Film & Television Vocabulary: 281 Key English Terms

The person who leads the creative side of a film or TV episode, guiding the actors and the crew and deciding how each scene should look and feel.

The person who makes a film or TV project happen: finding the money, hiring key people, managing the budget and schedule and seeing the project through to release.

All the actors who play the characters in a film, series or play. As a verb, to cast someone means to choose them for a role.

The people who work behind the camera on a film or TV production, such as the camera, lighting, sound, art, costume and production teams.

The head of the camera and lighting departments, who decides with the director how the film will look: framing, lenses, camera movement and light.

A person who writes screenplays for films or scripts for TV series, either original stories or adaptations of books and other works.

The most important part in a film or series, played by the actor whose character the story mainly follows.

An important part that is not the lead, often a character who helps, challenges or reflects the main character.

A crew member who organises the shooting schedule and runs the set day to day so that the director can focus on the creative work.

The head of the art department, who designs the overall visual world of a film: sets, locations, props, colors and the period look.

The person who selects and joins the shots of a film into a finished story, working with the director to shape its rhythm and structure.

A crew member who finds, secures, and manages filming locations, including permits, access, local coordination, and practical site issues.

The professional who leads casting, organizes auditions, suggests actors, and helps choose performers who fit each role.

The crew member who designs and plans what characters wear to support story, period, mood, and visual consistency.

A senior producer who oversees financing, major business decisions, or overall project support rather than daily set work.

A producer who manages the budget and daily operations of a production, turning plans into a workable schedule and workflow.

A crew member who manages budget, schedule, logistics, and coordination so a film or TV production runs efficiently.

A camera assistant who adjusts lens focus during a take as subjects or the camera move.

A crew specialist who manages the digital camera image workflow, including exposure checks and the colour and contrast shown on set monitors.

A specialist who helps plan and support intimate scenes, working with performers on consent and agreed movements.

A person who takes an actor's position while the crew prepares lighting and camera settings.

A performer whose body replaces another actor's body in particular shots, often without showing the face.

A publicity professional who gathers production news and arranges approved press access during a shoot.

A professional who helps writers improve a script's structure, characters and consistency.

A crew member who organizes production office communication, paperwork and practical arrangements.

A separate filming crew that records additional material independently of the main unit, often working at another location or on a different schedule.

A grip who operates the wheeled camera platform and helps control its movement during a shot.

The written text of a film, TV show or play, with the dialogue, the action and the scene descriptions that the cast and crew follow.

A part of a film or TV episode that happens in one place and at one time, usually made up of several shots.

The planning stage before filming starts, when the script is finished, the cast is chosen, locations are found and the budget and schedule are prepared.

The written plan of a film in a standard format, with scene headings, descriptions of action, character names and dialogue.

The process of choosing actors for the roles in a film, series, play or advert.

A short performance in which an actor reads or acts part of a role so that the casting team can decide whether to choose them.

A series of simple drawings, like a comic strip, showing each planned shot of a scene in order before it is filmed.

The words that characters speak to each other in a film, series or play.

A meeting where cast and key creatives read the script aloud together to hear dialogue, pacing, tone, and story flow.

A very brief summary of a script or project that presents the main character, central conflict, and overall hook.

A short summary of a film, episode, or script that presents the main story, characters, and central conflict.

A structured summary of a story or project that lists main events, scenes, or points before the full script is written.

A brief outline listing the main story beats in order, used to plan structure before or during script writing.

Selected script pages supplied for an audition or for the scenes being filmed on a particular day.

A scheduling board with movable strips representing scenes, used to arrange the order of filming.

A screenplay heading that identifies a scene's location and whether it takes place inside or outside, by day or night.

A short instruction in brackets within dialogue formatting that suggests an action or way of speaking.

An agreement giving a producer an exclusive period to decide whether to buy specified screen rights.

The documented history showing who owns a film project's rights and how those rights were transferred.

A guarantee backing a film's completion and delivery under agreed conditions for its financiers.

A description of the roles a production needs to cast, including character details and performance requirements.

An audition in which performers act together so the casting team can judge their relationship on screen.

A filmed test used to assess how a performer looks and performs on camera for a particular role.

A location visit where department heads check practical needs before filming.

A rough visual simulation of planned scenes used to test camera positions, action and timing before filming.

One continuous piece of film recorded from the moment the camera starts until it stops, or the piece of it that appears between two cuts.

A shot taken very near the subject, usually showing a person's face or a small object so that the audience can see emotion or detail.

A shot that shows a large area, with people appearing small or full-length inside their surroundings, so that the audience sees where they are.

