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.