A
ABSURDISM
ACT
1. A part of a overall story structure, as used by story analysts.
2. That part of a television episode that fits between two commercial breaks. Syndicated TV shows normally have 7 acts (including the teaser), while other shows have 6 (including teaser).
3. Something that a character does.
4. What actors do.
ACTION
1. A genre filled with explosions, deadlines and momentum.
2. A sequence of a movie or a screenplay that contains chases, stunts, and excitement.
3. That part of a screenplay that tells the reader what the characters do, as opposed to what they say. This kind of action does not nescessarily have anything to do with the former two defitions. Just openening a door is a type of action.
ADAPTATION
Material that is transferred from one kind of material to another kind, for exampel, a book that´s been filmed, or a comic strip that is being turned into a novel.
ADVENTURE
ANTAGONIST
A person, animal, object or force that is in opposition to the protagonist of the work. See also here for a more indepth analysis.
ARC
The development that a character is going through in a story is described as an arc, for example, Simba´s maturation arc in THE LION KING.
AUTEUR
A supposedly independent director who writes, produces and sometimes stars in his own films. Coined during the New Wave in France.
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B
BACKSTORY
What has happened to a person before the story has begun, but only what is pertinent to the present situation.
BEAT
A short moment.
1. In a scene, it could consist of a few lines of dialogue, or even a look.
2. On the planning stage, this is shorthand for a certain kind of scene, mainly designed to establish character, for example a flirtatious scene, as opposed to a scene that moves the plot along.
BEAT SHEET
In the television business, a memo that splits the story into acts, scenes and beats.
BIBLE
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C
CATALYST
CHARACTER
CHARACTERISATION
CHRONOLOGY
CLICHÉ
CLIFFHANGER
Coined in the silent movie era, referring to an exciting scene (for example, someone hanging from a cliff), which is interupted by another scene, or, originally, by the end of the film, only to be concluded in the next installment of the serial.
COMEDY
CONFLICT
CRITICISM
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D
DIALOGUE
DRAMA
DRAMATIC IRONY
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E
ELEMENT X
A person or event that interupts a scene or process, and sends the action in another direction. Further info here.
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F
FANTASY
FEATURE FILM
FEEDBACK
FLASHBACK
A scene (or a few scenes) that is set before the scene that precedes it, but still advances the plot, as when Fox Mulder remembers the kidnapping of his sister when they were kids, in "The X-files". The opposite is also possible, for example through a character that can see the future. That is called Flashforward, and is used frequently in for example "Charmed".
FORESHADOWING
Subtle hints about what will happen later in the story. A nice one is in JAWS, when Robert Shaw/Quint tells the crowd about the shark, and concludes by saying: "That thing will eat you whole." Of course, that´s how he dies in the end of the movie.
FORMAT
FRANCHISE
A television show gone bigger, as "Babylon 5", where some of the income for the production company comes from marketing stuff with the logo on. The name of the product alone brings power.
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G
GENRE
A difficult word with many meanings. The basic meaning is "type" or "kind", but:
1. It can mean that stories naturally adhere to a single genre, or
2. it can mean that genres evolve, since the stories intermarry and find new forms.
Although genre can be used by writers, as a blueprint for stories, genre probably means more as a sign to the audience (via advertising, reviews, title and specific actors, etc), to promote certain expectations.
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H
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I
INCITING INCIDENT
The event that starts the plot, as Lord Farquaad driving away the fairytale characters from their homes, leading them to invade SHREK´s home.
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J
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K
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L
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M
MACGUFFIN
An object or person that´s coveted/wanted by several parties in the story. See Something really important for more information.
MENTOR
A kind of character that teaches the protagonist something, either about the plot, the world, or another character. Often portrayed by someone older, as by Sean Connery in THE UNTOUCHABLES, but variations are welcome. This character can also be bitter and cynical, and draw the protagonist down. In that case, the character is called a "dark mentor" (as in BEDAZZLED).
MODIFIER
A supporting character whose main purpose in the story is to flesh out one of the main characters. Often friends, neighbours or collegues.
MOMENTUM
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N
NARRATIVE
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O
OFF-SCREEN
Not visible in the movie or in the television show.
1. A person talking without being in picture, as does Charlie in CHARLIE´S ANGELS.
2. An event that isn´t showed, for example the Clone wars in STAR WARS - A NEW HOPE.
ON THE NOSE
Something that is too obvious, without subtlety, like this dialogue:
- Hello, my brother.
- Hello, how long has it been since we last saw each other?
- It must have been on dad´s funeral, two weeks ago.
You should avoid it, unless you´re writing parody.
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P
PACE
PARALLELISM
PAY-OFF
PITCH
PLOT
PLOT POINT or PLOT TWIST
When something unexpected happens, that changes everything. As in ABSOLUTE POWER when Clint Eastwood is interrupted during a break-in, and sees the president commit a murder. After that, his whole life is turned around. (Plot point is the technical term, while plot twist is the amateur term.
POINT OF NO RETURN
POINT OF VIEW
PREQUEL
A sequel that is set before the original film. For example, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK is set in 1936 and was released in 1981. INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM is set in 1935 and was released in 1984.
PRODUCERSPEAK
PROTAGONIST
The person, animal, object or force that is the "good guy" of the story, and often is the point of view-character.
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Q
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R
READER
A person whose job it is to decide if a studio should buy a particular script or not, and makes a short summation of the story and its pros and cons, called a coverage.
REALISM
RED HERRING
A false clue, leading the protagonist astray.
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S
SCENE
A brief sequence of events, usually contained in space and time (one room and a couple of minutes). Additionally, when a character leaves or a new characte enters, a new scene begins.
SCIENCE FICTION or SCI-FI
SCRIPT
SCRIPTMENT
SEQUEL
A follow-up film, that let us meet the same characters in another adventure (or drama). For example, SCREAM 2 is the sequel to SCREAM.
SETTING
SET-UP
SITCOM
SPIN-OFF
A follow-up television show that features some element from the original show: characters, an arena or merely the producer. "Star Trek - Deep Space Nine" is a spin-off from "Star Trek - The Next Generation", which in its turn is a sequel to the original "Star Trek".
STRUCTURE
STYLE
SUB-PLOT
SYNOPSIS
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T
TEASER
The short introductory scene before the pre-title sequence, usual in televison, but also in the James Bond films.
TEASER TRAILER
THRILLER
TRAGEDY
TRAILER
TREATMENT
TWIST
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U
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V
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W
WRITERSPEAK
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X
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Y
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Z
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