International Dictionary of Broadcasting and Film

Desi Bognar

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 1999
• Print ISBN: 9781138412750
• eBook ISBN: 9781136054013
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Film & Video

No matter what continent you are on, the distinct professional language of radio and television broadcasters and film and video makers remains the same. Still the only reference that is international in scope, The International Dictionary of Broadcasting and Film, Second Edition is a comprehensive guide to professional filmmaking and broadcasting terminology. Entries also include information on professional organizations, festivals and awards. Appendices contain tables of international television and film standards, frequencies and channels, and a list of national and international news agencies and their standard abbreviations.

This book has been substantially revised and updated to include coverage of the new digital technology, plus information on the history of film and broadcasting. It is a valuable reference to professionals in broadcasting and filmmaking, as well to students in these fields.

A

A Ampere.

Å Angstrom.

AA (1) Agence d’Athenes (Greece). (2) Agencias Andinas (Peru).

AAAA Also called 4As. American Association of Advertising Agencies.

AACTO American Association of Cable Television Owners.

AAF American Advertising Federation.

AANS Argus African News Service (Zimbabwe).

AAP Australian Associated Press.

AAPTS Association of American Public Television Stations.

AAR Association of Authors’ Representatives (USA).

ABA Alaska Broadcasters Association,

abar See microbar.

ABC (1) American Broadcasting Company. (2) Australian Broadcasting Commission.

aberration The distortion of an image introduced by an optical element such as a lens, mirror, or prism.

ABERT Associagão Brasileira de Emissoras de Radio e Televisaõ (Brazil). ABES Association for Broadcast Engineering Standards (USA).

above-the-line cost Production cost for the story/script, rights, talent, performer, producer, director. See also below-the-line cost.

A&B Press Liberia.

abrasion Scratches or undesired marks on film surfaces, usually caused by pressure or rubbing against the surface.

A-B roll editing (electronic A-B roll editing) – two video-audio sources are displayed from two video playback units, processed through a mixer/effects system, and then recorded onto a third recording videotape recorder. Accordingly, assembly programs can be completed from five video/audio or film sources onto a master recorder in AB-C-D-E roll editing. The process is generally computer-assisted and the sources must use SMPTE/EBU time coding for frame-accurate editing.

A-B rolling (1) Electronic A-B rolling, television: one film chain contains sound-on-film (SOF) film, while on the second chain silent film is projected. The films can be intermixed (A-B rolled) through the mixing control. (2) In 16 mm film editing: all odd-numbered shots are put on one reel (A roll) with a black leader replacing the even-numbered shots. The even-numbered shots are then put into another reel (B roll) with a black leader replacing the odd-numbered shots in a checkerboard manner. See also checkerboard.

A-B test Direct comparison of audio, video, data, or RF signals by means of a quality test conducted by switching from one signal to another and monitoring any differences.

ABU Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (Malaysia).

A&B wind See A-wind, B-wind.

absorption t,.u Lignt: ine amouni or ugni iosi oy surrounuing wans, scls. Darker surfaces absorb more light. (2) Sound absorption: weakened sound waves due to incomplete reflection. See also echo and reverberation.

AC (1) Alternating current. (2) Assistant camera.

Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematografias de Eśpaña National Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. See also Goya.

Academy aperture Also called Academy mask. Standard image (frame) size of both 35 mm motion picture cameras and projectors since the introduction of sound (SOF), providing space for the sound track. Named after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (USA). Also called Academy mask and movietone frame.

Academy Awards (the Oscar) Annual presentation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with awards given in more than 20 categories (USA).

The first Academy Awards celebration was held on May 16, 1929, at Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel. Of the 15 statuettes presented, the principal winners were:

• Wings–Best Picture of the Year (1927-28)
• Emil Jannings–Best Actor
• Janet Gaynor–Best Actress
• Frank Borzaga – Best Director, Seventh Heaven
• Lewis Milestone – Best Comedy Director

Special awards went to Warner Brothers for the pioneer talking picture The Jazz Singer and to Charlie Chaplin, producer, director, writer, and star of The Circus. See also Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Oscar.

Academy leader A standard leader attached to the beginning (head) of each release print (also to projection print) with number markings [ranging from 10 (or 8) to 3, each 1 second apart]. Used for cueing up the film in the projector and for film picture alignment (USA).

Academy mask See Academy aperture.

Academy numbers See Academy leader.

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (ACCT) Academie Canadienne du Cinema et Télévision. Founded in 1979 by the Canadian film and television industry, it is the largest professional organization in the field. Its approximately 2,000 members elect a 35-member board of directors. The Academy’s yearly honors include the Genie Awards for excellence in film, the Gemini Awards for English language television, and the Prix Gemeaux for French language television. The ACCT publishes the biannual Who’s Who in Canadian Film and Television, several manuals, and how-to books. See also Genie Awards, Gemini Awards, and Prix Gemeaux.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) An honorary organization of the motion picture industry, founded in May 1927. Its purpose is to advance the motion picture arts and sciences and to provide incentives for higher levels of technical and professional achievements (USA). Membership is by invitation only, and its twelve branches today represent actors, art directors, cinematographers, directors, executives, producers, film editors, musicians, public relations personnel, makers of short films, sound designers, and writers.

The Academy organizes the annual Academy Award (“Oscar”) presentations, maintains the Margaret Herrick Library, the Academy Film Archive, the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, and conducts educational and cultural activities.

Major publications include the Academy Players Directory and the Annual Index to Motion Picture Credits. See also Academy Awards and Oscar.

ACC Automatic color control.

access time The hour from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. when affiliated stations can broadcast non-network syndicated programs or programs produced locally as per the Prime Time Access Rule.

account A sales/advertising contract between a client (sponsor, advertising agency) and the broadcast station.

ACCT Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

ACE American Cinema Editors.

acetate (cellulose acetate) (1) Also called cel. A transparent plastic sheet used in preparation of graphic material. (2) Film base; a slow-burning celluloid material on which a light-sensitive emulsion is applied. It replaced the highly flammable celluloid base in 1948.

achromatic Description for an optical element (i.e., a lens) that has been corrected during the manufacturing process for chromatic aberration.

ACI Agence Congolaise d’information (Congo).

ACIRTA Association Catholique Internationale pour la Radio, Télévision et l’Audiovisuel. See UNDA.

acoustic feedback See feedback/1.

acoustics The science of sound; all the influential conditions of a given environment that affect the character of sound produced, recorded, or reproduced in it. See also good acoustics.

ACP Agence Camerounaise de Presse (Cameroon).

ACP-C Agence Centrale de Presse...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• The Language: Terms A–Z
• History of Broadcasting
• Daily Schedule
• Daily Programs
• KDKA
• Appendix A: English–Metric Conversion Tables
• Appendix B: Table of Frequencies
• Appendix C: Television Channels, Standards, and Systems
• Appendix D: Film Emulsion Speed Conversion Table
• Appendix E: Television Systems Worldwide
• Appendix F: National and International News Agencies