Cinematic Terms | A-O Flashcards
180 degree rule
a screen direction rule that camera operators must follow - an imaginary line on one side of the axis of action is made (e.g., between two principal actors in a scene), and the camera must not cross over that line - otherwise, there is a distressing visual discontinuity and disorientation; similar to the axis of action (an imaginary line that separates the camera from the action before it) that should not be crossed
24 frames per second
refers to the standard frame rate or film speed - the number of frames or images that are projected or displayed per second; in the silent era before a standard was set, many films were projected at 16 or 18 frames per second, but that rate proved to be too slow when attempting to record optical film sound tracks; aka 24fps or 24p
3-D
a film that has a three-dimensional, stereoscopic form or appearance, giving the life-like illusion of depth; often achieved by viewers donning special red/blue (or green) or polarized lens glasses; when 3-D images are made interactive so that users feel involved with the scene, the experience is called virtual reality; 3-D experienced a heyday in the early 1950s; aka 3D, three-D, Stereoscopic 3D, Natural Vision 3D, or three-dimensional
above the line
usually refers to that part of a film’s budget that covers the costs associated with major creative talent: the stars, the director, the producer(s) and the writer(s), although films with expensive special effects (and few stars) have more ‘above the line’ budget costs for technical aspects; the term’s opposite is below the line
abstract (form)
a type of film that rejects traditional narrative in favor of using poetic form (color, motion, sound, irrational images, etc.) to convey its meaning or feeling; aka non-linear; see also avant-garde
absurd (absurdism)
a stage, philosophical and literary term originally, adopted by film-makers, in which ordinary settings become bizarre, illogical, irrational, unrealistic, meaningless, and incoherent
Academy Awards
the name given to the prestigious film awards presented each year by AMPAS (the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, or simply ‘The Academy’), a professional honorary organization within the industry, since 1927. The annual awards show, in slang, is sometimes referred to as a kudo-cast, see also Oscars
act
a main division within the plot of a film; a film is often divided by ‘plot points’ (places of dramatic change) rather than acts; long films are divided mid-way with an intermission
action
(1) any movement or series of events (usually rehearsed) that take place before the camera and propel the story forward toward its conclusion; (2) the word called out (by a megaphone) at the start of the current take during filming to alert actors to begin performing; (3) also refers to the main component of action films - that often contain significant amounts of violence
actor
refers either to a male performer, or to any male or female who plays a character role in an on-screen film; alternate gender-neutral terms: player, artist, or performer
actress
refers to any female who portrays a role in a film
adaptation
the presentation of one art form through another medium; a film based upon, derived from (or adapted from) a stage play (or from another medium such as a short story, book, article, history, novel, video game, comic strip/book, etc.) which basically preserves both the setting and dialogue of the original; can be in the form of a script (screenplay) or a proposal treatment
ad lib
a line of dialogue improvised by an actor during a performance; can be either unscripted or deliberate;improvisation consists of ad-libbed dialogue (and action) that is invented or created by the performer
aerial shot
a camera shot filmed in an exterior location from far overhead (from a bird’s eye view), as from a helicopter (most common), blimp, balloon, plane, or kite; a variation on the crane shot; if the aerial shot is at the opening of a film, aka an establishing shot
Alan Smithee film
the pseudonym used by directors who refuse to put their name on a film and want to disassociate themselves, usually when they believe their control or vision has been co-opted by the studio (i.e., the film could have been recut, mutilated and altered against their wishes); aka Alan Smithee Jr., Allan Smithee, or Allen Smithee
A-Level (or A-List)
usually refers to top-tier actors/actresses who are paid upwards of $20 million per feature film; can also refer to producers, directors and writers who can be guaranteed to have a film made and released
allegory
mostly a literary term, but taken in film terms to mean a suggestive resemblance or correspondence between a visible event or character in a film with other more significant or abstract levels of meaning outside of the film; an extended metaphor
allusion
a direct or indirect reference - through an image or through dialogue - to the Bible, a classic, a person, a place, an external and/or real-life event, another film, or a well-known cultural idea
alternate ending
the shooting (or re-shooting) of a film’s ending for its theatrical release, usually enforced by the studio for any number of reasons (because of test audience preview results, controversial or unpopular subject matter, to provide a ‘happy’ ending, etc.). See also director’s cut
ambiance
the feeling or mood of a particular scene or setting
ambient light
the natural light (usually soft) or surrounding light around a subject in a scene; also see background lighting
ambiguity
a situation, story-line, scene, or character, etc. in which there are apparent contradictions; an event (and its outcome) is deliberately left unclear, and there may exist more than one meaning or interpretation; can be either intentional or unintentional, to deliberately provoke imaginative thinking or confusion
anachronism
an element or artifact in a film that belongs to another time or place; often anachronistic elements are called film flubs
anamorphic
related to different optical imaging effects; refers to a method of intentionally distorting and creating a wide screen image with standard film, using a conversion process or a special lens on the camera and projector to produce different magnifications in the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the picture; an anamorphic image usually appears “squished” horizontally, while retaining its full vertical resolution; see alsoaspect ratio and the trade name CinemaScope. Many studios produced anamorphic lenses, using other trade names such as Panavision, Technovision, and Technirama. On the right are examples of anamorphic imaging effects from the filmBlade (1998) (with an aspect ratio of 2:35.1).
