CREW & CRAFT
Who is responsible for all costumes and clothing worn by the cast?
The Costume Designer
What do we call a read-through of the screenplay around a table with actors reading their roles aloud?
A table read
What do we call the central character whose objective drives the narrative forward?
The protagonist
What do we call the planned movement of actors on a stage or set?
Blocking
What do we call a genre built on sustained tension, suspense and anticipation about the outcome?
A Thriller
Who oversees the film's camera and lighting departments and makes judgements on lighting and scene framing with the director?
The Director of Photography / DOP / Cinematographer
What do we call a prose summary of the screenplay, longer than a logline, covering the main plot, characters and arc?
A synopsis
What do we call an object or goal that drives the plot but has little intrinsic importance?
A MacGuffin
What do we call the hidden meaning or intention behind the literal words spoken in a dialogue?
Subtext
What do we call a fictional film that adopts the formal conventions of documentary for comic or satirical purposes?
A Mockumentary
Who recreates sounds in post-production to replace those that could not be properly recorded on set?
The Foley Artist
What do we call a complete rewrite of the screenplay starting from page one, retaining only the core idea?
A page-one rewrite
What do we call a trope in which a trusted character breaks allegiance, generating a crisis of trust that typically precipitates the third-act conflict?
The betrayal
What do we call Stanislavski's concept where the actor asks: "What would I do if I were in this situation?"
The magic if
What do we call a visual and narrative style of the 1940s–50s with low-key lighting, morally ambiguous protagonists and a fatalistic worldview?
Film Noir
Who keeps track of which parts of the script have been filmed and notes any differences between what was filmed and what was in the script?
The Script Supervisor / Continuity Person
What do we call the moment the screenplay is officially frozen, after which changes become numbered revisions on coloured pages?
Script lock
What do we call a character designed to contrast with another, highlighting their traits through difference?
A character foil
What do we call the point at which an actor has completely memorised their lines and no longer needs the script?
(Being) off-book
What do we call a confident, accomplished first film that suggests a distinctive new voice?
An assured directorial debut
Who is in charge of the set's surface treatments, including paint treatments such as ageing and gilding to simulate wood, stone, brick or metal?
The Key Scenic
What do we call the three-tier verdict a script reader gives in their coverage report?
Pass / consider / recommend
What do we call the archetype representing the Hero's dark counterpart or repressed qualities, often embodied by the antagonist?
The Shadow
What do we call a negative term for when an actor "shows" the audience an emotion instead of genuinely feeling it?
Indication (indicating)
What do we call a film that is visually impressive but lacks emotional or intellectual depth?
A triumph of form over substance