Hollywood Glossary

ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement)

Re-recording dialogue in a studio afterward to fix sound issues or change lines.

 

Agent / Talent Agent

Represents actors, directors, or writers and negotiates contracts with studios.

 

Auteur

A director with a strongly personal signature who decisively shapes a film's style and content.

 

Backlot

The outdoor area of a film studio with permanently built sets (e.g., street rows, squares).

 

Below the Line

Refers to crew positions outside the main stars, such as camera, editing, or sound.

 

Biopic

A feature film about the life of a real person.

 

Blockbuster

A big-budget film with strong marketing power and very high box-office expectations.

 

Boom (Microphone)

A directional microphone on a long pole, held as close as possible to the actors.

 

Box Office

A film's total earnings at movie theaters.

 

Casting Director

Responsible for selecting actors and organizing castings.

 

Callback

A further casting round after the first audition.

 

CGI (Computer Generated Imagery)

Digitally created images or effects that supplement or replace live-action footage.

 

Cliffhanger

An exciting, unresolved ending that makes the audience curious for a sequel.

 

Coverage

A summary and evaluation of a screenplay for producers or studios.

 

Director's Cut

A version of the film that reflects the director's original creative vision.

 

Dolly Shot

A camera movement forward or backward on tracks.

 

Executive Producer

Often involved financially or organizationally, not necessarily creatively.

 

Feature Film

A full-length film, usually running over 70 minutes.

 

Final Cut

The right to determine the final version of a film.

 

Green Screen

A green background that is digitally replaced in post-production.

 

High Concept

A film idea that can easily be explained and marketed in a single sentence.

 

Indie Film

An independently produced film outside the major studios.

 

Logline

A very short description of a film's plot (one to two sentences).

 

Location Scouting

The search for suitable real-world filming locations.

 

Long Take / One Take

A very long, uncut camera shot.

 

Method Acting

An acting technique in which performers immerse themselves deeply and emotionally in their role.

 

Montage

The assembling of individual shots into a narrative sequence.

 

MPA Rating

The US age rating system, e.g., G, PG-13, or R.

 

Pitch

A brief presentation of a film idea to producers or studios.

 

Postproduction

The phase after filming: editing, sound, music, and visual effects.

 

Preproduction

The planning phase before filming, including casting, locations, and budget.

 

Practical Effects

Real effects created on set, not generated digitally (e.g., explosions, makeup).

 

Reboot

A relaunch of a film franchise without directly continuing the previous storyline.

 

Reshoot

Filming individual scenes again after the fact.

 

Rough Cut

A first, still unfinished edited version of a film.

 

Screen Test

A camera test to check how an actor comes across on screen.

 

Sequel

A continuation of a successful film.

 

Showrunner

The person creatively in charge of a TV series.

 

Sound Design

The creation and mixing of all the sounds in a film.

 

Table Read

A joint reading of the script by the cast and crew.

 

Three-Act Structure

The classic narrative model: beginning, conflict, resolution.

 

Treatment

A more detailed, prose description of a film's plot.

 

VFX (Visual Effects)

Digital effects that supplement live-action footage.

 

Wrap

The term for the official end of filming.