What is a lower third in video production?

A lower third in video production is primarily recognized as a graphic overlay that typically appears in the lower third of the screen, hence the name. This graphic is most commonly used to display information such as the speaker's name, their title, or any relevant contextual information that enhances the viewer's understanding of the content being presented.

Positioning this information in the lower part of the screen ensures that it does not obstruct the visual content displayed above, allowing the viewer to absorb both the graphic and the action simultaneously. This is particularly important in interviews, news broadcasts, or documentaries where establishing who is speaking is crucial for the audience’s comprehension.

The other options provided revolve around different types of visual elements or techniques in video production but do not accurately define a lower third. For instance, visual effects applied to the background focus on enhancing the visual aesthetics of the entire scene rather than highlighting a specific piece of information. Scene transitions are methods to switch from one shot to another and are not related to text or graphics at all. Overlays that add subtitles are different from lower thirds, as they typically provide direct translations of spoken dialogue rather than identifying speakers or contextual information.