A shot that shows a person from about the waist up, close enough to see expressions but wide enough to show gestures and some background.

The edges of the image that the camera records, and everything inside them. It also means one single still image of a film.

The position and direction from which the camera looks at the subject, such as from above, from below or at eye level.

To turn the camera horizontally from left to right or right to left while it stays in the same place. The movement itself is called a pan.

To move the camera up or down on a fixed point, like nodding your head. The movement itself is called a tilt.

To make the subject look closer or further away by changing the focal length of the lens, without moving the camera.

A shot in which the camera itself moves through space, for example on rails, a dolly, a vehicle or a stabiliser, usually following a character.

A shot, usually wide, at the start of a scene that shows where and sometimes when the action takes place.

A shot that shows exactly what a character is seeing, as if the camera were the character's eyes.

A wide or complete shot that covers an entire scene from start to finish, providing the main visual base for editing.

A shot added to show a close detail of an object, action, or text that supports the main scene.

A shot showing how a character responds emotionally or mentally to something that was said or happened.

A shot made with the camera tilted sideways, so normally horizontal lines appear slanted in the frame.

A shot framed from behind one person’s shoulder to show another person or subject, often used in conversations.

A camera shot that frames two people in the same image, often to show their relationship or shared action.

A deliberate change of focus from one subject to another within the same shot.

A partial close-up lens attachment that lets near and distant subjects appear sharp in different parts of the frame.

A filming guideline that keeps cameras on one side of an action line so screen positions remain clear.

An edit connecting a character's look with a view of what they are looking at.

A pattern of alternating views of people facing each other, commonly used in filmed conversations.

The direction a person or object faces or moves within the screen image across shots.

A lens that squeezes a wide image horizontally during recording so it can be expanded for viewing.

A way of expressing exposure time as an angle relative to one frame cycle, affecting motion blur.

The space between the top of a person's head and the upper edge of the frame.

The space left in front of a subject in the direction they face or move within the frame.

A shot recorded with the camera supported by the operator's hands or shoulder rather than a fixed mount.

One attempt at filming a shot. If something goes wrong or the director wants a different version, the crew does another take.

To record a film, scene or shot with a camera. As a noun, a shoot is the period or the day when the filming happens.

The place where filming happens, either a space built in a studio to look like a real place or the area being used at a location.

A real place outside the studio, such as a street, house or forest, where a film or TV show is shot.

A practice session in which actors and crew go through a scene before filming it, to work out the performance, movement and camera positions.

A daily document sent to the cast and crew that lists the scenes being shot, the location, call times and important contacts for the next shooting day.

Keeping details consistent from shot to shot, such as costumes, props, hair, positions and actions, so that the edited scene looks like one continuous moment.

A small board with a hinged stick, held in front of the camera at the start of a take to show the scene and take number and to make a clap for syncing sound and picture.

To finish filming, either for the day or for the whole production. As a noun, the wrap is the end of shooting.

A dangerous or difficult action in a film, such as a fall, fight, fire scene or car crash, performed by trained professionals.

A plain bright green background that actors are filmed in front of, so that the green can be removed later and replaced with another image.

A crew member who tracks continuity, script details, timing, and changes during filming so scenes match across takes and edits.

The scheduled time when a cast or crew member must arrive and be ready to start work on a film or TV set.

A plan that shows when scenes, cast, crew, and locations are arranged for filming across specific days.

The movable objects and decorative details placed on a set to create a believable time, place, and mood.

The department, clothing, and related work that provide, organize, fit, and maintain what performers wear in a production.

A sturdy wooden box used on sets to raise people or equipment or provide temporary support.

A sturdy stand with three legs set at different heights, commonly used with a grip head and arm to support light-shaping equipment on a set.

An informal crew term for the final camera setup of the shooting day.

The relocation of the production's cast, crew and equipment from one filming location to another.

The area on a set where monitors allow the director and other authorized people to watch camera images.

The support area near a filming location where production vehicles and facilities are gathered.

A production trailer containing toilets, sometimes with small dressing rooms.

A set that must remain undisturbed because filming will continue with the same arrangement.

A shooting designation indicating that a take is recorded without synchronized production sound.

A call announcing another clap of the slate during the same take, usually because the first clap was unusable.

A set instruction to inspect a film camera's gate for dirt or hairs that could spoil the recorded image.

The unexposed photographic film material chosen for shooting, with particular sensitivity and image qualities.

A record of camera rolls or media, takes and technical details prepared for production and post-production.

A production chart showing which days each performer works, travels, is held or is not needed.