ancillary rights
contractual agreement in which a percentage of the profits are received and derived from the sale of action figures, posters, CDs, books, T-shirts, etc.
angle
refers to the perspective from which a camera depicts its subject; see camera angle, and other specific shots (high, low, oblique, etc.)
animation (and animator,animated films)
a form or process of filmmaking in which inanimate, static objects or individual drawings (hand-drawn or CGI) are filmed “frame by frame” or one frame at a time (opposed to being shot “live”), each one differing slightly from the previous frame, to create the illusion of motion in a sequence, as opposed to filming naturally-occurring action or live objects at a regular frame rate. Often used as a synonym for cartoons (or toonsfor short), although animation includes other media such as claymation, computer animation; see also CGI, claymation,stop-motion, time lapse.
anime
a distinctive style of animated film that has its roots in Japanese comic books (known as manga), usually recognizable and often characterized by heavily-stylized backgrounds, colorful images and graphics, highly exaggerated facial expressions with limited facial movement, simulation of motion through varying the background behind a static character or other foreground element, and frequently, big-headed characters with child-like, large eyes
antagonist
the main character, person, group, society, nature, force, spirit world, bad guy, or villain of a film or script who is in adversarial conflict with the film’s hero, lead character or protagonist; also sometimes termed the heavy.
anthology film
a multi-part or multi-segmented film with a collection or series of various tales or short stories sometimes linked together by some theme or by a ‘wrap-around’ tale; often the stories are directed by different directors or scripted by various screenwriters, and are in the horror film genre; also known as an episode film or omnibus film; this term may also refer to a full-length, compilation-documentary film of excerpted segments or clips from other films (i.e., That’s Entertainment (1974)).
anthropomorphism
the tendency in animated films to give creatures or objects human qualities, abilities, and characteristics.
anti-climax
anything in a film, usually following the film’s high point, zenith, apex, crescendo, or climax, in which there is an unsatisfying and disappointing let-down of emotion, or what is expected doesn’t occur.
anti-hero
the principal protagonist of a film who lacks the attributes or characteristics of a typical hero archetype, but with whom the audience identifies. The character is often confused or conflicted with ambiguous morals, or character defects and eccentricities, and lacks courage, honesty, or grace. The anti-hero can be tough yet sympathetic, or display vulnerable and weak traits. Specifically, the anti-hero often functions outside the mainstream and challenges it.
aperture
refers to the measurement of the opening in a camera lens that regulates the amount of light passing through and contacting the film.
archetype
a character, place, or thing, that is repeatedly presented in films with a particular style or characterization; an archetype usually applies to a specific genre or type classification.
arc shot
a shot in which the subject(s) is photographed by an encircling or moving camera.
arret
French word meaning ‘halt’ or ‘stop’; refers to the in-camera trick technique of stopping the camera, then removing or inserting an object, then restarting the camera to have an object magically disappear or appear; one of the earliest techniques of silent film
art director
refers to the individual responsible for the design, look, and feel of a film’s set, including the number and type of props, furniture, windows, floors, ceilings dressings, and all other set materials; a member of the film’s art department (responsible for set construction, interior design, and prop placement).
arthouse
a motion picture theater that shows foreign or non-mainstream independent films, often considered high-brow or ‘art’ films.
art-house film
films, often low budget or ‘art’ films, that are acknowledged as having artistic merit or aesthetic pretensions, and are shown in an arthouse theatre; films shown usually include foreign-language films, independent films, non-mainstream (sometimes anti-Hollywood) films, shorts, documentaries, explicitly-erotic films, and other under-appreciated cinema of low mass appeal; began to appear in the 1950s and provided a distinct contrast to commercial films.
aside
occurs when a character in a film breaks the ‘fourth wall’ and directly addresses the audience with a comment.
aspect ratio
in general, a term for how the image appears on the screen based on how it was shot; refers to the ratio of width (horizontal or top) to height (vertical or side) of a film frame, image or screen; the most common or standard aspect ratio in early films to the 1950s was called Academy Aperture (or ratio), at a ratio of 1.33:1 (the same as 4:3 on a TV screen); normal 35mm films are shot at a ratio of 1.85:1; newwidescreen formats and aspect ratios were introduced in the 1950s, from 1.65:1 and higher; CinemaScope (a trade name for a widescreen movie format used in the US from 1953 to 1967) and other anamorphic systems (such as Panavision) have a 2.35:1 AR, while 70mm formats have an AR of 2.2:1;Cinerama had a 2.77:1 aspect ratio; letterboxed videos for widescreen TV’s are frequently in 16:9 (or 1.77:1) AR.
assembly
the first stage of editing, in which all the shots are arranged in script order.
asynchronous (sound)
refers to audio-track sounds that are mismatched or out of conjunction or unison with the images in the visual frame (or screen); sometimes accidental, but sometimes intentional; akanon-synchronized
atmosphere
refers to any concrete or nebulous quality or feeling that contributes a dimensional tone to a film’s action.
audience
refers to spectators, viewers, participants - those who serve as a measure of a film’s success; although usually audiences are viewed in universal terms, they can also be segmented or categorized (e.g., ‘art-film’ audiences, ‘chick film’ audiences, etc.).
