Glossary of Filmmaking and Life Stages Terminology

Filmmaking Terminology

A

Agenda

A list of items to be discussed at a meeting.

Archival Footage

Film or video footage from the past that can be used in other films.

Armed With

Furnished with weapons.

Audio Engineer

A person whose job is to alter and balance the levels of different sounds as they are recorded.

Axe

To get rid of a service, system, or someone’s job.

B

Back

To support.

Ban

To decide or say officially that something is not allowed.

Bid

An offer by a person or a company to pay a particular amount of money for something.

Boom

A long pole that carries a microphone.

C

Corruption

Dishonest or illegal behavior, especially of people in authority.

Costume Designer

A person who designs costumes for plays and films.

Credibility

The quality that someone has that makes people believe or trust them.

Curb

To control or limit something, especially something bad.

D

Director

A person in charge of a film or play who tells the actors and staff what to do.

E

Explore

To examine a subject or a possibility completely or carefully in order to find out more about it.

F

Face

To accept and deal with something that is difficult or unpleasant.

Fall

Decrease.

Fly-on-the-Wall

Doing something or watching someone without them noticing.

G

Go Viral

An image, video, or link that spreads rapidly through a population by being frequently shared with a number of individuals online.

H

Hard-Hitting

Not afraid to talk about or criticize someone in an honest and very direct way.

Headlines

The most important items of news, at the beginning of a news program or at the start of a newspaper article.

I

In One’s Element

Doing what you are good at and enjoy.

In Step With

Having ideas that are the same as other people’s.

In the Limelight

The center of public attention.

Issue

An important topic that people are discussing or arguing about.

L

Lighting

The arrangement or type of light in a place.

Location

A place where something happens or exists.

O

Out of Character

Not typical of a person’s character.

Out of Favour

Disapproval or lack of support for someone.

Out of One’s Depth

To be in a situation that you cannot control.

Out on a Limb

Not supported by other people.

P

Plea

An urgent emotional request.

Prop

A small object used by actors during a performance.

Q

Quit

To stop doing something or to leave your job.

R

Rumour

A piece of information, or a story, that people talk about, but that may not be true.

S

Score

The music written for a film or play.

Screenplay

The words that are written for a film, together with instructions for how it is to be acted and filmed.

Scriptwriter

A person who writes the words for films, television and radio plays.

Shot on Location

Practice of filming in an actual setting rather than on a sound stage.

Soundtrack

All the music in a film.

Sources

A person, book, or document that provides information, especially for study, a piece of written work, or news.

Staged

Deliberately arranged for effect.

Storyboard Artist

A profession specialized in creating storyboards for advertising agencies and film productions.

Storyline

The basic story in a novel, play, or film.

Stunt Double

A person who does dangerous things in place of an actor.

U

Uncertain

Feeling doubt about something.

V

Voice-Over

Information or comments in a film or television program that are given by a person who is not seen on the screen.

Vow

To make a formal and serious promise to do something or a formal statement that is true.

Life Stages Terminology

A

Adolescent

A young person who is developing from a child into an adult.

Ahead of Time

Earlier than was expected.

All the Time

Very often.

At One Time

In or during a known but unspecified past period.

At the Best of Times

Even when the circumstances are very good.

At the Same Time

At one time, together.

B

Before My Time

Happening before you were born or can remember, or before you lived or worked somewhere.

Behind the Times

Old-fashioned in your ideas or methods.

Breathe Life Into

To improve something by introducing new ideas and making people more interested in it.

C

Cross Off

To draw a line through a person’s name or an item on a list because it is no longer required or involved.

D

Dependent

Needing someone or something in order to survive or be successful.

Dynamic

Having a lot of energy and a strong personality.

E

Elderly

Used as a polite word for “old”.

Every Walk of Life

Every status and occupation.

Experienced

Having knowledge or skill in a particular job or activity.

F

Fight Off

To resist someone by fighting against them.

For the Time Being

For a short period of time but not permanently.

From Time to Time

Occasionally but not regularly.

G

Get Across

To succeed in communicating something.

Get Homesick

Become sad because you are away from home and you miss your family and friends.

Get Into the Habit Of

Become used to.

Get More Out Of

Benefit from or enjoy as much as possible.

Get to Grips With

To begin to understand and deal with something difficult.

Get to Know

Start to be familiar with something.

Get the Chance

Have the opportunity or possibility.

I

In Next to No Time

So soon or so quickly that it is surprising.

In the Course of Time

When enough time has passed.

In the Nick of Time

At the very last moment.

Independent

Confident and free to do things without needing help from other people.

Inexperienced

Having little knowledge or experience of something.

L

Lead a Charmed Life

To always be lucky and safe from danger.

Let Something Get You Down

To allow something to make you feel sad and depressed.

Lifeboat

A special boat that is sent out to rescue people who are in danger at sea.

Lifeguard

A person who is employed at a beach or a swimming pool to rescue people who are in danger in the water.

Lifeless

Dead or appearing to be dead; not bright or exciting; not having the qualities that make someone interesting and full of life.

Lifelike

Exactly like a real person or thing.

Lifelong

Lasting or existing all through your life.

Lifesaver

A thing that helps someone in a difficult situation; something that saves someone’s life.

Lifespan

The length of time that something is likely to live, continue, or function.

Lifestyle

The way in which a person or a group of people lives and works.

Lifetime

The length of time that someone lives or that something lasts.

M

Long in the Tooth

Old or aging.

Matter of Life and Death

Used to describe a situation that is very important or serious.

Mature

Behaving in a sensible way, like an adult.

Milestones in Life

A very important stage or event.

O

Over the Hill

Old and therefore no longer useful or attractive.

P

Pay Off

To be successful and bring good results.

Prime of Life

The time of maturity when power and vigour are greatest.

Put Off

To change something to a later time or date.

S

Self-Reliant

Able to do or decide things by yourself, rather than depending on other people for help.

Seniors

Adults or people at a more advanced level.

Set Off

To begin a journey.

Shelf Life

The length of time that food can be kept before it is too old to be sold.

Stand on Your Own Two Feet

To be independent and able to take care of yourself.

Supportive

Giving help, encouragement, or sympathy to someone.

V

Vulnerable

Weak and easily hurt physically or emotionally.

W

Wear Off

To gradually disappear or stop.

Wise

Able to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have.

Y

Youthful

Typical of young people.