An object or goal that motivates the characters' actions but holds little intrinsic value.
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Storytelling & Screenwriting Terms Starting With M
The storytelling & screenwriting terms that begin with M, in alphabetical order.
1–16 of 16 entries
Definitions of Storytelling & Screenwriting Terms Starting With M
Open any entry for the full definition, where the term comes from and the films that show it best.
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Critical concept describing how visual media often frames women from a heterosexual male perspective.
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Match on action is an editing technique that cuts between two shots where the action continues seamlessly, creating visual continuity.
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A 'McGuffin Frame' is a slang term for a shot that is intentionally composed to highlight or introduce the film's MacGuffin, the object that drives the plot.
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Meta-cinema describes any film that self-consciously acknowledges its own artificiality and the process of its creation.
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A mid-credit scene is a short clip that appears after a portion of the closing credits has rolled, but before the credits are fully complete.
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A short interlude inserted partway through a film’s end credits for narrative or comedic effect.
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The midpoint is a major plot point that occurs in the middle of a film's second act, often raising the stakes and changing the protagonist's approach to the conflict.
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A midpoint false victory is a structural device where the protagonist seemingly achieves their goal, only for it to create an even greater problem.
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A television narrative told over a limited number of episodes with a single overarching arc.
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A Mixed Alliance is a narrative trope where characters from opposing factions, often enemies, are forced to work together to defeat a common, greater threat.
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In film, a mixtape is a personally curated collection of songs, often on a cassette, that functions as a potent narrative device to develop character, convey emotion, and drive the plot.
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An extended speech by a single character crystallises inner conflict or rhetorical supremacy.
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A recurring element that reinforces a story’s themes or mood.
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A multi-strand narrative is a storytelling structure that interweaves multiple, seemingly separate plotlines and character arcs within a single film.
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The 'Mystery Box' is a storytelling philosophy, most famously associated with J.J. Abrams, that prioritizes questions over answers to create sustained suspense and audience engagement.
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