood and approach. A treatment is helpful early in the process when seeking stakeholder alignment.

Blocking

Blocking is the act of planning where the talent will move, sit, or interact within a scene. This process ensures that everything flows naturally and allows the director, lighting crew, and camera operators to prepare their setups accordingly.

Call sheet

A call sheet is the daily schedule sent to all cast and crew before the shoot. It includes call times, locations, crew contacts, roles, parking info, and other important details. This sheet helps everyone show up informed and ready. Side fact…one of our producers, Nelson Nuñez, started a tradition of including a riddle on our call sheets. It’s become a fun conversation topic with our crew.

Location scout

A location scout is a site visit that allows the production team to evaluate lighting, power sources, noise levels, and spatial layout. Choosing the right location and understanding its challenges avoids problems later.

Creative brief

The creative brief outlines strategy, target audience, key messages, tone, and success metrics. This document ensures that creative direction aligns with business objectives. It serves as a reference point throughout the entire process.

Talent

Talent refers to any person appearing in the video. Talent can be actors, executives, employees, customers, or subject matter experts. Selecting the right talent can make your message more authentic and trustworthy.

Casting

Casting involves selecting the best people for on-camera roles. Sometimes this means reviewing professional audition reels. Other times, it means helping you choose internal team members who feel confident on camera.

Props

Props are any physical items used on screen. These can include products, tech devices, signage, or tools. Props support the story visually and must be coordinated to match the brand’s visual identity.

Production Terms

Lights, camera, execution

Production is when everything planned in pre-production becomes real. Crews, cameras, lighting gear, and talent come together to capture your message. While it may look complex, a well-organized shoot runs like clockwork. Knowing these terms can help you stay in the loop.

A-roll

A-roll is the primary footage used to tell the story. This often includes interviews, scripted segments, or people speaking directly to the camera. It forms the backbone of the final video.

B-roll

B-roll refers to secondary footage that supports the A-roll. These shots add context, improve pacing, and enhance the visual storytelling. Examples include people working, product demonstrations, or wide shots of a location.

Camera angles

Camera angles determine how subjects are framed and from which perspective. Wide shots establish setting, medium shots capture conversations, and close-ups highlight expressions or product details. The choice of angle affects emotion and clarity.

Aspect ratio

Aspect ratio defines the proportions of the image or frame. Common aspect ratios include 16:9, 1:1, 4:5, and 9:16 for social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or TikTok. The aspect ratio is chosen based on where the video will be distributed.

Frame rate

Frame rate refers to how many frames per second the camera records. A frame rate of 24fps delivers a cinematic look, while 60fps is smoother and can be used for slow motion. Frame rate affects both style and how the video feels to the viewer.

Depth of field

Depth of field refers to the range of distance within a shot that appears sharp. A shallow depth of field keeps the subject in focus while blurring the background. This technique adds emphasis and helps the viewer stay focused on the subject.

Shallow focus

Shallow focus uses a narrow depth of field to draw attention to the subject. It’s often used in interviews, making the speaker stand out from the background.

Zoom lens

A zoom lens is a type of camera lens that allows operators to adjust framing by zooming in or out without changing position. This flexibility makes it easier to adapt to tight spaces or quick transitions during the shoot. Changing the zoom also affects the focal length, which influences the depth of field and visual compression.

Prime lens

A prime lens has a fixed focal length and does not zoom. What it lacks in flexibility, it makes up for in image sharpness, color accuracy, and low-light performance. Prime lenses are often used for stylized shots or interviews.

Focal length

Focal length measures the distance between the lens and the sensor, affecting how “zoomed in” a shot appears. Short focal lengths capture wider scenes, while longer ones compress space and create dramatic portraits.

Gimbal

A gimbal is a stabilizing device used to keep the camera steady during movement. It allows smooth camera movement, such as tracking a walking subject, without the shakiness you’d get from handheld shooting.

Color temperature

Color temperature describes the warmth or coolness of a light source, measured in Kelvin. Warmer lighting (around 3200K) looks warmer and cozier; cooler lighting (5600K) appears blue and clean. Balanced lighting is critical for professional-looking footage.

Sound check

A sound check tests all microphones and audio recording equipment before filming begins. This step helps avoid issues like background noise, distortion, or dropped audio during key takes.

Last looks

“Last looks” is a final check before filming starts. Crew members review clothing, hair, microphones, props, and background elements. A quick fix now avoids time-consuming retakes later.

Post-Production Terms

Editing, style, review, and final delivery

After production wraps, the footage enters post-production. This is the stage where all the pieces come together. This is where raw material is shaped through video editing into a clear, compelling story that matches your brand’s voice, tone, and goals.

This is when you get to review the first cut of the video and if needed, provide feedback for revisions. Understanding these terms helps keep communication clean and decisions focused.

Rough cut

The rough cut is the first version of the edited video. This cut includes the core content in its intended order but lacks visual polish. There may be temporary music, placeholders for graphics, or uncorrected audio levels. 

Final cut

The final cut is the finished product. All edits are locked, transitions are smooth, visuals are color corrected, and sound is balanced. Graphics are in place, and the pacing has been dialed in. The final cut reflects all feedback, brand input, and creative decisions. From here, the video moves to rendering and delivery.

