Keywords and concepts
You will already know some of these terms. This keyword glossary is here as a reminder to use these words and concepts when you write your responses.
Many of the definitions below include a picture that will help you to visualise the keyword. If you like one of these pictures, or you would like to see a larger version, click on it to go to that picture.
Many of the definitions below include a picture that will help you to visualise the keyword. If you like one of these pictures, or you would like to see a larger version, click on it to go to that picture.
Every picture on this website can be used by the public.
So you don't plagiarise, name the photographer when you use it. Look at the captions used on this page to help you to do this. |
ANTAGONISTUsually the villain in a story, this is the character who is in opposition to the protagonist, or hero / heroine. Another word for this type of character is 'adversary'.
The antagonist helps to create the story's conflict. |
Anthropomorphism
Seems like a word you might never remember, but the trick is break the word up into sections:
'Anthropo' - means human. For instance, 'anthropology' is the study of human beings. 'Morph' - means to change from one form to another. So, anthropomorphism occurs when we give animals or objects human characteristics - in a sense, we 'change' animals and things into people. Video by: Do One Thing Song.
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bird's-eye view
A view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight. This can also called an 'aerial shot'.
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characterisation
The representation of a character or characters on the stage or in writing.
You can 'build' a character by describing their actions, gestures, or speech. You can also include their physical appearance. Another way to enhance characterisation is to write about relationships, because then you can get an idea of how the character thinks or feels when they relate to others. CLIMAX
A moment of great intensity in a narrative or drama, especially at the conclusion of a crisis.
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claymation
A form of stop-motion animation that uses actual clay figures which are molded into different positions for each frame.
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close up shot
A shot in which a small object (e.g. a head) fits easily within the frame.
These shots can be used to show, or emphasise, the importance of a particular character or object. |
colour
Colour plays an important role in the success of an image. This feature engages the audience's attention and gives them a message about the type of emotion that is being represented. Colours change the mood of a scene.
Colour symbolism is great for communicating a feeling or idea. If you were decorating and lighting a set, how would you show emotions such as anger, or joy? (See 'Symbolism') |
complication
When people use words like complication when they discuss a story, they mean the event or action that happens to make the story scary, exciting or even sad.
Complications help to create the conflict in a narrative by raising the stakes or making the resolution harder to achieve. This increases the dramatic tension which makes stories more gripping.
Complications also affect the personal growth of a character, because the character has to change to achieve what they want. Since watching characters grow in significant ways is what makes stories satisfying, well-designed complications are one of the best tools a writer can use to create the reader's emotional experience of a story.
Complications help to create the conflict in a narrative by raising the stakes or making the resolution harder to achieve. This increases the dramatic tension which makes stories more gripping.
Complications also affect the personal growth of a character, because the character has to change to achieve what they want. Since watching characters grow in significant ways is what makes stories satisfying, well-designed complications are one of the best tools a writer can use to create the reader's emotional experience of a story.
conflict
In texts, conflict is basically a mismatch between the needs and wants of two or more characters, or forces. Conflict creates tension and interest in a story by creating doubt about the outcome.
Conflicts are not always resolved by the end of the story, but the resolution of a conflict creates a feeling of closure. |
costumING
A style of dress, including garments, accessories and hairstyle, that are characteristic of a particular country, period, or people.
Costume is integral in defining the overall 'look' of a film. It provides the audience with information about the context, culture and society the Actors inhabit. On a more subtle level, the costuming can tell you about the underlying themes of the film. |
dialogueSpeech between characters in a book, play of film.
Dialogue generally uses colloquial language, because it reflects how real people speak. When you write dialogue it is important that you only write what really needs to be said. If you include too much unnecessary speech, your reader will become bored. Every word of dialogue you write should push the story forward. |
Diegetic and non-diegetic sound
Diegetic sound is sound that both characters and the audience can hear.
Non-diegetic sound is sound which comes from a source 'outside' the story. This is sound that the audience hears, but the characters do not. The most common form of non-diegetic sound is the music, or soundtrack, used to enhance the mood of a film.
Non-diegetic sound is sound which comes from a source 'outside' the story. This is sound that the audience hears, but the characters do not. The most common form of non-diegetic sound is the music, or soundtrack, used to enhance the mood of a film.
dissolve
An editing technique where the images of one shot are gradually replaced by the images of another.
These types of changes between scenes are called 'transitions'. Examine the Film Glossary available on the Web page on this site. See if you can find 3 other transitions. |
documentary
A non-fiction narrative without actors. Typically a documentary is a journalistic record of an event, person, or place. Some of the most famous documentaries have presented by the naturalist, Sir David Attenborough.
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establishing shot
The first shot of a new scene.
It introduces the audience to the space where the forthcoming scene will take place. |
extreme long-shot
An extreme long-shot provides a panoramic view of an exterior location and is photographed from a considerable distance, often as far as a half kilometre away.
This type of shot if often used as the establishing shot in a scene. |
EYE LEVEL SHOT
The placement of the camera approximately 2 metres from the ground, or at 'eye level'.
