Film

production

The phase of filmmaking in which the movie is physically shot and the creative work of recording images and sound takes place.

credits

The list of cast and crew members who contributed to a film, usually shown at the beginning or end of the movie.

preproduction

The planning stage of filmmaking in which the script is finalized, financing is arranged, locations are found, and the shoot is organized before cameras roll.

narrative

The sequence of events, characters, and plot that make up the story a film tells.

screenwriter

The writer who creates or adapts the script, including dialogue, actions, and scene descriptions for a film.

treatment

A prose summary of a film’s story, characters, and key scenes used to pitch or develop a project before a full script is written.

screenplay

A complete written script for a film, including dialogue, actions, and scene directions formatted for production.

producer

The person responsible for overseeing a film’s financing, organization, and overall production from development through completion.

studio system

A historical mode of film production in which major studios controlled production, distribution, and exhibition under long-term contracts.

postproduction

The stage after filming when footage is edited, sound is designed and mixed, visual effects are added, and the film is completed.

executive producer

A high-level producer who secures financing or rights and oversees the project at a broad level rather than day-to-day operations.

line producer

The producer who manages the film’s budget and daily operations during the shoot, ensuring production stays on schedule and on cost.

unit production manager

The manager who handles logistics, scheduling, and administration for a specific film unit during production.

above-the-line expenses

Budget costs related to key creative personnel such as writers, directors, producers, and principal actors.

below-the-line expenses

Budget costs related to crew, sets, equipment, locations, and other technical aspects of production.

casting director

The specialist who finds and auditions actors, recommending choices for each role to the director and producers.

agent

A representative who negotiates deals and finds work for actors, writers, directors, and other talent.

package-unit approach

A production model in which a film is assembled as a package of script, director, and stars before being sold to a studio or financier.

location scout

The person who finds and evaluates real-world places that can be used as shooting locations for a film.

production designer

The head of the visual design of a film’s sets, locations, props, and overall look.

art director

A key member of the art department who implements the production designer’s vision and oversees the construction and dressing of sets.

set decorator

The crew member who selects and arranges furniture, decor, and small objects that dress the set.

costume designer

The designer who creates or selects clothing and accessories that define characters’ looks and support the story.

principal photography

The main period of shooting during which the majority of a film’s scenes with the principal cast are filmed.

film shoot

The actual period of time when cast and crew are on set recording footage for a film.

director

The chief creative decision-maker on a film who guides the performances, camera work, and overall storytelling.

auteur

A director or filmmaker whose personal style and thematic interests are so strong that they are seen as the film’s primary author.

take

One recorded attempt of a particular shot during filming.

cinematographer

The director of photography who is responsible for camera work, lighting, and the visual look of the film’s images.

camera operator

The crew member who physically operates the camera under the cinematographer’s direction.

production sound mixer

The person who records and balances dialogue and location sound on set during filming.

grip

A crew member who works with camera and lighting support equipment such as dollies, rigs, and stands.

dailies

Rough, unedited footage viewed soon after shooting to check performance, focus, and coverage.

editing

The process of selecting, arranging, and joining shots to create the finished film’s rhythm, structure, and meaning.

sound editing

The process of selecting, shaping, and assembling dialogue, effects, and ambience for the film’s soundtrack.

sound mixing

The process of balancing and combining dialogue, effects, and music into the final audio track.

special effects

Practical or in-camera techniques that create illusions on set, such as miniatures, pyrotechnics, or makeup effects.

visual effects

Digital or photographic processes done mostly in postproduction to create or alter images that would be difficult or impossible to film in reality.

green-screen technology

A technique that films actors against a green background so digital environments can replace the green in postproduction.

motion-capture technology

A method of recording an actor’s movement and translating it into a digital character or object in a computer-generated environment.

computer-generated imagery (CGI)

Digitally created images or elements that are combined with live-action footage or used to create fully animated scenes.

distribution

The business process of getting a finished film from producers to theaters, streaming services, or other outlets so audiences can see it.

video on demand (VOD)

A distribution method in which viewers select and watch films at home via digital rental, purchase, or subscription services.

distributor

The company that acquires film rights and manages how, where, and when a movie is released to the public.

feature film

A narrative film of standard commercial length, typically around 80–180 minutes, intended for theatrical or major platform release.

block booking

An old studio practice in which theaters were required to book less desirable films in a bundle with major releases.

premiere

The first official public screening of a film, often held as a special event with cast and crew present.

first-run theaters

Theaters that show new releases during their initial theatrical run, before films move to second-run venues or home media.

