Cinema Vocab - Who’s Who?

Critical Viewing: Mr. Bengston Cinema Vocabulary

Key Film Industry Roles

• Director:

  • The most influential creator of the film, responsible for determining all aspects of filmmaking.

• 2nd Unit Director:

  • Oversees a film's secondary crew and a second camera unit that shoots scenes separately from the main unit during principal photography.

  • Works under the film’s main director, often with no involvement in the main crew.

• Executive Producer:

  • Responsible for the film's financing and for arranging production elements such as stars, screenwriters, etc.

• Associate Producer:

  • A catch-all title, ranging from an honorary role to an actual aide to the executive producer; often a lower-level executive.

• Editor:

  • A technical expert who closely collaborates with the director to assemble the final print of the film from multiple shots and soundtracks.

• Composer:

  • Musician who creates or adapts the film's musical score; differs from a conductor and a lyricist, who directs performances and writes song lyrics, respectively.

• Art Director:

  • Expert in architecture and design, responsible for the film’s décor and set construction.

• Casting Director:

  • Responsible for interviewing and recruiting actors for the film project.

• Cinematographer:

  • Expert in photography, lighting, film stock, and camera movement, also called the director of photography.

• Camera Operator:

  • Skilled technician responsible for operating the camera's focus and movement as directed by the director.

• Mixer:

  • Expert in sound and microphone placement to achieve optimal on-set sound recording.

• Boom Man:

  • Sound crew technician responsible for handling the microphone boom.

• Gaffer:

  • The chief electrician on the set, achieving the desired effects as designed by the cinematographer; assisted by a "best boy."

• Key Grip:

  • Crew member responsible for setting up dolly tracks, camera cranes, erecting scaffolding, and moving props/scenery; assisted by a "best boy grip."

• Stunt Person:

  • Highly trained substitute who replaces actors in dangerous situations.

• Movie Mogul:

  • An important executive in the film industry.

Film Industry Terminology

• Leading Man/Woman:

  • An actor who plays the principal role in a film, typically an “A-list” movie star with the ability to choose roles.

• Box-Office Poison:

  • A term of contempt for movie stars who have lost popularity, leading to financial disasters with subsequent films.

• Cameo Role:

  • A brief walkthrough role featuring a surprising, high-profile personality.

• Cast Against Type:

  • A popular actor appearing in an atypical role, which can yield either refreshing or disastrous results.

• Chew Up the Scenery:

  • Refers to self-indulgent hamming or overacting by a famous actor.

• Paparazzi:

  • An Italian term for pushy photographers who stalk celebrities in their private lives.

• Credits:

  • Titles at the beginning or end of a film listing the creative talents involved in production.

• MPAA:

  • Acronym for Motion Picture Association of America, which represents the interests of major motion picture studios and provides a film rating system.