audio
refers to the sound portion of a film.
audio bridge
refers to an outgoing sound (either dialogue or sound effects) in one scene that continues over into a new image or shot - in this case, the soundtrack, not a visual image, connects the two shots or scenes; aka lightning mix
audition
the process whereby an actor-performer seeks a role by presenting to a director or casting director a prepared reading or by ‘reading cold’ from the film script, or performing a choreographed dance; after the initial audition, a performer may be called back for additional readings or run-throughs.
auteur (or auteur theory)
literally the French word for “author”; in film criticism, used in the terms auteurism or auteur theory, denoting a critical theory (originally known as la politique des auteurs or “the policy of authors”) popular in France in the late 1940s and early 1950s that was introduced by Francois Truffaut and the editors (including legendary film critic and theorist Andre Bazin) of the celebrated French film journal Cahiers du Cinéma (literally ‘cinema notebooks’), arguably the most influential film magazine in film history; their ideas were subsequently enlarged upon in the 1960s by American critic Andrew Sarris, among others; the theory ascribed overall responsibility for the creation of a film and its personal vision, identifiable style, thematic aspects and techniques to its film-maker or director, rather than to the collaborative efforts of all involved (actors, producer, production designer, special effects supervisor, etc); the theory posited that directors should be considered the ‘true’ authors of film (rather than the screenwriters) because they exercise a great deal of control over all facets of film making and impart a distinctive, personal style to their films; simply stated, an auteur can refer to a director with a recognizable or signature style.
available light
the naturally-existing light in an off-set location; a film’s realism is enhanced by using available or natural light rather than having artificial light.
avant-garde
refers to an experimental, abstract, or highly independent, non-independent film that is often the forerunner of a new artistic genre or art form; avant-garde films self-consciously emphasize technique over substance; also loosely applies to a group of French and German filmmakers in the early 20th century and to some modern American experimental filmmakers (e.g., Andy Warhol), and their film movement that challenged conventional film-making; see also cinema verite,surrealism, and abstract form
B-Film (or B-Movie,B-Picture)
an off-beat, low-budget, second-tier film, usually from an independent producer; they were predominant from the 1920s to the late 1940s; they were shot quickly with little-known, second rate actors, short run times, and low production values; often the second film (or the ‘lower half’) of a double-feature, and paired with an A-feature; the vintage B-movie began to decrease in the 50s, or morphed into inferior TV series; sometimes B-films were exclusively shown in agrindhouse, especially in the 50s and 1960s; as code restrictions waned in the late 60s, B-films often becameexploitation films, which added sensational and catchy titles, campy acting, cheesy special effects, and gratuitous violence and sexuality (nudity); contrast to A-pictures (first-class, big-budget films with high-level production values and star-power); not to be confused with cult films, although some B-films attained cult status
backdrop
refers to a large photographic backing or painting for the background of a scene (e.g., a view seen outside a window, a landscape scene, mountains, etc.), usually painted on flats(composed of plywood or cloth); a large curved backdrop (often representing the sky) is known as a cyclorama; backdrops were more commonly used before the current trend toward on-location shooting and the use of bluescreens.
background music
refers to part of the score that accompanies a scene or action in a film, usually to establish a specific mood or enhance the emotion.
backlighting
this phenomenon occurs when the lighting for the shot is directed at the camera from behind the subject(s), causing the figure(s) in the foreground to appear in semi-darkness or as silhouettes, or highlighted; with backlighting, the subject is separated from the background.
back lot
an area, on studio property, in an open-air, outdoor space away from the studio stages, where real-life situations with backgrounds are filmed; contrasted to on-location shoots that are more expensive; various studios in the Los Angeles area offer back lot tours.
back projection
a photographic technique whereby live action is filmed in front of a transparent screen onto which background action is projected. Back projection was often used to provide the special effect of motion in vehicles during dialogue scenes, but has become outmoded and replaced by bluescreen (or greenscreen) processing and traveling mattes; also known as rear projection or process photography (or shot); contrast to matte shot.
back story
refers to the events that directly happened prior to the beginning of the story, or lead to the story; composed of information that helps fill out the skeletal story of a screenplay or a character’s background, often to help actors (or the audience) understand motivation.
balance
within a film’s visual frame, refers to the composition, aesthetic quality, or working together of the figures, light, sound, and movement.
banned
the blocking of a film’s release (in a theatre showing or on video) by either the government or an official movie classification board, for political, religious, sexual, or social reasons; see also censorship.
barn doors
the black metal folding doors an all four sides of a light that can be bent back and forth on their hinges to control where the light is directed.
barney
a blanket placed over the film camera to reduce the noise of the moving mechanisms inside; see also blimp.
based on a true story
films that consist of a story line that has at least some basis in real historical events, and may actually contain only a few factual elements. These films, loosely based on various biographies, stories, or events, may/may not significantly alter the characters or situations for greater dramatic effect;inspired by a true story indicates the film is even looser with the factual basis of the events.
beat
refers to an actor’s term for how long to wait before doing an action; a beat is usually about one second.
behind the scenes
the off-camera events or circumstances during filmmaking.
below the line
Opposite of above the line.
