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Filmmaking Camera, lighting, sound, editing and the crew roles behind every shot.

Choreography: Meaning & Definition in Film

The art of planning and executing movement sequences in film.

  • 4 sections
  • 1 min read
  • Updated
On this page 4 sections

Definition and Scope

Choreography in film covers dance, action sequences and movement direction. Choreographers collaborate with directors, cinematographers and performers to craft visually compelling motion.

Techniques and Training

Choreography may draw from dance traditions (ballet, hip-hop), martial arts or physical theater. Rehearsals refine timing, spatial relationships and emotional expression through movement.

Integration with Cinematic Language

Effective choreography accounts for camera angles, editing rhythms and mise-en-scène, ensuring that movement translates powerfully on screen.

Choreography: Notable Practitioners

Choreographers like Busby Berkeley, Mandy Moore (La La Land) and Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix) illustrate the diversity and impact of movement design in cinema.

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More Filmmaking Terms

Entries filed on the same shelf as Choreography, each with the one-line answer first. They are the words that usually come up in the same conversation.

All 913 terms

  • Render Farm

    A render farm is a large computer cluster used to render computer-generated imagery for animated films and visual effects.

  • Shooting Draft

    The finalized script version used by cast and crew during principal photography.

  • Storyboard

    A sequence of illustrations that previsualizes the film’s shots and camera movements.

  • Atmosphere Track

    An atmosphere track, also known as a background track, is a continuous audio recording that establishes the sonic environment and sense of place for a scene.

  • Insert Shot

    An insert shot is a close-up shot of a detail within the scene, often used to emphasize a specific object or action.

  • Flat

    Flat is a filmmaking term for motion pictures presented in a standard, non-anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio, typically 1.85:1.