Film & TV Glossary
Film production, post-production, distribution, and talent terminology
A
A24
Independent film studio known for critically acclaimed, culturally influential films including Everything Everywhere All at Once and Moonlight.
ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement)
The process of re-recording dialogue in a studio after filming to replace unusable production audio affected by noise, technical issues, or performance adjustments.
AI Script Analysis
AI tools that evaluate screenplays for structure, dialogue quality, commercial potential, and audience appeal.
Above the Line
Creative talent and costs that are negotiated before production begins.
Above-the-Line Costs
Budget items for key creative talent including writers, directors, and principal actors.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
Professional organization of filmmakers that presents the Academy Awards (Oscars) and preserves film history.
Acquisition
The process by which a distributor or platform purchases or licenses rights to distribute a film.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon's streaming service included with Prime membership, known for prestige originals and sports rights.
American Film Market (AFM)
Major film industry market where independent films are bought and sold by distributors worldwide.
Ancillary Revenue Streams
Secondary income sources beyond primary distribution including merchandising, licensing, music, and product placement revenues.
Ancillary Rights
Secondary revenue sources beyond primary distribution including merchandise, gaming, and licensing opportunities.
Answer Print
First completed film print from the laboratory that shows final color correction and technical quality for approval before mass printing
Arthouse Film
Films made primarily for artistic merit rather than commercial appeal, often shown in independent theaters.
Attach
To secure a commitment from key talent, director, or financing for a film project.
Audit Rights
Contractual permission for profit participants to examine studio financial records to verify accurate royalty calculations.
B
Back End
Profit participation payments made to talent after a production recoups its costs.
Backend Points
A percentage of film profits or revenue paid to key talent as part of their compensation package.
Beat Sheet
A document outlining the major plot points and emotional beats of a screenplay.
Below The Line Crew
Technical and crafts personnel who execute the physical production aspects of filmmaking under department head supervision.
Below the Line
Technical and production costs that occur during the actual filmmaking process.
Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale)
Major international film festival combining artistic competition with significant industry market activities.
Best Boy
Second-in-command to the gaffer (electric) or key grip who manages crew and equipment.
Bible
A comprehensive document detailing a TV series concept, characters, world, and story arcs.
Blind Deal
A studio commitment to produce a project from specific talent without knowing what the project will be.
Bottle Episode
A TV episode produced cheaply using limited locations and existing sets.
Box Office
Revenue generated from theatrical ticket sales, a key measure of a film's commercial performance.
Bridge Financing
Short-term loans that provide funds until permanent financing is secured for a film production.
C
Call Sheet
The daily production document detailing shooting schedule, cast calls, crew calls, and logistics.
Cannes Film Festival
The world's most prestigious film festival, held annually in Cannes, France, awarding the Palme d'Or.
Cast Attachment
When a recognizable actor formally commits to star in a project, significantly boosting its ability to attract financing.
Cast Contingent
Financing commitment dependent on attachment of approved cast members.
Casting
Process of selecting actors to portray characters in film and television.
Casting Director
A professional who identifies and recommends actors for roles in film, television, and theater productions.
Chain of Title
Documentation proving legal ownership of intellectual property rights through all transactions.
Cinematographer
The director of photography responsible for visual storytelling through camera and lighting choices.
Cloned Negative
High-quality duplicate negative created from the original camera negative to protect against damage during printing processes
Co-Production
A filmmaking arrangement where production companies from two or more countries collaborate, sharing costs and accessing each country's incentives.
Cold Open
A scene at the beginning of a TV episode or film that plays before the opening credits.
Color Grading
The process of altering and enhancing the color of motion picture footage.
Comic-Con International
Annual pop culture convention in San Diego where studios preview major film, television, and comic properties.
Completion Bond
Insurance policy guaranteeing film delivery within budget and schedule, protecting investors from cost overruns.
Completion Fund
Financing specifically designated to cover the costs of finishing a film that has run out of money during production or post-production.
Completion Guarantee
Insurance that ensures a film will be completed and delivered according to specifications.
