Film Studies key terms

Recording speech or singing to replace or supply a voice on a film’s soundtrack. A performer’s visible movements are matched to the recorded voice.

The selection, ordering and joining of shots to construct a film sequence and create meaning.

The speed and rhythm of the editing, influenced by the duration of shots and how frequently the film cuts.

The omission of a period of story time from the events presented on screen.

The ability to understand and share another being’s feelings.

An unanswered question or mystery that encourages the spectator to keep watching.

A detail that raises a question or mystery, encouraging the audience to keep watching for an answer.

A movement away from everyday difficulties into an experience of imagined freedom, pleasure or possibility.

A shared cultural identity associated with features such as language, heritage, customs and beliefs; it is not simply a description of appearance.

A reasoned judgement about how convincing an idea or interpretation is, based on relevant evidence.

Showing a film to audiences, particularly through cinema screenings.

A style that alters the appearance of the world to communicate a character’s inner feelings rather than simply reproduce external reality.

A shot that shows a small detail, such as fingers or part of a face, filling most of the frame.

A very wide view in which the setting dominates and any people appear small.

A transition in which an image gradually disappears into a blank screen, usually black, or gradually appears from it.

A political and cultural phrase associated with defending traditional family arrangements and moral values; it was prominent in conservative American debate during the 1980s.

An authoritarian political ideology associated with dictatorial leadership, extreme nationalism, suppression of opposition and the prioritising of the collective over individual freedom.

A full-length film forming the main attraction of a cinema programme, rather than a short film.

A viewpoint supporting women's equality and challenging their disadvantage or restriction because of gender.

The social, cultural, historical, political, technological and institutional circumstances that influence a film’s production or are reflected in its story.

The analysis and evaluation of a film, including arguments about how it creates meaning and how viewers may respond.

The expressive choices through which a film communicates, including cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing and sound.

A physical place used to film a scene, which may represent a different place in the story.

A style associated with dark lighting, threatening environments, mistrust and characters caught in dangerous situations; it often uses flashback and voice-over.

A piece of writing that discusses and evaluates a particular film, offering the writer’s judgement of it.

An organisation that makes films, providing or arranging the resources needed for production.

The distinctive way a film uses and combines techniques, either in a particular moment or repeatedly across the film.