An extra payment that may become due under a crew agreement when a meal break is delayed.

The use and arrangement of light sources on set to show the action clearly and to create the mood and look of a scene.

The main and strongest light on a subject, which sets the overall brightness and direction of light in a shot.

A basic lighting method that uses three lights: a key light for the main light, a fill light to soften shadows and a backlight to separate the subject from the background.

The head of the electrical and lighting crew on a film set, who carries out the cinematographer's lighting plan.

A lighting style with strong contrast, deep shadows and large dark areas, used to create mystery, tension or fear.

A senior assistant in the lighting or grip department who helps manage crew, equipment, schedules, and daily practical operations.

A crew member who sets up, powers, and manages lighting equipment and related electrical distribution on a production.

A crew member who sets up and moves rigging and support equipment for cameras and lighting on a film set.

A lamp or visible light source that appears in the shot and also helps motivate or provide illumination in the scene.

A thin colored or clear sheet placed in front of a light to change its color, intensity, or quality.

The use of dark material to absorb reflected light and deepen shadows on a subject.

A setup in which light first bounces off a surface and then passes through diffusion to reach the subject.

Lighting designed to appear as if it comes from a believable source within the scene.

Filming in daylight while using exposure, lighting and image adjustments to make the scene look like night.

A mesh placed in a light's beam to reduce its strength, sometimes over only part of the beam.

Adjustable flaps fitted around a lighting unit to limit where its beam falls.

A grid placed on a soft light to restrict its spread while keeping its soft quality.

A paper lantern used as a light source or shade to spread soft light over a set.

Light that falls outside the intended area and may affect other parts of the image.

The music used in a film or series, often released as an album. Technically it also means the whole recorded audio of a film: dialogue, effects and music.

The original music composed specially for a film or series to support its emotions, rhythm and story.

Recorded or created sounds, other than dialogue and music, that are added to a film to make actions and places feel real, such as doors, cars, rain or explosions.

A voice heard over the images that does not come from someone speaking on screen, such as a narrator or a character's thoughts.

Replacing the original dialogue of a film or series with a recorded translation in another language, performed by voice actors.

A directional microphone fixed to the end of a long pole and held above or below the actors, just outside the frame, to record dialogue.

Automated dialogue replacement: re-recording an actor's lines in a studio after the shoot while they watch the scene, to replace bad or changed dialogue.

Everyday sound effects such as footsteps, clothes rustling or a cup on a table, performed and recorded in a studio in sync with the picture.

The creative work of creating, choosing and shaping all the sounds of a film so that they support the story and the atmosphere.

A sound crew member who positions and moves a boom microphone to capture clear dialogue while staying out of the camera frame.

The head of the sound team who records and balances dialogue and other live sound during filming on set or location.

The natural background sound of a room, recorded without dialogue, to keep audio edits smooth and consistent.

Sound that comes from the world of the story and can be heard by the characters, such as speech, traffic, or a radio.

Sound added for the audience that the characters in the story world do not hear, such as score or narration.

A meeting in which filmmakers watch an edit and decide where music or sound work is needed.

A document listing music used in a production, including details such as titles, writers and durations.

Background crowd chatter recorded or performed so that individual words are usually not clearly understood.

The impression of a sound's distance and position, shaped to suit the scene and the listener's viewpoint.

A recording method in which picture and production sound are captured on separate devices and synchronized later.

Sound recorded on location separately from a synchronized picture take for later use in editing.

The work of choosing, ordering and joining shots so that they tell the story with the right rhythm, emotion and meaning.

All the work done on a film after the shoot ends, including editing, visual effects, color grading, sound design, music and the final mix.

Recorded film or video material, especially raw material before it has been edited.

An instant change from one shot to the next in editing. It also means a version of an edited film, such as the director's cut.

Images that are created or changed digitally after filming, such as adding crowds, removing objects, building cities or creating creatures.

The post-production process of adjusting the colors, contrast and brightness of the images to give the film a consistent and expressive look.

An early edited version of a film with the scenes in order but without final timing, effects, music or sound work.

The finished, approved version of an edited film. Final cut is also the contractual right to decide what that version will be.

The way one shot or scene changes into the next in editing, such as a straight cut, a fade or a dissolve.

A sequence of short shots edited together, often with music, to show a lot of time or many events quickly, such as a character training or a couple falling in love.

A cut between two shots of the same subject from almost the same position, so that the image seems to jump forward in time.

The raw, unedited footage from a day's shoot, prepared quickly so the director, producers and editor can check it.

