Film Terminology

adjective referring to or containing indirect references

• The author's writing style is often allusive, requiring readers to make connections to previous works.
• I didn't understand the allusive reference in the movie until someone explained it to me.
• The lyrics of the song are so allusive, it's like a puzzle trying to figure out what they mean.
• Her allusive remarks about the situation hinted at a deeper meaning that we couldn't quite grasp.

noun a literary term used to describe a sudden shift in tone from the lofty or serious to the trivial or mundane, often resulting in a comedic or absurd effect

• The sudden shift from high drama to low comedy in the play created a sense of bathos.
• The movie's attempt at emotional depth ended up feeling more like bathos.
• The show's finale was so cheesy, it was practically bathos.
• The politician's attempt to appear relatable only resulted in bathos and insincerity.

noun a small character role in a movie or play, typically performed by a well-known actor

verb to make a brief appearance or performance

adjective relating to or characteristic of a cameo

• The famous actress made a brief cameo in the new movie.
• Did you see that actor's cameo in the latest film?
• The singer had a cool cameo in the music video.
• The artist's signature style is like a cameo appearance in the art world.

noun a place where movies are shown on a big screen for the public

adjective relating to the film industry or movies

• The cinema is a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages.
• Let's catch a movie at the cinema this weekend.
• I'm down to hit up the cinema for a flick tonight.
• His mind was like a cinema, constantly playing scenes from the past.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, indicating manner, time, place, or degree

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• As the lights dimmed, the scene began to fade in on the stage.
• When the movie started, the opening credits slowly faded in.
• The music video fades in with a cool visual effect.
• Her memory of that day slowly fades in, becoming clearer as time passes.

noun a gradual disappearance or reduction in brightness or volume, especially at the end of a scene or piece of music

verb to gradually disappear or decrease in brightness or volume, especially at the end of a scene or piece of music

• As the music reached its final crescendo, it began to fade out slowly.
• I love how the movie ends with the screen slowly fading out.
• The party was so lit, I didn't even realize the music had faded out.
• Her memory of that day started to fade out like an old photograph.

noun the establishment or foundation of an organization or institution

• The inception of the new policy began with a thorough analysis of the current situation.
• The band's inception happened when the members met at a local music festival.
• The app has been popular since its inception, it's really lit!
• The inception of her idea sparked a wave of creativity throughout the team.

noun a short period of time between events or activities

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• The interlude between the second and third act allowed for a brief break in the performance.
• Let's take an interlude and grab a snack before continuing our hike.
• We should sneak in an interlude during class and check our phones.
• The calm before the storm served as an interlude in the chaos of the day.

noun a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result

• The irony of the situation is that the man who never wanted children ended up being the best father.
• It's ironic how the weather forecast said it would be sunny all day, but it's been raining non-stop.
• The irony of the whole thing is that she said she hated drama, but she's always in the middle of it.
• The irony of life is that sometimes the people who claim to care the most are the ones who hurt you the most.

adjective having a lively, cheerful, and self-confident manner

• The gentleman walked with a jaunty stride as he entered the ballroom.
• She always wears that jaunty hat when she goes out for a walk.
• He's got a jaunty attitude about everything, always looking on the bright side.
• The music had a jaunty beat that made everyone want to get up and dance.

noun a bet or attempt that has a low probability of success

adjective having little chance of success

• The chances of success seemed like a long shot given the current circumstances.
• I know it's a long shot, but I'm still hoping for the best.
• It's a real long shot, but I'm gonna give it a try anyway.
• Taking that job offer was a long shot, but I'm glad I took the chance.

noun a male actor who is especially popular as a romantic or heroic leading man in movies shown in the afternoon or early evening

• The matinee idol received critical acclaim for his performance in the latest Shakespearean play.
• The matinee idol is so dreamy, all the girls have a crush on him.
• That matinee idol is a total heartthrob, I can't get enough of him.
• In the world of politics, he was seen as the matinee idol of the party, always charming and charismatic on stage.

noun a movie or film

• The motion picture industry is a major contributor to the economy.
• Let's go catch a motion picture at the theater.
• I love watching flicks, especially action-packed motion pictures.
• Life is like a motion picture, full of twists and turns.

verb A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. In this case, 'moved' is a verb indicating an action of changing position or location.

