Film Glossary: Hollywood Terms Simply Explained

Whether you're a passionate film fan or an aspiring filmmaker, Hollywood has its own language. What exactly is a Logline? What does a Colorist do? And what is the difference between a Reboot and a Remake?

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Our film glossary explains over 200 terms from the world of cinema, clearly, with real examples from well-known films and without unnecessary jargon. Each entry covers the meaning, the context and the background knowledge that makes you understand films on a whole new level.

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What You Will Find Here

From technical terms like Color Grading, CGI and Practical Effects to industry terms like Showrunner, Pitch and High Concept to narrative concepts like MacGuffin, Cliffhanger and Three-Act Structure: this glossary covers the full spectrum of Hollywood terminology.

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New terms are added regularly. If you are missing a term, let us know in the community.