5.1 Channel Digital Sound: The film digital sound exhibition standard which utilizes five output speaker channels (left, center, right, right surround, left surround, and subwoofer). (Sound)

Fade: An optical effect in which the image of a scene is gradually replaced by a uniform dark area or vice versa.

FAST: The camera assistant's motto. Everything he/she must do before each shot (Focus, Aperture, Shutter, Tach). (Camera)

FAY: A 650 watt PAR light with daylight balance dichroic fliter. (Lighting)

Feather: Moving a 'flag' closer to or further away from a light source that it is in front of will feather (soften/harden) the shadow on the surface upon which the light falls. (Grip/Lighting)

Feed Lines: Lines of dialogue which are read outside camera range for the benefit of an 'on camera' or 'on microphone' actor or voice over artist.

Fill Leader: Film leader used to fill in the blanks in picture workprint. (Film Editing)

Film Base: The flexible, usually transparent support on which photographic emulsions and magnetic coatings are carried. (Film Editing)

Film Cement: A common term for the welding solvent used in splicing film. (Film Editing)

Film Notcher: A device used to punch out a small portion of the edge of a piece of film in order to permit electrical contacts on a printer to come together and thus activate light changes. (Film Editing)

Filter: A transparent material having the ability to absorb certain wavelengths of light and transmit others.

Fingers: Small flags used to control light. (Grip/Lighting)

Fixing: The removal of unexposed silver halides from the film during processing.

Flat: Usually an agreement to perform work or provide a service for a fixed fee or wage which will not be affected by overtime restrictions of unexpected costs. Also used in terms of sets and set construction elements which are generally used to create walls.

Flatbed: A modern film or sound editing system where reels are laid horizontally on "plates" on a mechanized table with sound and picture heads.

Flicker: The alternation of light and dark which can be visually perceived.

Float: Periodic vertical movement of the image which occurs as a result of mechanical faults in the camera, printer, or projector.

Flood: The widest beam spread on a lensed light. (Lighting)

Flop-over: An optical effect in which the picture is shown reversed from left to right.

Flutter: The rapid period variation of frequency caused by unsteadiness of the film or tape drive. (Sound)

Flux: An amount of light which is present as measured in lumens.

Foamcore: Polystyrene which is sandwiched between paper. It is used to relectors, soft boxes, and other items because it is stable and easily cut. (Grip/Lighting)

Focus Pull: The refocusing of a lens during a shot to keep a moving subject in focus or to change the person or object of attention. (Cinematography)

Fog Level: The minimum density of the unexposed area of processed film.

Foley: Creating sound effects by watching picture and mimicking the action, often with props that do not exactly match the action.

Format: The size or aspect ratio of a motion picture frame.

Frame: The individual picture image on a strip of motion picture film. Also, one complete screen on videotape.

Frame Rate: The frequency at which film or video frames run (i.e. 24 fps; 29.97 Hz in NTSC; 25 Hz in PAL European format).

Freeze Frame: An optical printing effect in which a single frame image is repeated so as to appead stationary when it is projected.

Frequency: The number of times a signal vibrates each second as expressed in cycles per second (cps) or Hertz (Hz). (Sound)

Frequency Discrimination: Exaggeration or diminution of particular frequencies in relation to others. (Acoustics)

Frequency Response: This represents the sensitivity of a given sound, video, or other recording/playback system.

Fresnel: A stepped convex lens. It is most commonly used to descripe tungsten-incandescent lamps. (Lighting)

Full-Coat: Film which is coated with an iron oxide compound on which sound is recorded and from which sound is reproduced.