wide release

A strategy in which a film opens on a large number of screens across many regions at the same time.

saturation booking

An extreme form of wide release where a film is opened on as many screens as possible in a short time.

limited release

A release pattern in which a film opens in a small number of theaters, often in select cities or art houses.

platforming

A strategy where a film opens in a few theaters and gradually expands to more venues if it performs well.

exclusive release

A release in which a film is shown only at one or a very small number of theaters, often for prestige or awards.

ancillary markets

Additional revenue channels for a film beyond theaters, such as streaming, television, home video, and merchandising.

piracy

The unauthorized copying, distribution, or online sharing of films without permission or payment.

theatrical release window

The period during which a film is available only in theaters before moving to other platforms.

day-and-date release

A strategy where a film is released in theaters and on a home or digital platform on the same date.

blockbuster

A high-budget film designed for mass appeal that earns very large box-office revenues.

art film

A film that emphasizes personal style, artistic experimentation, or serious themes rather than broad commercial entertainment.

marketing

The planning and execution of advertising, publicity, and branding efforts to promote a film to potential audiences.

promotion

Specific activities such as interviews, posters, social media, and contests used to generate interest in a film.

star system

An industry practice that markets films largely around the popularity and persona of famous actors.

trailer

A short preview that uses selected scenes and sound from a film to advertise it before release.

media convergence

The merging of film, television, internet, and other media platforms that changes how movies are produced, distributed, and consumed.

viral marketing

A promotional strategy that encourages audiences to share content so publicity spreads quickly through social networks.

exhibition

The branch of the film industry that involves showing movies to audiences in theaters or other venues.

reception

The way critics and audiences respond to and interpret a film when it is released or rediscovered.

nickelodeon

Early small storefront theaters in the United States that charged about a nickel for admission in the early 1900s.

movie palaces

Large, ornate theaters built in the early twentieth century to provide a luxurious setting for watching films.

multiplex

A theater complex with multiple screens that can show several different movies at the same time.

historiography

The study of how film history is written, including methods, sources, and interpretive approaches.

periodization

The practice of dividing film history into distinct periods or eras based on style, technology, or industry changes.

canon

A group of films widely considered especially important, influential, or exemplary in film history and criticism.

early cinema

The first decades of film history, roughly before World War I, when basic film techniques and storytelling were being developed.

German expressionist cinema

A 1920s German film movement known for stylized sets, dramatic lighting, and themes of madness, fear, and inner emotion.

French impressionist cinema

A 1920s French movement that experimented with visual techniques to convey subjectivity, mood, and psychological states.

blaxploitation

A cycle of 1970s films featuring Black protagonists in urban settings, mixing action and style while often criticized for stereotypes.

Italian neorealism

A post–World War II Italian film movement that used location shooting, nonprofessional actors, and stories about everyday hardship.

French New Wave

A late 1950s and 1960s French movement where young directors used low budgets, location shooting, and inventive editing to challenge classical style.

auteur theory

A critical idea that sees the director as the main author of a film, whose personal style and themes recur across their work.

British New Wave

A late 1950s and 1960s British movement focused on working-class life and social realism, often called “kitchen sink” cinema.

Cinema Novo

A Brazilian film movement from the 1960s and 1970s that combined political critique with innovative, often low-budget filmmaking.

anime

A style of Japanese animation characterized by distinct visual designs and a wide range of genres and audiences.

Bollywood

The popular Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India, known for musical numbers, melodrama, and star-driven productions.

Third Cinema

A politically engaged film movement from Latin America and other regions that opposed both Hollywood and European art cinema.

New German Cinema

A 1960s–1980s German movement in which directors made personal, often politically critical films after the collapse of the old studio system.

Nollywood

The Nigerian film industry, known for high-volume, relatively low-budget production aimed at African and global audiences.

mise-en-scène

Everything placed in front of the camera—settings, props, lighting, costumes, and actors’ movement that shapes the look of a shot.

soundstage

A large, soundproof studio space designed for building sets and controlling lighting and sound during filming.

setting

The time and place in which the film’s story occurs, including physical environment and historical context.

set

A constructed or arranged environment where scenes are filmed, either on a soundstage or on location.

realism

A style that aims to present the world and characters in a believable, everyday manner with minimal stylization.

prop

Any object used on screen by actors or placed in the set to support the story or define the environment.

lighting

The way light and shadow are used in a film to illuminate subjects, shape mood, and guide attention.

natural lighting

Lighting that uses available sources such as daylight with minimal artificial enhancement.

set lighting

Artificial lighting arranged on a set to achieve a specific look and proper exposure for the camera.