A term referring to independently produced, low-budget, and typically non-union films. They are usually made quickly and are intended to look amateurish. They often feature exploitative themes, such as low-budget horror films, and are of lower quality than B movies.

A device attached to a microphone to reduce wind noise.

A special negative cutting method for “blow-up,” so that each frame is given frame handles and the registration pin on the printer does not interfere with the spray. It is generally used when blowing up from 16mm to 35mm. A zero cut should only be performed when absolutely necessary, as the lab can only print the film optically, which is much more expensive than a contact print. A zero cut is slightly more complex than standard A&B reels, so the negative cutter charges a higher fee for this service.

See: Swish Pan.

A device used in the pre-cinematic era to create the illusion of motion by rotating a series of images for viewing.

A system that changes the size of an object in the image by adjusting the focal length of a lens. When the camera zooms in (ZOOM IN), the object appears larger, but the depth of field decreases and the angle of view narrows. The opposite occurs when zooming out (ZOOM OUT). In a pan or tilt movement, however, the lens’s field of view remains unchanged.

A variable focal length lens used in film, video, and still cameras that offers normal, wide-angle, and telephoto capabilities. It eliminates the need to change lenses to use different focal lengths. It creates the effect of moving closer to or farther from an object by zooming in or out, without moving the camera from its position or changing the focus.

A revolutionary 3D special effects process invented by cinematographer Zorian Perisic; it involves a camera system and a projector equipped with synchronized zoom lenses, thereby creating the illusion of depth.