gaffer: The chief or head electrician in the film/photography crew that is responsible for design
and execution of a production's lighting on the set.
gag based comedies: Often non-sensical comedies filled with multiple gags. Examples: "Blazing
Saddles" (1974) & "Airplane!" (1980)
gel: A transparent, tinted colored sheet of plastic used as a filter for a movie light to create
a color glow over a scene; usually to create a specific mood.
gender-bending role: A cross-dressing role in which a male or female play a character of the
opposite sex. Example: Felicity Huffman's character in the 2005 film "Transamerica" (pictured).
general release: Widespread, simultaneous showing of a film.
genre: Class or type of a film. Examples of genres include westerns, horror, musicals, science
fiction, comedy, etc.
gothic: Dark and dreary influences, such as the supernatural or mysterious things often used
in horror films.
green light: The okay for a film to be made.
greensman: A crew member who procures, places, and maintains any vegetation on a set.
grindhouse film: A cheap, low budget, non-mainstream often sleazy, hardcore film that was meant
for adults only. Example: Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's 2007 film "Grindhouse" (pictured) pays homage to the grindhouse
films of the past.
grip: Crew member responsible for setting up dolly tracks and camera cranes, erecting scaffolding,
moving props and adjusting of any other production equipment on set.
guerilla film: A low budget film shot without seeking location permits; a lot of times are student
made films.
guilty pleasure film: A film that doesn't have high expectations that the public enjoys; many
become cult films. Examples include: "Basic Instinct" (1992), "Wild Things" (1998), and "Cocktail" (1988).
handheld shot: A shot taken with a handheld camera or deliberately making the camera appear shaky.
It is often used to suggest realism. Example: "The Blair Witch Project" (1999).
hardtop: Slang for an indoor theatre.
head-on shot: A shot in which the actions moves directly toward or at the camera.
hero/heroine: Major male or female protagonist in a film with whom the audience identifies or
sympathizes with. Example: James Stewart as Jefferson Smith is the hero of Frank Capra's 1939 film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
(pictured).
high angle shot: A shot in which a subject or scene is filmed from above and the camera is pointing
down on the action.
high definition: An on-screen television image that will appear in a ratio of 16:9 as opposed
to analog signal ratio of 4:3.
hitting a mark: Moving to the correct, predetermined position during rehersals and during camera
takes so the camera can smoothly record the action.
homage: A tribute to someone or something. Example: John Wayne's homage to friend and fellow
actor Harry Carey in John Ford's 1956 film "The Searchers." Wayne held his right elbow with his left hand in much the same
fashion that Carey did in his films. (pictured)
hoofer: a dancer
horror: Genre which is designed to frighten or thrill. Example: Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 film
"Psycho" (pictured).
hybrid film: Film that contains two or more genre types. Example: Ridley Scott's 1982 film "Blade
Runner" which includes the sci-fi and film noir genre aspects.
hype: Over advertising.
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