best boy
the term for any technical assistant, apprentice or aide (regardless of sex) for the gaffer or the (key) grip on a set, responsible for the routing and coiling of power cables necessary to run the lights for a shot; a gender-neutral term that came from whaling.
beta
1/2 inch videotape that was originally called Betamax.
billing
the placement or display of names of actors, directors, and producers for a movie in publicity materials, opening (or closing) film credits, and on theatre marquees. A person’s status is indicated by the size, relative position, and placement of their name. Generally, higher positions closer to the top with larger and more prominent letters designate higher importance and greater box-office draw, and precede people of lesser importance; the most prominent actor that appears first is said to have top billing, followed by second billing, and so forth.
bio-pic
or biographic
a biographical film of the life of a famous personality or historical figure, particularly popularized by Warner Bros. in the 1930s; a sub-genre of drama and epic films.
bit part (or bit player)
a small acting role (usually only one scene, such as a waiter) with very few lines or acting; contrast to a cameo, extra, or walk-onrole.
biz
in shorthand, refers to the “business”, or “show business”.
black and white
simply means without color; before the invention of color film stock, all films were black and white; monochrome (literally meaning “one color”) usually refers to a film shot in black and white, although it can refer to a film shot in shades of one color; grainy B&W is often used to convey authenticity; abbreviated asBW, B/W, and B&W; contrast to color.
black or dark comedy
a type of comedy film, first popular during the late 1950s and early 1960s in which normally serious subjects, such as war, death, dismemberment, misery, suffering, or murder, are treated with macabre humor and satire through iconography, dialogue, and the characters; settings may include cemeteries, war rooms, funerals
blacklisting(and blacklist)
refers to late 40s and early 50s McCarthyism and the HUAC’s (House UnAmerican Activities Committee) formal and informal discrimination and ‘blacklisting’ (effectively banning from employment) of various actors, artists and film-makers based upon their personal, political, social, or religious beliefs (i.e., “Communist sympathizers”); the blacklist was a roster of illegal artists who were not to be hired during the years 1947-1951.
blaxploitation
a combination of the terms “black” and “exploitation”; refers mainly to sensational, low-budget films in the 1970’s featuring mostly African-American casts (and directors), that broke the mold of black characterization in feature films; usually emphasized fads of the time in hairstyles, music and costuming, and also brutality, sleazy sex, street-life, racist and militant attitudes, etc.
Blighty
used to refer to Britain
blimp
the sound-deadening housing a noisy movie camera is put in to prevent the sound equipment from picking up extra sounds
blockbuster
originally referred to a large bomb that would destroy an entire city block during World War II; now in common usage, an impactful movie that is a huge financial success - usually with box-office of more than $200 million (the new benchmark by the early 2000s, after the original mark was $100 million) upon release in North America; ticket lines for blockbusters literally go around the ‘block’; also known as box-office hit; the term may also refer to a costly film that must be exceptionally popular in order to recoup its expenses and make a profit; the opposite of a blockbuster is a bomb, flop, or turkey. See All-Time Box-Office Bombs/Flops.
blocking a shot (or scene)
the process of figuring out where the camera goes, how the lights will be arranged, and what the actors’ positions and movements - moment by moment - are for each shot or take; often, the specific staging of a film’s movements are worked out by the director, often with stand-ins and the lighting crew before actual shooting
blooper
an actual error or mistake (misplaced action, or mis-spoken dialogue by a performer), usually embarrassing or humorous, made by a performer during filming; also known as a goof, flawor flub; see also continuity
blow-up
an optical process - the enlargement of a photographic image or film frame; often used to create 70mm release prints from original35mm films
blue-screenorblue-screen shot
a special-effects process whereby actors work in front of an evenly-lit, monochromatic (usually blue or green) background or screen. The background is then replaced (or matted) in post-production by chroma-keying or optical printer, allowing other footage or computer-generated images to form the image; since 1992, most films use a green-screen
blurb
another name for a commercial or advertisement (usually for TV)
body double(or double)
a performer who takes the place of an actor in scenes that require a close-up of body parts without the face visible, often for nude scenes requiring exposed close-ups (considered distasteful by some actors), or scenes requiring physical fitness; not to be confused with stunt double or stand-in
Bollywood
refers to the burgeoning film industry of India, the world’s biggest film industry, centered in Bombay (now Mumbai); the etymology of the word: from Bo(mbay) + (Ho)llywood; unlike Hollywood, however, Bollywood is a non-existent place.
bookends
a term denoting scenes at the beginning and end of a film that complement each other and help tie a film together; aka framing device
boom
a traveling or moveable counter-balanced pole (also calledfishpole or fishing rod), arm, or telescoped extension device upon which a microphone, light or camera can be suspended overhead above a scene and outside the frame during filming (by a boom operator or boom man); for example, a microphone (mike) boom, a camera boom, or a light boom; the most common film mistake is the appearance of the boom mike (or its shadow) in the frame; a mechanical boom mike is known as a ‘giraffe.’
boom shot
a continuous single shot made from a moving boom, assembled like a montage, and incorporating any number of camera levels and angles.
bootleg
an illegally copied, unauthorized, and/or distributed version of a copyrighted film/video/DVD, often of second-rate quality; also termed pirated.