• The company decided to moved its headquarters to a more centralized location.
• I heard Sarah moved to a new apartment last weekend.
• Dude, I can't believe she moved on so quickly after the breakup.
• After the loss, he slowly moved on and started to heal.

noun a form of entertainment that tells a story through moving images

adjective describing something related to or characteristic of movies

• The movie we watched last night was a captivating masterpiece of cinematography.
• Hey, do you want to catch a movie later?
• That movie was so lit, I can't wait to see it again!
• Life is like a movie, with different scenes and characters playing their roles.

noun a sequence of images that create the illusion of motion when shown in rapid succession

• The moving picture industry has seen significant advancements in technology over the years.
• I love watching moving pictures on the big screen.
• Let's catch a flick, I'm in the mood for some moving pictures.
• His words painted a vivid moving picture of the events that transpired.

noun a fascinating aura or aura of mystery, awe, and power surrounding someone or something

• The actress carried herself with an air of mystique that captivated the audience.
• There's something about her that has a mysterious mystique.
• That new club has a real mystique about it, you have to check it out.
• The old abandoned mansion had a mystique that drew in urban explorers looking for adventure.

noun a motion picture or movie

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• The production company was known for creating high-quality photoplays in the early 20th century.
• Let's watch a classic photoplay tonight, it's supposed to be really good.
• I heard that new photoplay is a real banger, we should check it out.
• His life felt like a photoplay, full of dramatic twists and turns.

noun a separate introductory section of a literary or musical work

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• The prologue of the play set the stage for the rest of the story.
• I always skip the prologue of books and go straight to chapter one.
• The prologue of the movie was a total snoozefest.
• The prologue of their relationship was filled with uncertainty and doubt.

noun a new version of a previously made film or song

verb to make again or differently

• The film studio announced plans for a remake of the classic movie.
• They're planning to do a remake of that old movie.
• They're gonna redo that movie from way back when.
• Sometimes it feels like life is giving us a remake of the same old story.

noun the act of making something again or anew

verb to make again or anew

• The director is remaking a classic film from the 1950s.
• They're remaking that old movie with a new cast.
• They're gonna redo that movie with a fresh twist.
• She is remaking her life after a major setback.

noun a person who writes screenplays for movies or television

• The screenwriter meticulously crafted the dialogue for the film.
• The screenwriter is working on a new script for a movie.
• That screenwriter is a total script wizard!
• The screenwriter painted a vivid picture with their words.

noun a musical composition for six voices or instruments

• The classical music ensemble performed a beautiful piece with a sextet of musicians.
• We're meeting up with our sextet of friends for dinner tonight.
• The sextet of players totally killed it on the court during the game.
• The sextet of colors in the sunset painted a breathtaking scene in the sky.

noun a recorded collection of music, dialogue, and sound effects that accompanies a movie, television show, or video game

• The sound track for the movie was composed by a renowned musician.
• I love the sound track of that movie, it's so catchy!
• The sound track of the game is lit, I can't stop listening to it.
• The sound track of our lives is constantly changing, just like a movie score.

noun a secondary or subordinate title of a literary work, movie, or other composition

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• The subtitle of the book provides additional information about its content.
• I always turn on subtitles when watching movies so I don't miss anything.
• I can't watch this show without subtitles, I can't understand a word they're saying.
• The subtitle of his actions was clear - he was in love with her.

noun a preview or advertisement for a movie or TV show

• The movie studio released the official trailer for their upcoming film.
• Did you see the trailer for that new movie yet?
• The trailer for the movie looks lit!
• The trailer of the book gave a glimpse into its exciting storyline.

verb past participle of the verb 'unmake', meaning to undo or reverse the process of making something

adjective not made or created; not put together or assembled

• The bed remained unmade despite the housekeeper's repeated reminders.
• I left my room unmade this morning, I'll tidy it up later.
• My mom always nags me about leaving my bed unmade.
• His unmade promises left her feeling disappointed and betrayed.

noun A person who is fond of movies and cinema, often to an excessive or obsessive degree

• The cinephile spent hours analyzing the cinematography of classic films.
• My friend is a huge cinephile and has seen every movie in the theater.
• I'm such a cinephile, I can't get enough of watching movies all day.
• Being a cinephile is like having a library of films in your mind.

noun a diegetic element or aspect in a film or movie

adjective relating to or being part of a film or movie's narrative world; existing within the fictional world of a story

• The diegetic sound in the film helped to create a realistic atmosphere for the audience.
• I love how the diegetic music in the game adds to the overall experience.
• The diegetic dialogue in that show was so relatable.
• The author's use of diegetic elements in the novel really brought the story to life.

noun a dreamlike environment or hallucinatory scene

• The artist painted a beautiful dreamscape filled with vibrant colors and surreal imagery.
• I love getting lost in a dreamscape when I daydream during class.
• That movie was a total dreamscape - I couldn't tell what was real and what was fantasy!
• As she closed her eyes, she entered a dreamscape where anything was possible.

adjective relating to or characterized by camp; deliberately exaggerated and theatrical in style, typically for humorous effect

• The director intentionally added campy elements to the play to create a sense of nostalgia.
• The movie was so campy, but we couldn't help but laugh at the cheesy dialogue.
• That horror movie was super campy, like in a good way.
• Her over-the-top outfit was so campy, it was like she stepped out of a retro fashion magazine.