spaghetti western: A western filmed in Italy or by Italian filmmakers primarily during the 1960s;
usually with little dialogue. Example: Sergio Leone's 1968 film "Once Upon a Time in the West" (pictured).
special effects: To create fantastic visual and audio illusions that cannot be accomplished by
normal means.
spin-off: Refers to a work derived from another work.
split screen: A combination of two actions filmed seperately by copying them onto the same negative
and having them appear side by side within a single frame.
spoiler: Information about the plot or ending of a film that would impair the enjoyment if known
before you see it.
spoof: A comedy film that pays tribute to certain films in a humorous way. Example: "Blazing
Saddles" (1974).
squib: A small explosive devise which when detonated will simulate the effect of a bullet or
puncture wound.
star system: The way in which studios groomed stars under contracts.
stasis: Occurs at the beginning of a film when everything is motionless. In stasis all forces
are equal and opposing, therefore they cancel each other out. Stasis in then reestablished at the end when the major forces
in the film get what they want or are forced to stop trying.
stereotyping: The act or portrayal of a particular character with a formulaic, conforming, exaggerated,
and oversimplified representation usually in an offensive and distorted way.
stock character: A minor character who's actions are predicatable or standard for their job.
stock footage: Previously shot footage of film of camers scenes.
storyboard: A series of illustrations and or captions of events that outline various shots.
straight man: An actor who serves as a stooge for a comedian usually by adopting a serious reaction
to the comic.
studio: Companies specializing in developing, financing, and distributing most commercial
films.
studio system: The powerful control the studio's had over all aspects of filming until the late
1950s.
stunt double: The stunt performer that takes place of an artist when the scene calls for a risky
action.
subjective point of view: A film in which the narrator has limited point of view regarding the
characters, events, actions, places, thoughts, etc.
subplot: A secondary plot often complementary but independent from the main plot.
subtext: The deeper and usually unexpressed meaning of a character's spoken lines or actions.
subtitles: Printed lines displayed at the bottom of the screen often used to translate foreign
languages.
super impose: An optical printing process that places or exposes one image on top of another
on the same piece of film stock.