bowdlerize(d)
refers to purging anything considered disturbing, vulgar, or adult in content in order to make it sanitized for mass market consumption and appropriate for children; originally a literary term derived from the name of Englishman Thomas Bowdler who published a ‘censored’ Family Shakespeare version in the early 1800s.
box-office
the measure of the total amount of money or box-office receiptspaid by movie-goers to view a movie; also referred to as B. O. orgross; usually divided into domestic grosses (unadjusted and adjusted for inflation), and worldwide grosses; films with great box-office results or a strong and outstanding performance are often termed ‘boff’, ‘boffo’, ‘boffola’, ‘whammo’, ‘hotsy’, or’socko’.
bracketing
the act of shooting a scene several times with different F-stops to try and get a certain desired effect
bridging shot
a transitional type of shot used to cover or ‘bridge’ a jump in time or place or other discontinuity; see also audio bridge andmatch-cut
buddy film
a subgenre of film (comedies, westerns, dramas, action films, road films, etc.) in which two mismatched persons (usually males) are forced to work together, often a pair of police cops; situations are often contrived to present the pair with challenges or strains that both strengthen their bond and weaken it; buddy films are often action/comedy films with witty dialogue between the two characters and sometimes the inclusion of a love triangle; has been extended to include female buddies; compare to fish-out-of-water tale
building a scene
using dramatic devices such as increased tempo, volume, and emphasis to bring a scene to a climax
bumper
usually refers to the pre-film segment of pre-made film that contains studio trademark and logo or title identification; also refers to a period of positive financial growth (i.e., it was a ‘bumper year’ for films)
buzz
slang for the sense of excitement, expectancy, and hype that surrounds a film, an actor, or a director
buzz track
a soundtrack of natural, atmospheric, on-location background noise that is added to the re-recorded (or looped) track of actors’ dialogue and other sound effects recordings to create a more realistic sound; aka referred to as room tone ormatching ambient sound; a wild track or sound refers to a soundtrack w/o any synchronized picture accompanying it (e.g., the sounds of a playground)
call sheet
a type of schedule given out periodically during a film’s production to let every department know when they are supposed to arrive and where they are to report
cameo
originally meaning “a small piece of artwork,” refers to a bit part (usually a brief, non-speaking or walk-on role that is uncredited or unbilled) or special screen appearance by a famous actor, director, or prominent person who would ordinarily not take such a small part; contrast to a bit part; also refers to a type of camera shot in which the subject is filmed against a black or neutral background. See Directors’ Cameos.
camera
the basic machine involved in film-making, from a hand-held version to portables, to heavy studio cameras; some of the parts of a camera include the aperture, lens, film magazine (for storage), viewfinder, etc; the positioning of the camera by the camera operator is known as the setup
camera angle
the point of view (POV) or perspective (including relative height or direction) chosen from which to photograph a subject. Various camera angles, compositions, or positions include: front, behind, side, top, high (looking down), low (looking up), straight-on or eye-level (standard or neutral angle), tilted (canted or oblique), or subjective, etc.; see alsoframing
camera movement
the use of the camera to obtain various camera angles and perspectives. (See motion picture camera shots below, including the pan, tilt, track, and zoom; also boom/craneshots, Steadicam, or hand-held)
camera operator
the individual who is responsible for operating the camera, under the direction of the film’s director and director of photography (or cinematography)
camp (or campy)
a type of comedy parody wherein conventional (and especially overused or clichéd) situations and plot devices are intentionally exaggerated to the point of absurdity to produce humor
can(“in the can”)
refers to the round metal/plastic container that holds or stores film (reels) for transport or for long-term storage; a film that has been completed is known colloquially as “in the can”;canned means pre-recorded; also see reel
candlelight (lighting)
refers to lighting that is provided by candlelight, to provide a warm hue or tone, and connote intimacy, romance, and harmony
capsule review
a short movie review
caption
the descriptive, printed line(s) of text that occasionally appears on the screen, usually at the bottom of the frame, to describe the time/place, or to translate a foreign word/phrase; different from closed-captioning (closed captions are all white uppercase (capital) letters encased in a black box that require a decoder or television with a decoder chip to be viewed) for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers; see also subtitles
caricature
a character appearing ridiculously out of proportion because of one physical, psychological or moral trait that has been grossly or broadly exaggerated; a caricature often portrays a character in an unrealistic, stereotypical fashion
cartoon
an animated film that is usually not of feature length; also seeanimation
cash cow
in movie terms, a definitely guaranteed, ‘can’t-miss’blockbuster film that promises to generate disproportionately tremendous profits due to its lucrative franchise (sequels, merchandising, spin-offs, etc.). See Greatest Film Franchises of All-Time.