Completion Guarantee Bond
Insurance policy that guarantees film completion and delivery even if production exceeds budget or encounters problems.
Completion Guarantor
A specialized insurer that guarantees a film will be completed on budget, enabling production financing from lenders.
Conforming
Process of matching final edited picture with original high-resolution source material for finishing.
Content Library Valuation
Methods for assessing the financial value of film and TV content catalogs.
Content Pipeline
The flow of projects through development, production, and release stages.
Content Pipeline
The organized flow of projects through development, production, and release stages at a studio or production company.
Contingent Compensation
Payment owed to talent based on a project achieving specific performance milestones.
Coverage
The variety of camera angles and shots captured to provide editing options for a scene.
Coverage (Film)
The variety of camera angles and shot types captured during filming to provide editing options.
Creative Producer
A producer focused on story, talent, and creative elements rather than primarily on financing and business aspects.
Credit Block
Standardized text containing film credits, ratings, and legal information required in all advertising and promotional materials
Cross Boarding
Shooting multiple projects simultaneously to maximize location, cast, and crew efficiency across productions.
D
DGA
Directors Guild of America, the union representing film and television directors.
Dailies
Raw footage from each day of filming, reviewed by key creatives to assess progress and quality.
Day And Date
Simultaneous release strategy launching content across multiple platforms on the same day.
Day Out Of Days Report
Production scheduling document tracking each cast member's specific work days throughout the filming period.
Day Player
An actor hired for a single day or brief period, typically for small roles with few scenes.
Day-Out-of-Days
Schedule showing which cast and crew are needed for each shooting day.
Day-and-Date
A release strategy where a film debuts simultaneously in theaters and on streaming/VOD platforms, disrupting traditional windowing.
Deadline Hollywood
Breaking news publication covering entertainment industry deals, casting, and business developments.
Deliverables
The comprehensive package of materials—master files, documentation, legal clearances—required by distributors to release a film.
Delivery Requirements
Technical and legal materials distributors require including master files, documentation, and marketing assets.
Delivery Schedule
Timeline specifying when completed film elements must be submitted to distributors, broadcasters, or streaming platforms.
Development Executive
Studio or production company employee responsible for identifying, acquiring, and guiding projects through development.
Development Hell
The extended, often troubled development phase where a project remains stuck without progressing to production.
Director's Cut
A version of a film edited according to the director's vision, before studio modifications.
Director's Statement
A written document where the director articulates their personal vision, thematic intentions, and creative approach for a film project.
Directors Guild of America (DGA)
Labor union representing film and television directors negotiating contracts and administering awards.
Disney+
Disney's streaming platform featuring Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, National Geographic, and Disney content.
Distribution Fee
The percentage of revenue that distributors retain for releasing and marketing films.
Distribution Strategy
The comprehensive plan for how a film will reach audiences across theatrical, digital, streaming, and ancillary markets.
Distribution Window
Specific time periods for each format of a film's release, from theatrical to streaming.
Domestic Gross
The total box office revenue a film earns within its home country, typically the United States and Canada combined.
E
Episodic Television
Television content structured in standalone episodes that can be viewed independently without requiring sequential viewing.
Equity Financing (Film)
Investment capital in exchange for ownership share and participation in film profits.
Estimated Delivery
The projected date when a completed film and all required materials will be delivered to distributors.
Executive Consultant
Industry veteran who provides strategic guidance and expertise to productions while maintaining minimal day-to-day involvement.
F
Festival Strategy
Coordinated approach to film festival submissions and premieres designed to maximize industry exposure and acquisition potential
Film Budget
The estimated total cost of producing a film, covering all phases from development through delivery.
Film Commission
Government agency promoting and supporting film production in their region.
Film Distribution
The process of making a completed film available to audiences through various channels.
Film Festival
Curated event showcasing films, often premiere venue for new work.
Film Festival Strategy
Approach to festival submissions, premieres, and leveraging festival exposure.
Film Financing
The process of securing funding to produce a film from various sources including investors, studios, and incentives.
Film Market
Trade event where films are bought and sold internationally.
Film Market Screening
Private exhibition of films for industry buyers, distributors, and sales agents during film markets and festivals.
