off-camera

In cinema, ‘off-camera’ designates that which is outside the field, beyond what the camera is filming. The off-camera contributes to the stylistic construction and narrative of the film. It is part of the story. It can consist of a telephone call, or an imagined person who sees somebody else situated within the shot, or even a monster, which the film director decides not to show for reasons of suspense or to feed the spectators’ imaginations.