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satire: A mocking commentary on an economic, religious, social institution, ideology, person,
policy, etc. Example: 1933's "Duck Soup" (pictured).
scenario: 1) Outline for a screenplay. 2) A complete screenplay.
scene: A shot that together comprises a single, complete, and unified dramatic event, action,
or element of film.
scene stealing: A character who's appearance or action draws more attention that other actors.
scopophilia: Freudian term for "pleasure in looking."
score: Musical component of a film's soundtrack; usually composed specifically for the film
by a composer.
screen direction: Refers to the direction that characters or objects are moving in a film's scene.
screenplay: A script for a film production.
screen test: Refers to a filmed audition in which an actor performs a particular role.
screwball comedy: Popular in the 1930s; A comedy with frenetic action, wit, and wisecracks.
Examples: "It Happened One Night" (1934) and "His Girl Friday" (1940).
script: The written text of a film.
segment: A section or episode of a film.
segmentation: The process of dividing a film into parts for analysis.
sepia tone: Black and white image that has been converted to a sepia tone or color in order to
enhance the dramatic effect and or create an antique appearance: Example: The very last image in the Coen brother's 2000
film "O Brother Where Art Thou" turns to sepia tone.
sequel: A film that presents characters, settings, or events that appeared in previous films.
sequence: A scene or connected series of scenes that are edited together and comprise a single
event or setting within a film's narrative.
series: A sequence of films with shared situations, characters, or themes.
set: An environment where the action takes place in a film.
setting: Time and place in which a story occurs.
sexploitation: A non-pornographic, non-explicit, soft core film that features sexual themes and
nudity often in a crude or immature way. Example: Russ Meyer's 1966 film "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" (pictured).
shoot: The process of filming or photographing any aspect of a film with a camera.
short subject: A film that is shorter than around 30-45 minutes.
shot: A singular, constant take made by a camera uninterrupted by editing or cuts.
silent films: Motion pictures without sound. The silent film era was from 1895-1927. Example:
"The General" (pictured).
size: An element used to identify a character or objects relative strength compared to other
things/people.
slapstick comedy: Form of comedy in which the humor is physical. Example: 1994's "Dumb &
Dumber" (pictured).
slasher film: Usually a cheaply made horror film designated for a teenage audience that contains
gory, explicit deaths. Examples: "Halloween" (1978) and Wes Craven's 1984 film "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (pictured).
sleeper: A movie released with little publicity often starring little known people that eventually
becomes popular.
slow motion: An effect resulting from running film through a camera at faster than normal speed
and then projecting it at normal speed.
snub: When a prominent or favored performer is denied an award or award nomination.
soliloquy: A dramatic monlogue delivered by an actor with no one else on stage.
soundstage: A large, soundproof room in a studio used in film production where elaborate sets
are constructed to allow filmmakers control over climate.
soundtrack: Audio component of a film; but more popularly it is a collection of songs heard during
a film. Example: "Easy Rider"'s soundtrack is one of the most notable soundtracks in cinema history. (pictured).
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.
supporting roles: Characters seen less frequently than lead characters, but are still important.
Example: James Mason in "North by Northwest" (pictured).
surealism: Signifies a distorted or fantastic dream state, a nightmarish world, or a subconscious
thought or death experience.
symmetry: Within a film when two or more distinct plotlines mirror each other.
synchronous sound: Sound where the source can be seen in the frame can be understood from the
context or image.
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