Color correction

Color correction balances the lighting and color values across scenes. This process fixes inconsistencies in white balance, exposure, or skin tones and ensures continuity. If an indoor interview looks overly orange or a wide shot feels too cool, color correction evens those out.

Color grading

Color grading is a creative step that goes beyond technical correction. Grading adds style and mood by adjusting contrast, saturation, and tone. For example, a clean, clinical style might use cooler tones, while a warm, story-driven tone might lean into golds and oranges. This step helps match your brand’s visual identity and create emotional resonance.

Motion graphics

Motion graphics include animated text, charts, icons, logos, or branded transitions. These elements clarify key ideas, reinforce branding, or explain complex topics. Motion graphics also help pace a video by guiding the viewer’s eye and creating visual momentum. For more advanced needs, motion graphics may be paired with visual effects like screen replacements or compositing that enhance the viewer experience or make the video more effective.

Lower third

A lower third is a graphic label that appears on-screen, typically in the bottom third of the screen. It’s commonly used to identify speakers by name and title. 

Sound design

Sound design involves adding audio layers that support the visuals and make the video feel more engaging (which increases the video’s effectiveness). Think of sound design as bringing the visuals to life, whether they are b-roll or motion graphics. Done well, sound design is subtle but powerful. It shapes how your audience feels without them even realizing it.

Voiceover

Voiceover is narration added during editing. It can provide structure, guide the viewer through a process, or summarize ideas in a concise way. Voiceover works well in any video where narration adds clarity without needing a speaker on camera, like brand stories, training content, and product explainers..

Captions/Subtitles

Captions are on-screen text that shows the spoken content of the video. Subtitles are often translated into different languages. Both improve accessibility, viewer retention, and social performance, particularly for social-first content where many viewers watch with sound off by default.

Render

Rendering is the process of converting the edited project into a playable video file. It combines all layers, including the footage, graphics, audio, and effects, into a single file. Rendering can take time, especially for high-resolution or heavily animated videos.

Export

Exporting is saving the rendered video in specific formats and aspect ratios for use on different platforms. Deliverables may include a full-length horizontal video, a short vertical cut for social, and versions with or without captions. Clarifying your export needs early in post helps avoid delays or last-minute format changes.

Lighting & Audio Basics

The details that define how polished your video feels

Lighting and sound don’t often get much attention during the planning phase, but once you see the footage, they become impossible to ignore. Lighting affects mood, professionalism, and brand consistency. Audio affects clarity, retention, and trust. These tools can make or break a video, even when everything else is on point.

Key lights

Key lights are the primary light source for your subject. These lights help control tone and contrast, and every lighting setup begins by establishing where the primary light source will be positioned. Key lights define shape, visibility, and tone, and their placement can dramatically affect how the scene feels on screen.

Fill lights

Fill lights balance the shadows created by the key lights. Without proper fill lights, faces can look harsh or uneven, especially under strong lighting conditions.

Backlight

A backlight is placed behind the subject to separate them from the background. This creates a sense of depth and keeps the subject from blending into the scene. Backlighting is subtle but essential for making the image feel three-dimensional.

Gain / ISO

Gain (also called ISO) refers to how sensitive the camera sensor is to light. In low-light situations, increasing ISO can help brighten the image. However, pushing it too high introduces grain and noise. A good lighting plan helps avoid that tradeoff.

Lavalier mic

A lavalier mic (lav, for short) is a small clip-on microphone worn by the subject. These mics are discreet, capture clear voice audio, and allow freedom of movement. Depending on the format and context, lav mics can be visible or hidden under clothes. 

Boom mic

A boom mic is mounted on a long pole and positioned just outside the frame, usually above the speaker’s head. Boom mics capture rich, natural sound and are our first choice for most situations. Lav mics are brought in when a boom mic isn’t practical or possible. 

Room tone

Room tone is the subtle ambient sound of a space that typically goes unnoticed after a few minutes, like air conditioning, traffic in the distance, or a quiet hum. Capturing room tone for a few seconds allows editors to smooth out audio transitions in post and avoid jarring cuts between dialogue.

Clipping

Clipping occurs when audio is recorded too loudly and becomes distorted. Unlike lighting issues, clipped audio cannot be fixed in post. This is why real-time monitoring and proper sound checks are essential during production.

Audio mix

The audio mix is the final balancing of voice, music, sound effects, and ambient noise. A well-mixed video feels polished and intentional, where nothing is too loud, too quiet, or competing for attention. It also ensures that your message comes through clearly on any platform, whether someone is listening on headphones or phone speakers.

Wrapping Up: Know Enough to Lead, Not to Film

Remember, you don’t need to memorize all these terms. You just need a team that knows them and knows how to explain them.

At Gorilla Creative, we’ve built a process that works for corporate marketing teams. We take care of the technical details, so you can focus on your goals. Whether you're producing your first executive message or managing a series of product videos, we’ll guide you through every step clearly, smoothly, and without jargon.

Ready to make your next video your easiest one yet?

Get in touch with Gorilla Creative

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