© Copyright 1991, 1999 Blake Harris. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
GLOSSARY
Action: Speaking generally, the connected series of
events forming a screenplay. Speaking more
specifically: Any visible happening that has its
purpose in plot development, regardless of whether
that happening includes people or not.
Adaptation: A stage play, short story or novel which
has been restructured to meet the requirements of
the screen.
Antagonist: The individual or factors which oppose the
protagonist and bring about the conflict in a drama.
(See protagonist.)
Anti-climax: A secondary climax following the real one.
(It has no place in a well constructed story.)
Beginning: The point in the story where the film must
start. Prior action can be given the audience in
exposition.
Business: A definite bit of action: "Business of
climbing a ladder" would indicate that a character
referred to would climb a ladder at a point thus
designated in the script.
Cause and effect: The principle by which all the action
of a screenplay is linked up with what has preceded
and with what follows. Every cause must have its
effect, and every effect must have its cause.
Causes produce effects, effects are the results of
causes.
Characteristics: The salient traits of character; the
predominate or most readily distinguishable traits
of character.
Characterization: The process of delineating or
depicting the individuality of the characters in a
screenplay.
Characters: The various fictitious or real persons who
take part in a screenplay.
Cinderella Story: The type of story in which the
heroine after much suffering as a household drudge
eventually wins happiness and the man she loves.
Climax: The highest point of interest and attention,
the final confrontation in the conflict or struggle
after which the conflict is resolved. The
conclusive point toward which all the action has
been directed; the high water mark of the plot.
Close Shot: See Close Up.
Close-up: Shot taken with the camera very close to the
subject, revealing a detail only; in relation to a
human subject, a shot of the face only, the hands
only, etc. Abbr. C.U.
Conflict: Two or more forces coming into opposition
physically, mentally or emotionally; a hostile
contest or encounter; competition of opposing action
of incompatibles. Used in the same sense as
struggle. Conflict is the indispensable element of
drama.
Continuity Shot: Shot inserted to preserve the
continuity for the audience.
Coward-lead: The type of hero, or leading man, who in
the earlier sequence gives evidence of cowardice.
Crisis: A point in the plot requiring action or
decision to resolve or to fail to resolve a dramatic
SITUATION, causing a realignment of forces or some
change in the protagonist.
Cross-cut: To intermingle the shots of two or more
scenes in the course of editing so that fragments of
each scene will be presented to the spectator's
attention alternately. Same as INTERCUT.
Dialogue: Conversation between two or more people that
forwards the plot and which seems real.
Daily Rushes: The scenes shot in any one day which are
viewed by the production staff as soon as developed
and printed. There is a "rush" to see these scenes
so that retakes can be made, if necessary.
Director: The one in charge of the actual making of the
picture.
Dissolve: Gradual merging of the end of one shot into
the beginning of the next, produced by the
superimposition of a fade-out onto a fade-in of
equal length.
Distributor: An company engaged in the business of
distributing motion pictures to the exhibitors.
Dolly: Vehicle on which the camera and cameraman can be
wheeled about during a TAKE.
Dolly Shot: Shot taken while camera is in motion on a
dolly.
Dominant Traits: The best defined or most noticeable
traits of character of the individual.
Drama: A story of human conflict or struggle told
through a series of related events.
Dramatic Triad: A union or group of three characters
or groups of characters or characters and elements
all closely related in the action of a screenplay.
For example, the hero, the heroine and the villain.
End: The wrap-up of any lose ends after the conflict
has been resolved.
Environment: The conditions, forces or circumstances
surrounding a character.
Establish: To make known the relationship of a
character to other characters, or to his
environment, or to make known his identity or type.
Establishing Shot: Shot (usually a LONG SHOT) used near
the beginning of a scene to establish the inter-
relationship of details to be shown subsequently in
nearer shots.
Event: A happening of more or less importance but not
as important as a dramatic situation.
Exhibitor: The owner or lessee of a theater in which
motion pictures are exhibited.
Exposition: Those parts of the script which tell what
has happened before and establish or identify the
characters, the time and place of action and the
relationship of characters.
Exterior: A scene in which the action takes place, or
is supposed to take place, out of doors.
Extras: Actors of minor parts who are engaged by the
day, usually for scenes of crowds.
Fade-in: A gradual appearance of a scene upon the
screen. Beginning of a shot which starts in
darkness and gradually lightens to full brightness.
