ACADEMY AWARDS - Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence in the film industry. The 1st ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. The private dinner was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and director William C. DeMille, with less than 250 people attending! The awards were publicly broadcast by radio and TV after 1953.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

SECOND UNIT - A team that shoots footage which is of lesser importance for the final motion picture, like scenery or establishing shots. The second unit also shoots in expensive or dangerous locations. For example, when making The World Is Not Enough, a small team with a Pierce Brosnan body double filmed in Istanbul, then used a replica set in England to shoot Pierce’s close-up scenes.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

POLITICAL CINEMA - Film which portrays current or historical events or social conditions in a partisan way in order to inform or to agitate the audience. Political cinema exists in different forms such as documentaries, feature films, or even animated and experimental films. The difference from other films is not that they are political but how they portray a particular political viewpoint, whether positively or negatively.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY - The phase of film production in which the movie is actually shot. Principal photography is the most expensive phase of film production and marks a “point of no return” for the financiers. While films may lose their greenlight status during pre-production (for example, if a major cast member drops out), it’s very unlikely for finance to be withdrawn once principal photography has started!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

SCENE STEALER - An actor who draws attention from or overshadows other actors in the same production, as by charm or quality of performance. Scene stealing attracts attention from the person to whom the center of interest legitimately belongs. Actor Steve McQueen was legendary among Hollywood circles for his subtle scene-stealing, especially in cowboy flick The Magnificent Seven.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

VIDEO WINDOW- The period between the release of a feature film to movie theaters and its release for the home video or DVD market. In the movie business, ticket-buyers now account for just a small fraction of the money earned by each film–Hollywood studios now get less than 15% of their proceeds from box office receipts! Other related “windows” include the pay-per-view window and the broadcast window.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

PRE-CREDIT- The section of the film which is shown before the opening credits are shown. Many films have a short scene before the credits to introduce characters who may become crucial to the film’s plot. This sequence is often an event which is seemingly minor but will become significant later in the film. TV series also use pre-credit scenes, like (perhaps most famously) Law & Order.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

NICHEBUSTER- A film that succeeds to a considerable degree within a certain group or demographic, as opposed to a blockbuster, which has mass appeal. Many people have already heralded niche films as the future of filmmaking. One popular example is the Warner Independent Pictures documentary March of the Penguins, which has grossed $120 million worldwide–the initial niche was nature lovers!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

TITLE RUSE – Using a fake working title to keep a high profile film’s production a secret, which can be essential when a film’s fans threaten to disrupt the filming process. For example, while filming in Chicago, The Dark Knight was given the false title “Rory’s First Kiss” to lower the visibility of production. But once the local media uncovered the ruse, the truth spread like wildfire and the set was flooded with fans!

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

COLD OPEN – The technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown. In television, cold opens are used to capture the audience so they won’t switch to another channel. Cold opens are popular in films as well. A well-known example is the pre-title teaser which occurs in nearly all of the James Bond films.

By Alisha, InstantCast assistant editor

METHOD ACTING – A technique in which an actors aims to mirror the personality of their character with the ultimate goal of the most believable performance possible. To achieve this, an actor may stay in-character both on and off the set and incorporate the character’s psychological and physical state (i.e. using a cane) into their own life. Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro are famous for their use of method acting.

By Alisha, InstantCast staff writer