The list of names of the people and companies who made a film or show, shown at the beginning or the end.

A short additional shot filmed after the main shoot to fix, clarify, or improve a specific moment, detail, or transition.

A new shoot of material already filmed, usually done to fix problems, improve scenes, or add missing story information.

An early editing stage using lower-resolution or proxy media to build the structure before final finishing work.

The finishing stage of editing where high-quality media is conformed, checked, and prepared for final output and delivery.

An early edited version that places scenes in script order with most usable material included, before tighter revisions.

An edit that joins two views of the same action at a matching point so the movement appears continuous.

Editing that alternates between actions in different places to connect them, often suggesting they occur at the same time.

An edit hidden by movement, darkness or another visual device so the viewer may perceive one continuous shot.

A sudden edit between strongly contrasting images or sounds, used to surprise the viewer.

Tracing or isolating an object frame by frame in moving images for animation or visual effects.

Reconstructing a filmed camera's movement so digital elements can be placed consistently in the shot.

A shot of the background without the main subjects or unwanted objects, recorded for effects work.

An image used to create or extend a setting that would be difficult or costly to build or film.

A text-based list of editing choices, such as source clips and cut points, used to transfer or rebuild an edit.

A digital finishing process in which scanned film or digital images are graded and prepared as a final master.

A device that photographs projected film onto new film to create copies, transitions or visual effects.

The physical cutting and joining of a film's original negative to match the approved edit.

Converting video made of alternating line fields into complete progressive frames.

A method of repeating film frames or video fields to fit a different playback rate, especially for television.

Extra frames kept before and after the used part of a shot so an edit or effect can be adjusted.

Displaying a wide image in a narrower screen shape with bars above and below, preserving the full picture.

Displaying a narrow image in a wider screen shape with bars at the sides, preserving the full picture.

A version of a film that reveals image areas above and below the intended theatrical frame instead of cropping them.

A category of films or TV shows that share a style, subject or set of conventions, such as comedy, horror, western or science fiction.

A full-length film made for cinema or streaming release, usually between about 80 minutes and three hours long.

A non-fiction film or programme that presents real people, events or places, often to inform, investigate or tell a true story.

A film that is much shorter than a feature, usually from a few minutes to about half an hour long.

The series of connected events that make up the story of a film or series, and the order in which they are shown.

The inner change a character goes through during a story, from who they are at the beginning to who they become at the end.

A scene that interrupts the present action of a story to show events that happened earlier.

A sudden, unexpected development in a story that changes how the audience understands what has happened.

A genre of film or series built on suspense and excitement, in which characters face danger and the audience wonders what will happen next.

The technique of making drawings, models or computer images appear to move by showing a series of slightly different pictures one after another, and the films made this way.

A film made within a recognized category, such as horror or western, using familiar conventions, themes, and story patterns.

A genre that combines a love story with humor, usually focusing on obstacles, attraction, misunderstandings, and an emotionally satisfying ending.

A genre about imagined science, technology, space, or future societies, often exploring how such ideas affect people.

A film genre designed to create fear, tension, dread, or shock through story, imagery, sound, and atmosphere.

A style or genre that emphasizes strong emotions, moral conflict, and heightened dramatic events, often in personal relationships.

The arrangement of visible elements within a scene, including performers, setting, costume and lighting.

A filmmaker whose personal style and creative concerns strongly shape a body of work.

A documentary approach in which interaction between filmmakers and subjects can help reveal reality.

A documentary approach that aims to observe events as they unfold with minimal filmmaker intervention.

A film or programme that uses actors to dramatize real people and events.

An object or goal that drives characters' actions even when its exact nature matters little to the audience.

An event that disrupts the main character's situation and starts the central story conflict.

Directly acknowledging the audience or the fact that a story is a performance.

A story presented in an order other than the order in which its events happen.

A film or programme in which songs form a substantial part of the storytelling or performance.

A film in which a journey by road provides the main structure for the story and its encounters.

A comedy style built around fast dialogue, unlikely situations and romantic conflict, often involving class differences.

A film made up of several separate stories, often connected by a theme or framing story.

A short promotional video made of selected moments from a film or series, shown before release to attract an audience.

The money a film earns from cinema ticket sales, or its commercial success measured that way. Originally the place in a theatre where tickets are sold.

Written text at the bottom of the screen that translates or shows the dialogue, so viewers can read what is being said.

A very popular film that earns a lot of money, or a big-budget film made and marketed to become one.

The first public showing of a film, play or TV series, often a special event with the cast and crew.

An event where new films are shown to audiences, critics and industry professionals, often with competitions, awards and markets.

