A frame is a single still image in a sequence of film. A film is made of thousands of frames, each slightly different from the last. When projected in rapid succession, usually 24 frames per second, they create the illusion of movement. The frame is the basic unit of cinema. It is the smallest unit of time and space in a film.

The frame is not just a technical unit. It is a compositional unit. Everything within the frame is a choice. The director and cinematographer decide what to include and what to exclude. They decide the framing, the angle, the distance, and the movement. They decide the lighting, the color, and the focus. The frame is a window into the world of the film. It is a boundary that defines what the audience sees.

Frames can be composed in many ways. A symmetrical frame creates balance. An asymmetrical frame creates tension. A frame with a character at the edge creates unease. A frame with a character in the center creates stability. A frame with negative space creates isolation. The composition of the frame is a visual language. It communicates meaning without words.

The frame is also a temporal unit. Each frame lasts a fraction of a second. The duration of a shot is the number of frames it contains. A shot that lasts one second contains 24 frames. A shot that lasts one minute contains 1,440 frames. The editor chooses the duration. The frame is the building block of time in cinema.