Arts & History
MediumBehind the Camera Crossword
Category: Arts & HistoryDifficulty: Hard14 × 15
Wednesday, September 2
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Enter one letter per square. Answers run Across or Down. Omit spaces and accents; any special spelling convention is stated in the clue. This is a freeform themed grid, so some letters are not crossed.
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About This Theme
A finished scene hides a great deal of coordinated work. This crossword brings some of that work into view through the language of camera movement, lighting, sound and editing. Several answers have ordinary meanings outside a film set, so keep the production context in mind. A movement clue may describe the camera rotating in place or physically traveling. A job title may identify a department rather than the person making every creative decision.
Clues
Across
- 4Rotate a camera vertically from a fixed position (4)
- 5Long pole used to position a microphone near performers (4)
- 6Film crew member who handles camera-support and rigging equipment (4)
- 7Rotate a camera horizontally from a fixed position (3)
- 10Sequence of drawings used to plan shots (10)
- 12Creation of synchronized everyday sound effects for a film (5)
Down
- 1Lens opening that controls how much light enters (8)
- 2Hinged slate used to identify a take and help synchronize sound (12)
- 3Consistency of details across shots intended to fit together (10)
- 8Adjustment that makes the intended subject appear sharp (5)
- 9Chief lighting electrician on a film production (6)
- 11Wheeled support used to move a camera (5)
Answers and Explanations
After Your Solve
PAN and TILT describe changes in camera direction, while DOLLY refers to a moving support. That distinction is easy to miss if you think only about the image on screen. GAFFER and GRIP describe different production roles, not interchangeable names for anyone handling equipment. FOLEY belongs to sound work, and STORYBOARD to planning. Grouping the answers by stage of production is a useful way to remember them. The grid is about a coordinated process, not a list of fashionable industry words.
- 4 acrossTILT
Tilting changes the camera's vertical angle.
- 5 acrossBOOM
A boom can keep the microphone outside the frame.
- 6 acrossGRIP
The role concerns support and rigging rather than recording dialogue.
- 7 acrossPAN
Panning changes where the camera points.
- 10 acrossSTORYBOARD
A storyboard visualizes a sequence before filming.
- 12 acrossFOLEY
Foley artists recreate sounds such as footsteps.
- 1 downAPERTURE
Aperture size affects exposure and depth of field.
- 2 downCLAPPERBOARD
Its visible closure can be matched with its sound.
- 3 downCONTINUITY
Continuity helps separate shots read as a coherent sequence.
- 8 downFOCUS
Focus selects the plane of greatest sharpness.
- 9 downGAFFER
The gaffer leads the electrical lighting team.
- 11 downDOLLY
A dolly allows the camera itself to travel.
Further Reading
- Theme referencescreenskills.com
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