cast
a collective term for all of the actors/performers (or talent) appearing in a particular film: usually broken down into two parts: the leads with speaking roles, and the seconds or supporting characters, background players or extras, and bit players
cast against type
an actor playing a role distinctly different from roles previously played
casting
the process of selecting and hiring actors to play the roles and characters in a film production, and be brought under contract; the lead roles are typically cast or selected by the director or a producer, and the minor or supporting roles and bit parts by a casting director; type-casting refers to an actor playing only roles similar to those he/she has played before
casting couch
refers to the illegal practice (mostly during the heyday of the studio system) when unknown young actors or actresses (starlets) exchanged sex (literally on an office couch) with acasting director or producer in order to acquire/land a role in a film
cast of thousands
an advertising claim, often used in big-screen historical epicsof the 1930s-60s, when literally 1,000s of extras were hired for crowd scenes, battle scenes, etc
catchphrase (film)
short phrases, expressions, or words that have become favored and/or popularized due to repeated use, often by film critics
catharsis
during a film’s climax, the audience may experience a purging or cleansing of emotional tension, providing relief or therapeutic restoration
cautionary tale
A literary term, referring to a narrative with a moral message warning of the consequences of certain actions, ideologies, character flaws, technologies or institutions, often with a downbeat ending; many slasher horror films are semi-cautionary tales about one of the consequences of sex or experimenting with the occult — death; see also satire,morality tale and nihilism
cel (or celluloid,animation cel)
refers to each of the thousands of hand-drawn sheets (of clear, transparent material, either celluloid or Mylar) representing a single animation frame to allow several layers of composition. Cels consist of character cels (containing only the foreground characters or objects - those things that move from frame to frame) and background cels, (static drawings of scenery that remain the same). The character cels are placed against the background cels and filmed or shot one frame (or picture) at a time to produce the effect of motion. Celluloid also refers to the thin strip of transparent plastic coating that forms the film’s highly-flammable, light-sensitive base layer (such as nitrate base or acetate base); also used as an adjective related to some aspect of cinema (e.g., “the celluloid hero”); the light-sensitive substance coating on one side of the film base is termed emulsion; celluloid is also a slang word for a movie
censorship
the process of determining what can or can not be viewed by the public or depicted by the motion picture industry; also refers to changes required of a movie by some person or body (other than the studios or film-makers, such as a national or regional film classification board); see also rating systemsand banned. See Sex in Cinema and Most Controversial Films of All-Time.
CGI
or Computer-Generated Imagery (or Images), a term referring to the use of 3D computer graphics and technology (digital computers and specialized software) in film-making to create filmed images, special effects and the illusion of motion; often used to cut down on the cost of hiring extras. SeeVisual/Special Effects.
change-over cue
the small dot, oval or mark on the top-right corner of a film frame that signaled to the projectionist to change over from one projector (or film reel) to another (about every 15-20 minutes); nowadays, most film theatres have only one projector - the reels are spliced together into one giant roll and fed into a single projector from a horizontal revolving turntable called a platter
character
the fictitious or real individual in a story, performed by an actor; also called players.
character actor
an actor who specializes in playing well-defined, stereotypical,archetypal, off-beat, humorous, or highly-recognizable, fictional roles of a particular physical, emotional, or behavioral type, in a supporting role; see also typecasting.
character color coding
refers to identifying a film’s character or persona with a particular color; changes in color often represent transformations, shifts, merges, or changes in persona
character study
a film that uses strong characterizations, interactions and the personalities of its characters to tell a story, with plot and narrative almost secondary to them
cheater cut
the footage put into the beginning of a serial episode to show what happened at the end of the previous episode
chemistry (or screen chemistry)
referring to performances between actors who are uncommonly suited and perfectly complementary to each other; performances that lack screen chemistry can sometimes be disastrous for a film; see also buddy film
chiaroscuro
literally, the combination of the two Italian words for “clear/bright” and “dark”; refers to a notable, contrasting use of light and shade in scenes; often achieved by using a spotlight; this lighting technique had its roots in German Expressionistic cinematography; aka high-contrast lighting or Rembrandt lighting; flat lighting or TV lighting (bright and flat lighting with no shadows) is its opposite
chick flicks’
refers to films popular with women, but also used in a derogatory sense to marginalize films with heavy, sappy emotion and numerous female characters; aka tearjerkers
child actor
technically, any actor under the age of 18; aka moppet
chopsocky
slang for a martial arts film
choreographer (andchoreography)
a person who plans, designs, organizes, sequences, and directs dancing, fighting, or other physical actions or movements in a film or stage production; a dancer is known as a hoofer.
cineaste
refers to a film/movie enthusiast or devotee; also used in the name of a leading film magazine
CinemaScope
the term commonly refers to widescreen processes oranamorphic techniques, that use different magnifications in the horizontal and the vertical to fill the screen; it is also the specific trademark name for 20th Century Fox’s commercially-successful widescreen process which uses an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 (originally it could be as wide as 2:66:1 - to compete with Cinerama and 3-D processes in the 1950s.
cinematic
relating to or suggestive of motion pictures; having the qualities of a film.
cinematographer (alsocinematography)
specifically refers to the art and technique of film photography, the capture of images, and lighting effects, or to the person expert in and responsible for capturing or recording-photographing images for a film, through the selection of visual recording devices, camera angles, film stock, lenses, framing, and arrangement of lighting; the chief cinematographer responsible for a movie is called the director of photography (or D.P.), or first cameraman; one of the earliest movie-picture machines, patented by the Lumiere brothers in 1895, was termed a Cinematographe.