Film Production
The process of creating a motion picture from initial concept through finished product.
Final Approved Script
The locked version of a screenplay that production is based upon.
Final Cut
The contractual right to approve a film's ultimate creative decisions without studio override.
First Look Deal
An agreement giving a studio the first opportunity to develop or purchase a creator's projects.
Foreign Sales
International distribution rights licensing to generate revenue from global territories outside domestic markets.
Format Bible
Comprehensive document detailing all creative and production elements needed to reproduce a television format in different markets.
Four-Quadrant
A film designed to appeal to all major audience demographics—male, female, over 25, and under 25—maximizing commercial potential.
Four-Walling
Renting a theater directly rather than working with an exhibitor.
Franchise
A media property with multiple installments, merchandise, and brand extension potential.
Franchise Strategy
Long-term planning for expanding intellectual property across multiple productions.
G
Gap Financing
Loans secured against unsold distribution rights to fill budget gaps in film financing.
Green Light
Official studio approval for a project to move into production with committed financing.
Greenlight
The official approval to proceed with full production, committing budget and resources to a project.
Greenlight Committee
Studio executives who formally approve projects to move into production.
Gross Participation
Compensation tied to a film's gross revenue rather than net profits, providing more reliable backend earnings.
Gross Points
Profit participation calculated as a percentage of a film's total revenue before deductions.
Gross Receipt Definition
Contractual specification of which revenue streams and deductions apply when calculating gross receipts for profit participation.
H
HBO Max
Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming platform featuring HBO series, DC films, and Max Originals.
Holdback
A contractual restriction preventing a film from being released in certain markets or formats for a specified time.
Holdback Period
Contractual timeframe where distribution in one window is delayed to protect revenues in another window.
Holding Deal
Contract paying talent a retainer fee to remain exclusively available for potential future projects.
Hulu
Disney-owned streaming service combining next-day network TV with originals and live TV options.
I
IP (Intellectual Property)
Creative works or ideas that can be owned and licensed for adaptation.
IP Adaptation
Creating film and TV content from existing intellectual property sources.
Independent Film
Films produced outside the major studio system, typically with smaller budgets and greater creative freedom.
International Sales Agent
Company that sells distribution rights to buyers in territories worldwide.
K
Key Art
Primary visual marketing materials including posters, logos, and graphics used across promotional campaigns.
Key Set
Primary filming location or constructed set where major scenes occur, requiring significant production design investment and scheduling priority
L
Letterbox
The practice of adding horizontal black bars above and below video to display widescreen content on standard aspect ratio screens without cropping.
Letterboxd
A social film discovery platform where users log, rate, and review films, building communities around shared cinematic taste.
Limited Series
A television show designed to tell a complete story within one season.
Line Producer
Production executive responsible for daily operations and budget management.
Location Fee
Payment to property owners for permission to film on their premises.
Location Scout
A professional who finds and evaluates potential filming locations that meet production requirements.
Locked Picture
Finalized edit approved for sound and color finishing, with no further picture changes permitted.
Locked Reel
Finalized sequence or act of a film that cannot be changed, allowing specific post-production departments to begin final work
Logline
A one or two sentence summary that captures the essential premise and hook of a film.
Look Book
Visual presentation conveying a project intended aesthetic and mood.
M
N
Negative Cost
The total cost of producing a film before marketing and distribution expenses, including all production and post-production costs.
Negative Pickup
Distribution agreement where distributor commits to purchase completed film for predetermined price upon delivery.
Net Profits
A film's revenue minus all costs as calculated by studio accounting, often structured to show minimal or no profits.
Netflix
The world's largest subscription streaming service with 260+ million subscribers and major original content production.
O
One-Line Schedule
A streamlined production schedule showing one line per scene with key logistics.
Option
Payment for exclusive rights to develop intellectual property into a film or show for a specified period.
Option Agreement
Contract giving exclusive rights to purchase property within a timeframe.
Overall Deal
An exclusive agreement where a creator works solely for one studio or network in exchange for guaranteed compensation.
