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The idea that the director of a film is the 'author' and the primary creative influence, with a distinctive style or thematic preoccupation, which is significant in analyzing films on a directorial basis.

A film technique where one character is shown looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking back. Often used in dialogue scenes to create a sense of interaction.

The reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films in post-production to enhance the audio quality. These sounds are generally created by Foley artists.

A shot in which the camera is moved on a set of wheels in a smooth motion, which can be used to follow a character or to move around them, creating a sense of movement and perspective.

An abrupt transition between two shots, often disorienting in terms of the continuity of space and time. It can demonstrate a sudden change in time or emotional state.

A French term that refers to the arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume. It’s a pivotal element that helps convey the visual theme of the film.

The process of selecting, editing, and piecing together separate sections of film to form a continuous whole. Montage can be used to condense time and information or to create an emotional impact.

A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story. In films, it can be a sound, an object, a recurring shot, or a figure that has a figurative meaning.

A cut from one shot to another where the two shots are matched by the action or subject and subject matter. It's a way to create a visual continuity and narrative flow.

The phase in film production that occurs after shooting has finished, encompassing editing, sound design, visual effects, color correction, and the addition of music and sound.

Sound that does not have an identifiable source in the narrative world of the film, such as background music, voiceovers, or sound effects added for dramatic effect.

An editing technique that cuts back and forth between actions in separate spaces, often implying simultaneity. This is important to build suspense or to show relationships between different storylines.

A shot from a camera positioned low on the vertical axis, anywhere below the eye line, looking up. This often has the effect of making the subject look more powerful or dominant.

A person who creates or recreates sound effects for films. They use props, shoes, and many other objects to simulate the sounds of everyday noises and actions.

The art and technology of motion-picture photography. It involves the composition, framing, lighting, and movement of the camera to create the visual style of the film.

A system of editing that is used to maintain a continuous and clear narrative action by following a set of rules, such as the 180-degree rule and match on action.

A piece of narration in a movie where the speaker is not seen. This technique, often used in documentary films, provides additional information to the audience.

A term derived from art history, referring to the use of strong contrasts between light and dark to give a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects and figures. Often used for dramatic effect in film noir.

An object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself. Common in thrillers and films by Hitchcock.

A compositional rule of thumb in visual arts such as painting, photography, and filmmaking. The guideline proposes that an image should be divided into nine equal parts, creating more tension, energy, and interest.

A shot in which the camera is positioned above the subject, looking down at it, which can make the subject appear vulnerable, powerless or threatened.

The precise staging of actors in order to facilitate the performance of a scene, particularly where and how they move. Good blocking is crucial for visual storytelling and can enhance the narrative.

Lighting that comes from behind the subject, often creating a silhouette around the subject's edges. This can provide depth and separate the subject from the background.

The narrative world of the film, including events, characters, objects, settings, and sounds that exist within the world of the story, whether or not they are directly shown onscreen.

Sound that is recorded during the filming of a scene or that is synchronized with the filmed images, such as dialogue or sounds that originate from the actions on screen.

A sequence of drawings that represents the shots planned for a film or television production. Storyboards are important for pre-visualizing the film's scenes and sequences.

The ratio of the width to the height of an image or screen. Classic film formats include 4:3 (1.33:1), while modern widescreen formats include 16:9 (1.78:1) and CinemaScope (2.35:1 or 2.39:1).

A cinematographic technique that uses a large depth of field to keep objects in both the foreground and background in focus at the same time, which is significant in revealing character relationships and settings.

The introduction of background information within a story; for example, about the setting, characters' backstories, prior plot events, etc. This is crucial for setting the stage for the plot.

A type of camera shot where the camera is set at an angle on its roll axis so that the shot is composed with vertical lines at an angle to the side of the frame, which can create a feeling of disorientation.

A shot that is intended to simulate what a character is seeing; the camera is positioned so as to mimic the character's field of vision, to give the audience a sense of the character's perspective.

Sound that has a source in the story world and can be heard by the characters in the film. Examples include voices of characters, sounds of objects within the scene, or music from instruments in the story space.

Lighting that tends to wrap around objects, casting diffuse shadows with soft edges. This type of lighting minimizes facial imperfections and is often considered more 'flattering'.

A shot taken from a camera mounted on a crane that can vary the elevation of the camera and provide a bird's eye view of a scene, often used to show the actors in the context of their environment.

A style of filmmaking characterized by such elements as cynical heroes, stark lighting effects, frequent use of flashbacks, intricate plots, and an underlying existentialist philosophy.

When the movement of the film image appears to stop so that it appears like a photographic still. It's used as an artistic or narrative device, often signaling the end of a scene or to emphasize an important moment.

Type of illumination used in the film where the light source is small and highly concentrated, casting sharp, well-defined shadows. Typically creates a harsh, dramatic effect.

Sound captured directly from its source. It includes both diegetic and synchronous sound and is recorded at the time of filming and is often used for dialogue and ambiance.

These are characters who are instantly recognizable types (stereotypes) who usually fill a specific role in the story, such as the hero, the damsel in distress, the villain, etc.