Author Description

This expanded, updated version of a book that has become a standard reference in film studies defines clearly and concisely the essential terms of film analysis, appreciation, and production. The Dictionary of Film Terms is unique among handbooks of its kind for focusing on the aesthetic values of filmmaking; technique (the wipe, the crosscut, the process shot) - is consistently explained in light of how it functions in the service of artistic expression. New to this edition are descriptions of the latest developments in such areas as animation techniques, special effects, and sound aesthetics and a number of stills from films released since the publication of the first edition; more than 100 stills from classic and contemporary films are included. Extensive cross-referencing among individual definitions ensures easy access to specific terms, and a comprehensive topical index relates terms to larger concepts of film art by grouping them under such wide-ranging categories as editing, cinematography, composition, and lighting. The Dictionary of Film Terms is a valuable compendium of definitions of aesthetic techniques (the use of ambient sound, camera angle), theoretical concepts (auteur criticism, film acting), styles (Hitchcockian, naturalist, neorealist), and genres (film noir, screwball comedy) that together comprise the language of motion-picture expression. Students of film and weekend movie buffs will find it a useful companion for better understanding the art of film.