Short Film Production and Literary Analysis Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering literary distinctions, short film script elements, visual exposition, lighting/mood choices, stream of consciousness, shooting schedules, and publishing best practices.

Historical Context

The background concerning the period and events surrounding a work, distinct from biographical context which concerns the author's life.

Biographical Context

The aspects of an author's life relevant to a work, distinguished from historical context which concerns broader historical periods and events.

Sociocultural Context

The background concerning society and culture, as opposed to psychological context which concerns a character's mind and emotions.

Psychological Context

The background concerning a character's internal mind and emotions, as opposed to sociocultural context which deals with society and culture.

Co-text

The surrounding language directly within a text, distinguished from historical context which relates to time-period background.

In Medias Res

A narrative technique of beginning a story in the middle of action, as opposed to a flashback which presents an earlier event.

Flashback

A narrative technique that presents an earlier event, contrasted with in medias res which begins in the middle of the action.

Mood

The overall feeling created in the reader, distinct from tone which reflects the speaker's or author's attitude.

Tone

The speaker's or author's attitude toward the subject, distinguished from mood which is the feeling evoked in the reader.

Diction

The choice of words used in speech or writing, as opposed to meter which is patterned rhythm.

Meter

The patterned rhythm of language in a text, distinct from diction which refers to word choice.

Cohesion

The connection among ideas within a text, often supported by transitions.

Visual Exposition

Communicating story information and character emotion through filmable visual evidence and observable details rather than internal explanation.

Internal Explanation

Telling what cannot be seen or heard, which weak film scripts rely on instead of observable visual action.

Conflict vs. Society

A type of narrative conflict involving customs, institutions, laws, or expectations, distinct from conflict vs. character.

Conflict vs. Character

A type of narrative conflict involving a specific opposing person, as opposed to conflict vs. society.

Ethical Framing

A depiction approach that preserves a person's dignity and agency, contrasted with pity-based framing which reduces a person to a perceived weakness.

Pity-Based Framing

A depiction approach that reduces a person to a perceived weakness, distinct from ethical framing.

Eerie Tone (Film Production)

A film tone achieved through choices such as deep shadows, limited visibility, unusual sound, and an empty or decaying setting.

Isolated Tone (Film Production)

A film tone created using wide empty spaces, few people, physical distance between characters, and muted sound.

Secretive Tone (Film Production)

A film tone conveyed through partially hidden faces, narrow light sources, obstructed views, and an enclosed location.

Warm and Welcoming Tone (Film Production)

A film tone established through soft light, warm colors, open composition, and gentle music.

Energetic and Celebratory Tone (Film Production)

A film tone created through bright colors, movement, lively music, and high-key lighting.

Stream of Consciousness (Film)

The representation of the flow of a character's thoughts, memories, sensations, and associations using techniques like fragmented voice-overs, overlapping dialogue, rapid visual flashes, disjointed editing, repeated images, abrupt sound changes, or subjective camera effects.

Digital Film Publication Checklist

The pre-publication review process verifying permissions, privacy, credits, music rights, accessibility features such as captions, and respectful representation of participants.

Efficient Shooting Schedule

The strategy of grouping film scenes by location, availability, cast, lighting, and set requirements rather than story order to save time and reduce equipment relocation.

Short-Film Script

A blueprint for audiovisual production that communicates what the audience can see and hear so crew members can convert written words into film.

Slugline (Scene Heading)

A script element identifying location type (EXT. or INT.), specific location, and time of day (such as DAY or NIGHT).

EXT.

An abbreviation in a scene heading standing for exterior or outdoors.

INT.

An abbreviation in a scene heading standing for interior or indoors.

Parenthetical (Screenplay)

A brief delivery cue placed below a character's capitalized name in a screenplay to guide how dialogue is spoken.