Fade-out: A gradual disappearance of a scene upon a
screen. The opposite of FADE-IN.
Feature: A film made for theatrical and or video
release, usually fictional in content, and usually
lasting about 2 hours.
Flashback: Sequence in a film which takes the action of
the story into the past; used either as a reminder
to the audience of an earlier event or to indicate
the recollections of one of the characters.
Frame: A single photographic exposure on the film.
Freeze-frame: At a chosen point in a scene a particular
frame is printed repeatedly, so giving the effect of
arresting or "freezing" the action.
Full Shot: Shot in which an object or figure is just
visible whole within the frame. Abbr. F.S.
Gross: The total revue a film has earned from
theatrical, video and or other markets.
Hero: Generally the leading male character in a
screenplay.
Heroine: Generally the leading female character.
Incident: A happening of more or less importance that
has a definite part to play in the plot
construction. It may be trivial in itself but on
the other hand it may lead to great issues. An
incident has many uses, it may lead to a dramatic
situation or form a guide to character; it may be
used to provide comedy, allegory, atmosphere, etc.
Intercut: To intermingle the shots of two or more
scenes in the course of editing so that fragments of
each scene will be presented to the spectator's
attention alternately.
Insert: A shot, taken later, that is inserted in a
sequence.
Interior: A scene in which the action takes place in
doors; a set representing an indoor scene.
Lead: The leading character, male or female, about
which the story centers, generally the Protagonist.
Leading Character: Same as LEAD.
Lighting: The artistic handling of artificial or
natural light so as to produce highlights, shades,
and shadows that add to the atmosphere and beauty of
the scene being filmed.
Local Color: A term used to indicate the true to life
and true to place characteristics that have been put
into the writing of a story or the making of a
scene.
Locale: The locality, surroundings or environment in
which the action of a screenplay or a sequence of
scenes is laid.
Location: Any place away from a studio where a scene or
scenes are shot.
Long Shot: Shot taken at a considerable distance from
the object. A Long Shot of a human figure is one in
which the whole figure appears less tall than the
height of the screen. Abbr. L.S.
Lot: The studio grounds.
Master Scene: All action and dialogue which takes place
at one time in one setting.
Master Shot: Single shot of an entire piece of
dramatic action taken in order to facilitate the
assembly of the component closer shots of detail
from which the scene will finally be covered.
Medium Close Shot: Shot between a close-up and medium
shot.
Medium Shot: Shot taken with the camera nearer to the
object than for a long shot but not so near as for a
close-up; in relation to a human subject, a shot of
the human figure approximately from the waist
upwards. Abbr. M.S. or MED. SHOT.
Melodrama: A drama in which the action is of an
unusually exciting or hazardous nature.
Mental Punch: Dramatic value in thought.
Middle: That part of the script after the conflict or
struggle has been established and before it is
resolved, a series of incidents, situations and
crisis rising to a climax.
Miniatures: Scale models which when filmed will look
life- size. Used for Special Effects.
Montage: A quick impressionistic sequence of
disconnected images.
Motion Picture: The representation of an object by the
rapid presentation to the eye of a series of
pictures showing the object at successive intervals
of time thereby giving the illusion of motion.
Motive: The author's task of providing a sound reason
or cause for each action ascribed to a character.
The reason governing the action of a character.
Narrative: Story material no treated in accordance with
the rules of dramatic construction.
Negative: The film upon which the scenes have been
photographed and developed, the images being
reversed or "negative." From this negative, the
"positives" are printed.
Pan: To rotate the camera on its vertical axis during a
shot.
Parallel Action: Action that is taking place
simultaneously in two or more different localities.
Physical Punch: Dramatic value in situations where
physical action predominates. (See Mental Punch.)
Plant: To prepare for the coming of certain action by
establishing a hint of it previously. For example,
if it is intended that a character is to die of
heart failure, it is shown earlier in the film that
he falters from a lighter attack. This is done to
prevent the incident from appearing coincidental or
convenient. (See Preparation.)
Plot Development: The adding to or eliminating of
material of a plot so as to create a finished story.
Plot Outline: A brief synopsis of a story giving the
essential plot factors; the "high points" of a
story.
Positive: The film printed from the negative.
Predicament: The serious or unfortunate position in
which one of the characters is place during the
development of a dramatic situation.
Predominate Traits: Same as Dominant Traits.
