GCSE Film Studies Glossary

Vocabulary flashcards for GCSE Film Studies glossary.

Aesthetics

The specific ‘look’ of the film; the film’s style.

Auteur

From the French ‘author’. A director who has control over the style of the film.

Cinematography

Aspects of camera angles, distance and movement; also a consideration of colour, lighting and texture of the footage.

Context

When, where, how, and why the film is set; the time, place and circumstances.

Generic conventions

Methods, ingredients, things necessary for the style/category of film.

Diegetic sound

Sound that is part of the film world (e.g., car horns, birds singing).

Non-diegetic sound

Sound added in post-production to create a certain atmosphere (e.g., sound FX to increase fear, music to underscore emotion).

Genre

The style or category of the film.

Iconography

The images or symbols associated with a certain subject.

Indie/independent

Film that is independent of the constraints of mainstream Hollywood; often characterised by low budgets and inexperienced directors.

Key lighting (high)

Lighting design to create different light/dark ratios; bright with little shadow.

Key lighting (low)

Lighting design to create different light/dark ratios; used to specifically create shadow and contrast.

Mainstream

Popular, conventional, and/or part of a major film studio system.

Mise-en-scène

Literally, ‘what is in the frame’: setting, costume & props, colour, lighting, body language, positioning within the frame all come together to create meaning.

Motif

A dominant theme or recurring idea.

Plot

Different to story, it is the narrative order that the story is told in.

Representation

The way that people, places and events are constructed.

Screenplay

Written by the screen writer, this document tells the story and will contain no camera direction.

Story

The ideas & events of the narrative whole.

Shooting script

Written by the director & cinematographer (not the screen writer), this script focuses on planning the camera shots & other practical elements that will bring the screenplay to life.

Spectator

An individual member of the audience; the experience will be individual according to a range of factors.