A company that buys the rights to show a film in a country or region and handles its release, marketing and delivery to cinemas or platforms.

To make a film or series available to the public in cinemas, on TV or on streaming platforms. As a noun, a release is a film being shown or the act of showing it.

An online service that lets subscribers watch films and series over the internet whenever they want, often including its own original productions.

An official category given to a film or programme that shows which age groups it is suitable for, based on content such as violence, language and sex.

Being officially chosen as one of the candidates for an award, such as an Oscar, a BAFTA or an Emmy.

A company or professional who sells distribution rights for a film to buyers in different territories and markets.

A geographic market or area where a film or series is sold, licensed, released, or promoted under distribution rights.

The distribution of a film to cinemas for public screening, usually before or alongside other viewing platforms.

The path a film takes through multiple festivals over time to gain attention, reviews, awards, or distribution interest.

A viewing copy supplied to selected people, such as reviewers, buyers or festival programmers, often before public release.

A business or operator that shows films to paying audiences, usually in cinemas.

An extension of a film's booking at a cinema beyond its planned run.

A release strategy that starts in a small number of cinemas and expands gradually as interest grows.

A release in which a film becomes available in cinemas and on another viewing platform on the same date.

An arrangement in which a filmmaker or distributor rents a cinema and takes responsibility for selling tickets.

The distribution costs of preparing exhibition copies and promoting a film's release.

A set of files containing the image, sound and other data needed for a digital cinema screening.

A digital message that allows an authorized cinema server to play encrypted film files during a specified period.

The share or fee an exhibitor pays a distributor for the right to show a film.

A sale of distribution rights before a film is completed, often used to help finance production.

The recovery of money invested in a film from its earnings, according to an agreed order.

An agreed entitlement to a share of specified film revenues or profits rather than only an upfront fee.

One part of a TV series, podcast or web series that is broadcast or released as a separate programme.

A TV or streaming programme made of many episodes that share the same characters, subject or story.

The first episode of a TV series, made to show the idea to a channel or platform and convince it to order the full series.

A group of episodes of a TV series produced and released as one set, usually once a year.

A comedy series, short for situation comedy, in which the same characters appear in funny situations, usually in a few familiar places such as a home or workplace.

The person in overall creative and day-to-day charge of a TV series, usually its head writer and an executive producer at the same time.

The evening hours when the largest number of people watch TV, so channels show their most important programmes and charge the most for adverts.

A TV programme that films real people, not actors, in real or specially arranged situations, such as competitions, dating or daily life.

An exciting ending to an episode, season or film that leaves an important question unanswered so the audience wants to see what happens next.

Measurements of how many people watch a TV programme, used by channels and advertisers to judge its success.

The last episode of a television series, written and produced to end the full show rather than just a season.

A television drama told in a limited number of episodes, usually with one complete story and no long ongoing run.

A television drama series with continuing personal storylines, emotional conflicts, and frequent episodes over a long period.

A television series built mainly around serious conflict, character development, and continuing emotional or social stakes.

An ordered plan of a television programme's items, with timings and production cues.

A scene or sequence shown before a programme's opening titles.

A planned break between sections of a television script, often aligned with an advertising break.

An episode of an existing series that introduces characters or a premise for a possible new series.

A drama in which episodes focus on solving a case or completing a professional investigation.

A programme whose story continues from one episode to the next rather than being fully resolved each time.

A further broadcast of a programme or episode that has already aired.

The simultaneous transmission of the same programme on more than one channel or service.

Watching a recorded or delayed programme at a different time from its scheduled broadcast.

Traditional US television measurement periods associated with detailed audience reporting and advertising decisions.

Events where television companies present upcoming programmes to advertisers before the new season.

Scheduling a less established programme between two popular shows to help it attract viewers.

Scheduling a programme in the same time slot on several days of the week.

A short visual or audiovisual sequence that identifies a television channel.

A presenter who introduces programmes and gives linking announcements between broadcasts.

The studio crew member who passes control-room instructions to presenters and coordinates activity on the studio floor.

The operator who selects and combines camera images and other picture sources during a live production.

An indicator on a camera or monitor showing that its picture is selected for transmission or recording.

A programme output supplied without specified added elements, such as captions, graphics or commentary.

A communication system that lets production staff speak to presenters or crew during a programme.

A television or radio production transmitted from a location away from the usual studio.

The use of portable electronic cameras and recording equipment to collect television news material.

A reference document describing a series' characters, world, rules and planned story direction.

An episode made with a limited number of settings and performers, often to contain production costs.