Premise: The opening phase of a story in which the
relationship of the characters together with the
main objective is established. Also the THEME of a
story.
Producer: The individual or company which finances and
assumes responsibility for the production of a
motion picture.
Prologue: The explanatory part of a story or screenplay
just preceding the story proper; the exposition of
antecedent conditions necessary to a full
understanding of the story or screenplay.
Properties: The various articles and objects used in
filming a screenplay.
Protagonist: Generally, one who takes the leading part
in a drama; the character in whom the interest and
sympathies are centered. (See ANTAGONIST.)
Punch: The quality in a picture which exerts most force
upon the viewer.
Reader: An individual employed by a studio or
production company to read submitted scripts and
select the most promising ones for the Director of
Creative Development and Producer to read.
Realism: The picturing of life as the audience thinks
it is.
Release: To distribute film to exhibitors.
Relief: A bit of comedy introduced to relieve the
tension after a heavy dramatic scene.
Retake: Film a scene over again owing to some defect or
error, or in hope of getting better dramatic action.
Rushes: The scenes filmed in any one day which are
viewed by the production staff as soon as developed
and printed. There is a "rush" to see these scenes
so that retakes can be done if necessary.
Script: A screenplay. Originally an abbreviation of
manuscript.
Sequence: A connected or related succession of events;
a connected series of incidents, unbroken by any
distinct time lapse.
Shock: Sudden turn or twist in the action which
produces a shock to the perception of the viewer.
Silhouette: An object shown in a shadow effect against
the sky or other light background.
Situation: (An abbreviation of dramatic situation.) A
point in the story where the conflicting elements
have come into collision and a character faces an
obstacle to overcome, a difficult choice to be made,
or a change that must be suffered. It may involve a
conflict between two or more characters, a conflict
with the elements, or it may be a great soul
struggle. The situation begins the moment the
predicament is revealed, it rise to a crisis) the
point of greatest dramatic tension) and ends when
some act gives either temporary or permanent relief.
To be effective the situation must find expression
in outward action and the issue at stake must be
vital.
Situation Comedy: Comedy in which the humor depends
upon situations or predicaments of the characters,
rather than on gags or incidents.
Slow Motion: Means by which movement in a shot is
represented as taking place more slowly than in
reality.
Star: An actor or actress whose personality and
reputation are counted on to help draw an audience
to see the film.
Stock Shot: Shot used in a film but not filmed
specially for it; shot taken from a library or store
of shots kept for future use.
Struggle: To put forth great effort; to strive, to
contend, as one character or faction strives against
and contends with another.
Subplot: A story line secondary to the central plot.
Supporting: An actor or actress who plays smaller role
which supports the main characters.
Surprise: The sudden twist or turn in the action which
gives rise to surprise on the part of the viewer.
Surprise Ending: An ending that is not readily surmised
or foreseen by the viewer.
Suspense: The mental quality of uncertainty, anxiety or
expectation aroused by a sequence of scenes, as
regards the outcome or the manner in which the
outcome is to be effected.
Take: Single recording of a shot.
Theme: The underlying thought or lesson which a screen
story brings out by suitable plot action. An
intellectual abstraction or idea that unifies the
structure of a screenplay and that is represented by
the actions of the characters.
Tilt: To turn the film camera up or down in shooting so
that the axis of the lens rotates through a vertical
plane.
Track: To move the camera bodily forward or backward.
Tracking Shot: Shot taken with tracking camera.
Traits: The habits and characteristics which
distinguish one individual from another. (See
Dominant Traits.)
Two Shot: Shot framing two people, usually from the
waist up.
Unity Of Action: The principle of dramatic construction
whereby all the various portions of the plot action
are made to unite so that each has some bearing
(direct or indirect) on the final result we wish to
obtain.
Unity Of Place: The principle of dramatic construction
requiring the action to take place in as few places
as possible consistent with the nature of the story.
Unity Of Time: The principle of dramatic construction
requiring that the action take place in as brief a
period of time as possible consistent with the
nature of the story.
Visualization: Thinking in pictures; the act or power
of forming visual images or mental representations
of people and objects not present to the senses.
Wardrobe: The clothes worn by performers before the
camera.
Working Title: The main title used for purposes of
convenience and record during the writing and
production of a film. The working title is usually
replaced by a more suitable one before the film is
released.
Zoom: To magnify a chosen area of the image by means of
a zoom lens (variable focal lense), so appearing to
move the camera closer to the subject.