P
P&A (Prints and Advertising)
The marketing and distribution budget for releasing a film to audiences.
P&A Budget
Prints and Advertising budget—the marketing and distribution costs spent to release a film, separate from production costs.
Packaging
The practice of bundling multiple agency clients—writer, director, actors—into a single project.
Paramount+
Paramount Global's streaming platform featuring CBS, Paramount films, Showtime, and Star Trek franchise.
Peacock
NBCUniversal's streaming service featuring NBC content, Universal films, and live sports.
Pick-Up
Additional shooting done after principal photography to capture missing or improved footage.
Pick-Ups
Additional filming done after principal photography to capture missing shots or improve specific scenes.
Pickup
Brief additional shooting after principal photography to capture missing shots or address editorial needs.
Picture Lock
Final approval of edited footage sequence, preventing further changes and enabling sound design and color work.
Pitch Deck
A visual presentation used to sell a film or TV project to investors or studios.
Playdate
Scheduled screening period for a film at a specific theater or group of theaters, typically part of theatrical distribution strategy
Post-Production
The phase of filmmaking after principal photography where footage is edited and finished.
Pre-Production
The planning phase between green light and filming where all production elements are organized.
Pre-Sales
Distribution agreements signed before a film is completed, providing upfront financing.
Pre-Visualization
Creating rough animated versions of scenes before filming to plan camera work, timing, and visual effects.
Prestige Picture
High-quality film produced primarily for awards recognition and critical acclaim.
Principal Photography
The main period when a film or TV show is being shot.
Producer Offset
Tax incentive allowing film producers to claim percentage of eligible production spending as tax reduction or refundable credit
Producers Guild of America (PGA)
Professional organization representing film, television, and new media producers with awards and advocacy.
Production Bible
A comprehensive document containing all creative guidelines, character details, and visual references for a production.
Production Design
Creating the visual world of a film through sets, locations, and environments.
Production Incentive
Tax credits, rebates, or other benefits offered to productions shooting in a location.
Proof of Concept
A short film or visual demonstration created to prove a project's viability and attract financing or distribution interest.
Protective Master
High-quality archival copy of the completed film stored separately to protect against damage or loss of other film elements
R
Recoupment Corridor
Specific sequence and priority order in which different investors and stakeholders recover their investments from film revenues.
Reshoot
Additional filming after principal photography ends, typically to address issues found in editing.
Residuals
Ongoing payments to performers and creatives when their work is reused, rerun, or distributed in new formats.
Rights Reversion
Contractual provision allowing original rights holders to reclaim property rights after specific conditions or time periods.
Roadshow Release
Premium theatrical presentation with reserved seating, higher ticket prices, and limited engagements, often including intermissions
Rotten Tomatoes
A review aggregation platform that scores films based on the percentage of positive reviews from approved critics and audiences.
Rough Cut
Initial edit assembly of footage with basic scene structure but unfinished pacing, effects, and audio mixing.
S
SAG-AFTRA
The labor union representing actors, announcers, and other media professionals.
SVOD
Subscription Video on Demand services like Netflix, Disney+, or HBO Max.
SVOD Original
Content produced exclusively for subscription streaming platforms.
Sales Agent
Company that licenses film distribution rights to buyers across international territories.
Screen International
Trade publication covering international film industry with focus on European and global markets.
Screenwriter
A professional who writes scripts for films, television, and other visual media.
Script Coverage
Professional analysis and summary of screenplays for development evaluation.
Script Doctor
An experienced screenwriter hired to revise, polish, or fix problems in an existing screenplay, often uncredited.
Script Supervisor
The crew member responsible for tracking continuity and maintaining script records during filming.
Second Unit Director
Director responsible for filming supplementary scenes, action sequences, and coverage that doesn't require principal cast members.
Sensitivity Reader
Consultant who reviews content for accurate and respectful representation of specific groups.
Shooting Ratio
Ratio of total footage filmed to footage used in the final cut of a film or video.
Shopping Agreement
Non-exclusive agreement to present material to potential buyers.
Showrunner
The creative leader responsible for day-to-day production of a television series.