cinema verité
a French word that literally means “true cinema” or “cinema truth”; a method or style of documentary movie-making with long takes, no narration and little or no directorial or editing control exerted over the finished product; usually made without actors, and often with a minimum of film equipment, a small film crew (camera and sound), impromptu interview techniques, and a hand-held camera and portable sound equipment; sometimes used to loosely refer to adocumentary-style film or minimalist cinema; popularized in the 1950s French New Wave movement; now widely used (often inappropriately) to refer to the popular, artsy trend of using hand-held camera techniques; also termed free cinema(UK) or direct cinema (UK)
Cinerama
a wide-screen filming process that first used three cameras and three projectors to achieve an encompassing view of the subject matter, and was projected on a curved screen of about 160 degrees; it was the first commercially-successful multiple-camera/multiple-screen process.
clapboard (clapper (board) or slate)
a small black or white board or slate with a hinged stick on top that displays identifying information for each shot in a movie, and is filmed at the beginning of a take. The board typically contains the working title of the movie, the names of the director, the editor, and the director of photography, the scene and take numbers, the date, and the time. On the top of the clapboard is a hinged wooden stick (called a clapstick or clapper) which is often clapped to provide audio/visual synchronization of the sound with the picture during editing;electronic clappers and synchronization are currently in use instead of the old-fashioned clapboard.
claymation
refers to the animation of models constructed of clay, putty, plasticine, or other moldable materials, often through stop-motion.
click
slang denoting a ‘hit’ film
cliffhanger
a film characterized by scenes of great tension, danger, adventure, suspense, or high drama, often climaxing at the end of a film, or at the end of a multi-part serial episode, where the plot ending and the fate of the protagonist(s) are left unresolved; the name was derived from the movie serials of the 1930’s where each week the hero (or heroine) was perilously left dangling from a cliff – with a ‘to-be-continued’ ending – to increase interest for the next episode (sequel).
climax
the highest point of anxiety or tension in a story or film in which the central character/protagonist faces, confronts, and deals with the consequence(s) of all his/her actions, or faces the antagonist in a climactic battle or final engagement; a crisis often leads to a climax; also called the film’s high point, zenith, apex, or crescendo; a climax may be followed by an anti-climax or denouement
clip
see film clip
close-up
CU
a shot taken from a close distance in which the scale of the object is magnified, appears relatively large and fills the entire frame to focus attention and emphasize its importance; i.e., a person’s head from the shoulders or neck up is a commonly-filmed close-up; atight shot makes the subject fill almost the entire frame; alsoextreme close-up (ECU or XCU) is a shot of a part of a character (e.g., face, head, hands) to emphasize detail; also known as detail shot or close on; contrast to long-shot (LS)
(the) Coast
slang meaning either Hollywood or Los Angeles, both entertainment centers
coda
literally, means “tail” in Italian, and usually refers to musical selections; in film, it refers to the epilogue, ending or last section of a film (often wordless), that provides closure, a conclusion, or a summary of the preceding storyline
coin
a slang term for money or financing
color(film)
a phenomenon of light or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects caused by differing qualities of the light reflected or emitted; contrast to black and white.
colorization
the film-altering process whereby a black and white film is digitally changed to include color; popularized but controversial in the 1980s.
comedian(comedienne)
an actor who specializes in genre films that are designed to elicit laughter from audiences; also known as a comic
comedy (film)
a film with elicits laughter or humor by celebrating or showing the eternal ironies of human existence; types include screwball,dark/black, farce, slapstick, dead-pan, parody, romantic comedy, etc.
comic relief
a humorous or farcical interlude in a dramatic film, usually provided by a buffoonish character, intended to relieve the dramatic, built-up tension or heighten the emotional impact by means of contrast
coming-of-age (film)
a film associated with difficult teen rites of passage (from adolescence to adulthood), the onset of puberty, the loss of naive innocence and childhood dreams, the experience of growing up, achieving sexual identity, etc.; aka teen films
command performance
a great performance in a film by an actor, sometimes referring to the one before his or her death; it originally referred to a special performance that was requested by a sovereign, royal, head of state, or other important person
commentary
an objective opinion or description of characters or events occurring in the film, presented from an omniscient point of view by a commentator; the commentator’s voice comes from off-camera, and is presented on the soundtrack as a voice-over; also refers to one of the added features on various DVDs in which a cast member, director, film critic, or film historian ‘comments’ on the film in some way
compilation film
a film made up of shots, scenes, or sequences from other films
complication
a plot event that complicates or tightens the tension of a film
composer
the musician who creates (writes or adapts) the film’s musicalscore; contrast to a conductor (who directs the orchestra’s performance of the score), or a lyricist (who writes a song’s words)
composition
refers to the arrangement of different elements (i.e., colors, shapes, figures, lines, movement, and lighting) within a frame and in a scene
concert film
rock or comedy
a film that records the live concert performance of musician(s), a band/group, or stand-up comic(s); concert films are often edited over the course of many performances and/or staged for the camera with multiple set-ups, and can be considered pseudo-documentaries; a rock concert is aka rockumentary
continuity
editing or cutting
the system of editing that developed in the early 20th century to provide a continuous and clear movement of events/images in a film; refers to the final edited structure of a completed film, with the events or scenes/sequences arranged as if they had occurred continuously, when, in fact, they were shot out of sequence; continuity also refers to the degree to which a film is self-consistent without errors, jump cuts, or mis-matched shots and details; acontinuity cut refers to a editing cut that takes the viewer seamlessly, unobtrusively, and logically from one sequence or scene to another, to propel the narrative along; a blooper or flub is a continuity error
