Filmmaking
Film music whose source appears on screen and is acknowledged by characters within the scene.
A to Z
Film Terms Starting With S
411 entries in the Movie Wiki begin with S, listed alphabetically with a one-line definition each. Open any of them for the full explanation.
241–300 of 411 entries
Definitions of Film Terms Starting With S
Open any entry for the full definition, where the term comes from and the films that show it best.
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Genres
South African Cinema Renaissance
The South African Cinema Renaissance denotes the dynamic period of growth and creative expression in the nation's film industry following the end of apartheid in 1994.
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Filmmaking
A film editing theory that constructs meaning through the collision of shots.
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Genres
Soviet Montage was a revolutionary 1920s film movement that used dynamic editing to create symbolic meaning and evoke powerful emotional responses.
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Filmmaking
A filmmaking theory positing that meaning emerges from the juxtaposition of shots.
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Genres
A space western is a subgenre of science fiction that transplants the narrative themes and character archetypes of the Western genre into a futuristic, outer-space setting.
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Genres
An Italian‑produced Western style known for stylized violence and moral ambiguity.
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Filmmaking
A spark is the colloquial British and sometimes American term for an electrician in a film's lighting department who works under the Gaffer.
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Industry
Spark AR is the professional augmented reality platform from Meta used to create and publish AR filters and effects for Instagram and Facebook.
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Industry
Spatial audio is an immersive sound technology that creates a three-dimensional audio experience by placing sounds virtually in space around the listener.
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Filmmaking
A spatial audio remix is the process of re-engineering a film's original stereo or surround soundtrack into an object-based, immersive format like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X.
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Industry
A paradigm integrating digital content seamlessly into physical environments.
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Storytelling
A screenplay written on speculation without studio commission to showcase writing talent and originality.
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Industry
A release featuring exclusive extras, remastered content, or commemorative packaging beyond the original.
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Filmmaking
Advanced makeup techniques to create creatures, wounds or aging on-screen.
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Industry
Spectral Dye-Fade Analysis is a scientific technique used in film preservation to measure the exact color characteristics of a faded film print and create a digital model to accurately restore its original color palette.
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General
Speculative-fiction films imagine alternatives—technological, societal or cosmic—to interrogate present-day realities.
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Filmmaking
'Speed' is the on-set command called by the sound mixer and camera operator to confirm that their respective recording devices are running at the correct, stable speed.
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Filmmaking
A rapid-cut editing style that accelerates narrative pacing through brisk montage sequences.
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Filmmaking
A speed slate is a very fast or informal method of marking a take, used when the pace of shooting makes a formal slate impractical.
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Pop Culture
A speedrun is a playthrough of a video game performed with the goal of completing it in the fastest time possible, often using glitches and complex strategies.
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Filmmaking
A spike is a physical mark placed on the ground to indicate the precise position for an actor, camera, or piece of set dressing.
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Filmmaking
To spike it on a film set means to mark the position of an actor or piece of equipment on the floor with tape.
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Storytelling
A new series derived from characters or settings of an existing show, expanding its universe.
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Genres
A splatter film is a horror subgenre that distinguishes itself by its deliberate and graphic focus on visceral gore and bodily mutilation.
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Genres
Splatterpunk is a subgenre of horror film characterized by its explicit, graphic, and transgressive depiction of violence and gore.
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Genres
A split edit is an editing technique where the transition points for video and audio are separate, with either the sound (J-cut) or picture (L-cut) transitioning before the other.
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Filmmaking
A split reel is a metal or plastic film reel made of two separate flanges that can be unscrewed to mount a roll of film.
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Filmmaking
A production approach dividing filming between multiple units operating simultaneously.
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Pop Culture
A spoiler alert is a warning given to potential readers or viewers that a piece of content contains revealing plot details about a movie or show, which could 'spoil' the surprise for those who haven't seen it yet.
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Genres
Spoken word is a performance-based art form that focuses on the rhythmic and expressive recitation of poetry, frequently used in film to voice a character's inner life.
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Filmmaking
A sponsor credit is an acknowledgement in a film's credits that recognizes a person, organization, or government body that provided funding or in-kind support.
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Industry
A sponsored post is any content on social media or a blog for which a creator has been paid by a brand to feature a product or service.
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Industry
A business arrangement where a brand provides funding in exchange for association with a film.
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Genres
A genre combining athletic settings with humor, satire, and lighthearted storytelling.
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Genres
A genre that intertwines athletic competition with character-driven storytelling and emotional stakes.
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Genres
The sports film is a genre that uses a specific sport as the backdrop for its narrative, often focusing on themes of perseverance, teamwork, and redemption.
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Industry
A spotlight section at a film festival is a curated program designed to highlight noteworthy films from established directors or featuring high-profile actors.
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Filmmaking
A collaborative meeting to determine where and how music will be placed within a film.
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Characters
The Spy Double-Agent is a character archetype in espionage fiction who pretends to work for one intelligence agency while secretly remaining loyal to another.
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Storytelling
A spy film is a genre that focuses on the world of espionage, secret agents, and intelligence agencies, often involving adventure, action, and suspense.
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Genres
A spy spoof is a subgenre of comedy film that satirizes and parodies the conventions of the spy thriller genre.
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General
SubRip Text subtitle format storing timed dialogue in plain text with simple sequence markers.
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Filmmaking
An SRT stream is a video feed transmitted using the Secure Reliable Transport protocol, which is designed to deliver high-quality, low-latency video securely over unpredictable public networks.
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General
Stable Diffusion is a powerful, open-source text-to-image model that can be run on consumer-grade hardware, democratizing AI image generation.
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Pop Culture
When a performer jumps off the stage into the audience, trusting fans to catch them.
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Filmmaking
High-profile virtual production platform using real-time engines and LED volumes for in-camera effects.
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Storytelling
Stakes are the significant consequences or what is at risk for the characters if they fail to achieve their goals.
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Pop Culture
A social media profile dedicated to celebrating and promoting a particular celebrity or cultural phenomenon.
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Pop Culture
A fervent fan phenomenon characterized by obsessive admiration and defense of a public figure.
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Pop Culture
A subcommunity on Twitter renowned for its passionate and often contentious fan-driven discourse.
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Genres
A stand-up special is a feature-length film of a comedian's performance, which has evolved into a distinct and often highly cinematic genre.
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Industry
A standby call is a type of call time where a cast or crew member must be available and ready to work on short notice.
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Filmmaking
A standby day is a day when a crew member is not actively working but must be available to be called into set on short notice.
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Storytelling
A romantic trope depicting lovers doomed by external forces or fate.
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Industry
A state film incentive is a program offered by a state government to attract film and television productions by providing financial benefits, such as tax credits, rebates, or grants.
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Industry
A financial incentive granting credits against state taxes for qualified production spending.
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Eight subject indexes, each with its own alphabetical list: filmmaking, genres and styles, characters, storytelling, industry, fandom, general terms and the rest.