Sliding Scale
Performance-based compensation structure where payments increase based on project success metrics like box office or ratings.
Soft Drop
Gradual reduction in a film's theater count over several weeks based on box office performance rather than abrupt removal
Soft Money
Film financing from tax incentives, grants, and subsidies that reduces the amount of private investment needed.
Soft Opening
Limited theatrical release in select markets to test audience response before wide release expansion.
Spec Script
A screenplay written without commission or assignment, created on speculation of future sale.
Spec Work
Creative work performed without guaranteed compensation, created to demonstrate abilities or secure future employment.
Step Deal
Contract structure providing incremental payments and options as a project progresses through development, pre-production, and production phases
Streaming Exclusive
Content created specifically for a streaming platform that will not receive theatrical distribution.
Streaming Window
The period during which content is exclusively available on a specific platform.
Street Date
Official release date when a film becomes available for home video purchase or rental across all retail and digital platforms
Sundance Film Festival
The premier American independent film festival, held annually in Park City, Utah, known for discovering new filmmakers.
T
Talent Agent
A licensed professional who procures employment opportunities for performers.
Talent Attach
Securing commitment from actors or directors to a project before full financing.
Talent Holding Fee
Payment made to secure talent availability during development periods when production start dates remain uncertain.
Talent Packaging
Bundling multiple talent clients together for a production project.
Talent Quote
An actor's established fee based on their most recent comparable role, used as baseline for salary negotiations on new projects
Tax Incentives (Film)
Government programs offering tax credits or rebates to attract film production to specific locations.
Temp Mix
Temporary audio mix created during post-production for test screenings and rough cuts before final sound mixing
Tentpole
A major film production expected to generate significant revenue that financially supports a studio's entire slate of releases.
Territory Carve Out
Exclusion of specific geographic markets from broader distribution deals to preserve separate licensing opportunities.
Territory Rights
Geographic licensing divisions defining where content can be distributed and monetized by specific entities.
The Hollywood Reporter
Major entertainment industry trade publication covering film, television, and entertainment business since 1930.
Theatrical Release
The distribution of a film through movie theaters.
Theatrical Window
Period of exclusive theatrical exhibition before other release formats.
Track Lay
Process of organizing and preparing all audio elements including dialogue, music, and sound effects for final mixing
Tracking Board
Industry database and community platform that monitors spec scripts, projects in development, and industry transactions.
Trailer House
Specialized post-production company that creates movie trailers, TV spots, and other promotional video content for film marketing campaigns
Treatment
A narrative document that tells a film's story in prose form, used to pitch projects before a full screenplay is written.
Turnaround
When a project is released by one studio, allowing it to be shopped to others.
Turnaround Deal
Agreement allowing a project to move from one studio to another, with the new studio reimbursing development costs to the original studio
U
Union Scale
Minimum wage rates established by entertainment unions for different job classifications and working conditions.
Universal Pictures
NBCUniversal's film division known for Fast & Furious, Jurassic World, Illumination animation, and horror through Blumhouse.
V
VFX (Visual Effects)
Digital imagery created or manipulated outside live-action shooting.
Venice Film Festival
Prestigious film festival launching awards contenders and international cinema on the Venice Lido.
Virtual Production
Real-time visual effects integration during filming using LED volumes and game engines.
Volume Production
Advanced filmmaking technique using LED walls and real-time rendering to create virtual environments during principal photography.
W
Walt Disney Studios
The dominant film studio owning Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios.
Warner Bros.
Historic major studio known for DC Comics films, Harry Potter, and the largest television production operation in Hollywood.
Waterfall (Film)
The priority order in which film revenues are distributed to participants and investors.
Windowing Strategy
The deliberate sequencing of release platforms (theatrical, streaming, VOD) to maximize revenue across all distribution channels.
Workflow Management
Systematic coordination of post-production processes, assets, and timelines across multiple vendors and creative teams.
World Premiere
First public screening of a film, often at a prestigious festival.
Worldwide Gross
The combined total box office revenue from all theatrical markets globally, including both domestic and international territories.
Wrap
The completion of filming for a day, location, actor, or the entire production.
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