contract player
an actor (both stars and bit players) who has a contractual commitment or agreement to a studio/producer/company
contrast
refers to the difference between light and shadow, or between maximum and minimum amounts of light, in a particular film image; can be either high contrast (with a sharp delineation between the bright and dark areas) or its opposite low contrast; color can also be contrasted; see also chiaroscuro
conventions
the expected elements in a type of film, without question, thought, or judgment
Coogan’s Law
refers to landmark legislation in the late 30s designed to protect a child actor’s earnings, by depositing some of the minor’s earnings in court-administered trust funds that the child receives when he/she reaches the age of majority; named after child actor Jackie Coogan
costume
(or wardrobe) and costume design
refers to the garments or clothing worn by actors/performers in a film; a costume (or wardrobe) designer researches, designs, and selects the costumes to be appropriate to the film’s time period, the characters, their location, and their occupations, whereas thecostumer (or stylist) is responsible for acquiring, selecting, manufacturing, and/or handling the clothing and accessories; acostume drama is a film set in a particular historical time period, often with elaborate costuming
courtroom drama
a drama and/or mystery story, in which the main protagonist is a lawyer, and a majority of the drama and dramatic action takes place in a courtroom setting; the plot revolves around the preparation of a trial and its result of guilt or innocence
coverage
refers to all the shots, including closeups and reverse angles, that a director takes in addition to the master shot, to make up the final product; to have proper coverage means having all the proper scenes, angles, lightings, close-ups, and directions
crane shot
a camera shot taken from a large camera dolly or electronic device (an apparatus, such as a crane), resembling a extendable mechanical arm (or boom), that can raise the camera up in the air above the ground 20 feet or more; the crane allows the camera to fluidly move in virtually any direction (with vertical and horizontal movement), providing shifts in levels and angles; crane shots usually provide some kind of overhead view of a scene
credits
in general, this term refers to the text appearing on screen - composed of a list of technical personnel, cast, and production crew of a film; specifically, it refers to the list of names and functions of persons and corporations contributing and responsible for the artistic or intellectual content of a film, such as: “Story by…”, “Screenplay by…”, “Photography by…”, etc.; sometimes distinguished from the cast (the performers in front of the camera); see also front (or opening) credits, end (or closing) credits, or(beginning or end) titles.
crew
refers to those involved in the technical production of a film who are not actual performers
crisis
the period of highest tension just before the climax of a film (there can be more than one); the point at which events reach their highest level of tension
critic (or film critic,film reviewer)
an individual who writes and/or publishes a review of a film from either an artistic or entertainment point of view. Film reviews often analyze and discuss a film’s details, its content and characters, a critique of the performances, camera work, directing, editing, production, and script; film critics are usually more philosophical and theoretical than film reviewers or commentators; film criticismrefers to the analysis of the narrative, historical and stylistic characteristics of film; ‘critics’ is sometimes abbreviated as crix.
cross-cutting
the editing technique of alternating, interweaving, or interspersing one narrative action (scene, sequence, or event) with another - usually in different locations or places, thus combining the two; this editing method suggests parallel action (that takes place simultaneously); often used to dramatically build tension and suspense in chase scenes, or to compare two different scenes; also known as inter-cutting or parallel editing.
cross-over and cross-over appeal
a film or production that is made for one audience, but may easily ‘cross-over’ to another unexpected audience; also refers to a film, actor, or production that appeals to different demographic groups or age groups and can move between two or more distinct franchises; see also hybrid
crowd shot
a shot or image of a large group of people (often extras) in a film;CGI is now often used to film large crowd shots, to avoid huge costs associated with hiring extras
cue
a signal or sign for an actor to begin performing, from either another performer, from the director, or from within the script; a cue is often the last word of one character’s line(s) of dialogue, when another performer is expected to ‘pick up their cue’ to speak.
cue cards
a device (cards, scrolling screen, teleprompter, or other mechanism) printed with dialogue provided to help an actor recite his/her lines; an electronic cue card is called a (tele)-prompter; derogatively calledidiot cards or idiot sheets.
cult film(s)
usually a non-mainstream film that attracts a small, but loyally-obsessed group of fans, and remains popular and worshipped over many years; cult films have limited but special appeal, and often have unusual or subversive elements or subject matter; they are often replayed for repeat viewings and audience participation (and group identification) as midnight movies; not to be confused with B-films (not all cult films are B-films)
cut(or cutting)
an abrupt or sudden change or jump in camera angle, location, placement, or time, from one shot to another; consists of a transition from one scene to another (a visual cut) or from one soundtrack to another (a sound cut); cutting refers to the selection, splicing and assembly by the film editor of the various shots or sequences for a reel of film, and the process of shortening a scene; also refers to the instructional word ‘cut’ said at the end of a take by the director to stop the action in front of the camera; cut to refers to the point at which one shot or scene is changed immediately to another; also refers to a complete edited version of a film (e.g., rough cut); also see director’s cut; various types of cuts include invisible cut,smooth cut, jump cut (an abrupt cut from one scene or shot to the next), shock cut (the abrupt replacement of one image by another), etc.