Lesson 1: Film Vocabulary

In this lesson, we're going to present lots of vocabulary related to films.

We're going to talk about different types of films, different jobs and roles in films, we're going to talk about old films and new films and the technology that’s used to make films and as well as all of this, we’re going to talk about the language you can use when you discuss films. Learning the vocabulary in this lesson will help you in the rest of the activity week!

Sign up for our activity week Learning English: Football & Films here:

https://premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/live/activity-week-learning-english-football-and-films

On this page, we're going to look at lots of vocabulary connected to films. There are three sections. The first is the easiest and the third is the most difficult. In each section, there is an explanation of some vocabulary and an activity to check your understanding. When you have finished all three sections, try the quiz at the bottom of the page, then answer the questions at the bottom of the page and reply to at least one other learner's comment.

Vocabulary

How many types of film do you know?

There are many different types of films. When we speak about types or kinds of film we often use the word genre. The word genre means the type or style of film (it is also used in other forms of art). Some films are funny, some are scary and some are exciting. We use genres to describe these films. Look at the photos below, what would you call these types of films?

In this activity, look at the definitions and try to match them to the film type or genre.

Activity 1

Jobs

Who works in film?

The film industry employs thousands and thousands of people in many different countries. Here are some of the most well-known jobs in the film industry:

The producer is the person responsible for everything that happens from the start to finish. The producer works on everything from the concept to the script to casting through to editing. The producer has to manage all the rest of the people who are working on the film and make sure everybody does their job on time and on budget.

The director’s main job is to manage the technical and artistic team that make the film. The director runs the film shoots and tells everybody what to do. They work with the actors to help them perform their lines and actions so that the film can be edited into a story that makes sense.

The screenwriter is the person who turns the story into a script. It is their job to make sure the dialogue sounds natural and the sequence of events in the film take place in the right way so that the story progresses smoothly and in an interesting way. 

The Art Director is responsible for the film sets and props. The sets are the settings where the scenes take place and the props are the things like guns and tools that actors use. If a film is set in interesting places like in historical dramas or science-fiction films, the Art Director will be very important as they have to build complex environments and find realistic props.

The cinematographer is also known as the director of photography. They are responsible for setting up the camera shots. This means they have to decide what camera and lens to use and how the lighting needs to be set up to make the film look right. 

The editor’s job is to take the sound and film from the director and cut it together into a film. They have to take hundreds of different shots and organise them into one continuous sequence. They often work closely with the director so that the finished film looks the way the director imagined it.

The actors have the most famous roles in film production. They act out the script and try to portray the characters in the film, showing the emotions the characters feel as realistically as they can. Some actors try to really live like the characters they are playing and stay in character even between shots. However, not everyone who appears in a film is an actor. Some films have hundreds of extras. These are the people who are used when lots of people are needed e.g. crowds at a football match or in a market. Extras don't usually have speaking roles.

In this activity, look at the definition and decide what the name of the job is.

Activity 2

Do you know these film words and phrases?

Read the article about jobs again and look at the words in red. All of the words are used to speak about films. Think about what these words mean and then have a go at this activity. 

Activity 3

Comment

What do you think?

Welcome to our activity week Learning English: Football and Films. First of all, we would like you to say hello!

What's your name? Where are you from? 

Do you like films? What's your favourite type of film?

Would you like to work in films? What job would you like? Why?

Reply to at least one comment from another learner and then mark this lesson complete on the side of the page.

Write your answers in the comments section below.