This type of 'angle' signals that there is equality between the subjects in a scene. |
flashback and flashforward
FB: A scene that breaks the time continuity of a plot by depicting events which happened in the past.
FF: A scene that breaks the time continuity of a plot by depicting events which happen in the future. |
High ANGLE SHOT
In a high angle shot the camera is positioned eye level, with the camera shooting down on the subject.
A high camera angle tends to make the subject appear small in size and stature. When the camera looks down on a subject, it can suggest a feeling of loneliness and a lack of power. |
long shot
A camera shot from a distance, usually showing the characters as small in comparison to their surroundings. This shot also allows the audience to understand the setting, or context that the characters are in.
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LOW ANGLE SHOT
A shot taken with the camera placed in a position below and pointing upward at the subject. Shooting up from a low angle makes the subject appear larger and suggests a feeling of power and dominance.
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medium shot
Medium shots are good for showing facial expressions and revealing body language.
They can be used to show dialogue between two characters as the frame size of a medium shot can easily fit two characters. |
MOOD
The atmosphere or emotion created by a story.
Mood refers to the general sense or feeling which the reader is supposed to get from the text. It does not necessarily refer to the characters’ state of mind. |
pan
The movement of the camera from left to right, or from right to left.
This is a very useful camera movement for giving the audience an idea of large an environment is. PLOTThis is the sequence of events or actions in a story. It is also called the 'storyline'.
The plot is the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, such as a play, novel, film or short story. PROP
Anything an actor touches or uses on the set; e.g. phones, furniture, cutlery, etc.
Movie animals and all food styling (food seen or eaten on set/screen) also fall into this definition. |
PROTAGONISTThe protagonist is the main character in a story, novel, drama, or film. This character plays in opposition to the antagonist.
The protagonist is generally the character who the audience empathises with. They are often the 'hero' of 'heroine' of the story. score
The musical component of a movie's soundtrack. Many scores are written specifically for movies by composers.
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SETTINGLike the literary term, this word refers to the time and place of the film. The setting for The Lion King, for instance, is the African savannah, at an unspecified time.
shot / Reverse shot
A sequence of three shots:
1) a person's face; 2) what that person is looking at; and 3) the person again This gives the audience a chance to understand how a character is reacting to what they are seeing. |
sound effects
These are sounds added during post-production by the sound crew, that add to the mood or atmosphere of the story. Examples could include: footsteps, ocean waves, birds singing, or the squealing of brakes.
Sound effects are produced by playing a recording of the actual sound, or by recreating the sound using special devices and props to imitate the sound (such as crinkling cellophane to simulate the sound of fire.) |
soundtrack
Technically, this term refers to the audio component of a movie. Popularly, it refers to a collection of songs which are heard during the movie, often sold as an album.
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special effects
AKA: SFX
An artificial visual effect used to create an illusion in a film. This can refer to effects produced on the set and those created in post-production. Many movie illusions are created in post production with the aid of CGI. The photo of the grazing cows has had a post-production special effect created by choosing a Photoshop filter. It gives this still photo the appearance of an oil-painting. Photoshop is an excellent program for creating impressive visual effects quickly. |
Symbolism
The practice of representing things by means of symbols, or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.
There are many different ways to think about symbolism. For example, what does an owl symbolise? It might symbolise 'the night' because owls are active at this time. It might also symbolise 'wisdom', because owls have been portrayed as wise in many stories (which is funny, because they are by no means the smartest bird. We would be better to say 'as wise as a crow'!) So, symbols often come from our traditional beliefs, rather than from fact. |
themeA theme is a main universal idea or message conveyed by the story.
Little Red Riding Hood’s message may be 'don't talk to strangers'. The theme of Happy Feet, might be 'persevering through challenges'. |
TILT
The action of rotating the camera either up or down.
A camera on a tripod that moves up and down (following a plane landing, for instance), would be performing a tilt. |
tracking shot
AKA: Tracking, Dolly shot
The action of moving a camera along a path parallel to the object being filmed. You will see this shot when the camera follows a character as they are walking. The term refers to the tracks that cameras were once rolled on when creating one of these shots. |
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voice over
AKA: V.O.
A voice over is dialogue on a movie's soundtrack, where the speaker is not shown. It is a common type of non-diegetic sound. The character who narrates a voice over is usually the protagonist in the story. Strictly speaking, the video example is actually 'dubbing', because the characters can 'hear' each other in the scene. Video material owned by BBC ONE and uploaded by Guardian Angel
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zoom
AKA: Zoom In, Zooming, Zoom Back, Zoom Out
A shot where the magnification of the objects by the camera's lens is increased (zoom in) or decreased (zoom out/back). Even though the camera actually stays still, the viewer will have the sense of rapid movement, as the lens moves 'towards' or 'away' from the subject.
A shot where the magnification of the objects by the camera's lens is increased (zoom in) or decreased (zoom out/back). Even though the camera actually stays still, the viewer will have the sense of rapid movement, as the lens moves 'towards' or 'away' from the subject.
Using the pictures above, imagine a shot where the camera moves from a long shot - the field of sunflowers, zooming in to a close-up - the bee on the flower.