B-films are off-beat, low-budget movies that generally come from independent producers. B-films have become to be defined by campy acting, catchy titles, and low-grade special effects. They were predominant from the 1920s to the late 1940s and were shot quickly with little-known, second rate actors, short run times, and low production values. Often the second film (or the "lower half") of a double-feature and paired with an A-feature. Sometimes B-films were exclusively shown in a grindhouse, especially in the 50s and 1960s. As code restrictions waned in the late 60s, B-films often became exploitation films, adding sensational and catchy titles, campy acting, cheesy special effects, and gratuitous violence and sexuality (nudity). Not to be confused with cult films, although some B-films attained cult status.

The back end is net receipts or profits generated by the film that is payable to equity participants.

Back projection is a photographic technique whereby live action is filmed in front of a transparent screen onto which background action is projected. Back projection was often used to provide the special effect of motion in vehicles during dialogue scenes but has become outmoded and replaced by blue screen (or green screen) processing and traveling mattes. Also known as rear projection or process photography (or shot). Contrast to matte shot.

Back to one is the phrase used to cue performers to return to the mark where they started the scene.

The backdrop is a large photographic painting or backing, seen in the background of a scene. The backdrop typically portrays a landscape, such as mountains. Backdrops were more commonly used before film studios either shot on set or used green screens.

Background refers to anything occurring in the rear plane of action (the background instead of the main action or attention in the foreground). Abbreviated as "b.g."

The background artist is the crewmember who designs the visual background of a film scene, either traditionally painted or using digital technology. Also known as a "matte artist."

Background music is the score or music heard in the background of a scene. Generally, the background music helps set the tone or mood of the scene or enhance the emotion.

Backlighting occurs when the lighting for the shot is directed at the camera from behind the subject(s), causing the figure(s) in the foreground to appear in semi-darkness, silhouette, or highlighted. With backlighting, the subject is separated from the background.

The backlot is outdoor space on studio property away from the studio stages, where filmmakers shoot real-life situations with backgrounds. This differs from on-location shoots where the team goes to an actual part of the city to film. Various studios in the Los Angeles area offer "backlot tours."

Backstory refers to events that transpired directly before the film began. Backstory can help fill in information about certain characters so that the actors or the audience can better comprehend motivations.

Balance refers to the composition, aesthetic quality, or working together of the figures, light, sound, and movement within a film's visual frame.

Banning refers to blocking a film's release (in a theatre showing or on video) by the government or an official movie classification board for political, religious, sexual, or social reasons. See also censorship.

Barn doors is production slang term for the black metal folding doors on all four sides of a light that can be bent back and forth on their hinges to control where the light is directed.

Barney is a blanket placed over the film camera to reduce the noise of the moving mechanisms inside. See also blimp.

Based on a true story is the phrase used with scripts that consist of a storyline that has at least some basis in real historical events and may contain only a few factual elements. These films, loosely based on various biographies, stories, or events, may/may not significantly alter the characters or situations for greater dramatic effect. "Inspired by a true story" indicates the film is even looser with the factual basis of the events.

Beat refers to an actor's term for how long to wait or pause before performing an action. In a screenplay, a beat may be signified through the use of ellipses (...).

Behind the scenes are the off-camera events or circumstances during filmmaking.

Below the line includes production expenses that are not "above the line," such as material costs, film crew salary, music rights, publicity, the trailer, and more. Below the line is opposite of "above the line."

Best boy is the term for any technical assistant, apprentice, or aide (regardless of sex) for the key grip or gaffer on a set, responsible for the routing and coiling of power cables necessary to run the lights for a shot. Also schedules the people and equipment needed for a day's work. Best boy is a gender-neutral term that came from whaling. Also known as "Assistant Chief Lighting."

Beta is the 1/2-inch videotape, originally called "Betamax."

Billing is placement or display of names of actors, directors, and producers for a movie in publicity materials, opening (or closing) film credits, and on theatre marquees. Billing represents a person's status is indicated by the size, relative position, and placement of their name. Generally, higher positions closer to the top with larger and more prominent letters designate higher importance and greater box-office draw and precede people of lesser importance.

Bio is a short for biography. Bio is the term for a resume printed in a program or press release.

Bio-pic, or biographic, is a biographical film about a real-life subject. A bio-pic is often seen as a subgenre of dramas and epics. Examples of biopics include "The Last Emperor" and "Rocketman."

A bit part, or bit player, is a small acting role (usually a single scene, such as a waiter) with very few lines or acting. In contrast to a "cameo," "extra," or "walk-on role."

Biz is shorthand for the business or show business."

Black and white simply means without color. Before the invention of color film stock, all films were black and white. "Monochrome" (literally meaning "one color") usually refers to a film shot in black and white, although it can refer to a film shot in shades of one color. Grainy B&W is often used to convey authenticity. Abbreviated as "BW," "B/W," and "B&W." In contrast to "color."

Black comedy is a subgenre of comedy that rose in prominence around the 1950s and 1960s. Black comedy takes typically serious subject matter, such as death and war, and treats them with macabre humor. "Fargo," "American Psycho," "Fight Club" would be considered some of the best black comedies of all time.

Blacklisting is a term popularized during the McCarthyism of the late 1940s and early 1950s where actors, directors, and other prominent people in Hollywood were effectively banned from employment for perceived connections with communism. Today, “blacklisted” individuals are those who have trouble finding work due to a variety of reasons (difficult to work with, wronged someone powerful, etc.).

Blaxspoitation is the film genre that combines the terms "black" and "exploitation." Blaxsploitation refers mainly to sensational, low-budget films in the 1970s featuring mostly African-American casts (and directors) that broke the mold of black characterization in feature films. Usually emphasized fads of the time in hairstyles, music and costuming, brutality, racism, militant attitudes, etc.

Blighty is a term used to refer to Britain.

A blimp is sound-deadening, fiberglass housing for a noisy movie camera to prevent the recording of extra sounds by the camera's motor or sound equipment.

Blockbuster originally referred to a large bomb that would destroy an entire city block during World War II but is now common usage, for an impactful movie that is a huge financial success, usually with a box-office of more than $200 million (the new benchmark by the early 2000s, after the original mark was $100 million) upon release in North America. Ticket lines for blockbusters literally go around the "block." Also known as a "box-office hit." Term may also refer to a costly film that must be exceptionally popular to recoup its expenses and make a profit. The opposite of a blockbuster is a "bomb," "flop," or "turkey." See "all-time box-office bombs/flops."

Blocking is the movement of the performance by the performers.

Blocking a shot, or blocking a scene, is the process by which a director determines where the actors stand, where the lights will shine, and how to position the camera. Generally, blocking a shot happens with the director before bringing the actors on set to start filming.

A blooper is an error or mistake (misplaced action or misspoken dialogue by a performer), usually embarrassing or humorous, made by a performer during filming. Some films play bloopers over the end credits. Also known as a "goof," "flaw," or "flub." See also "continuity."

A blow-up is the optical process involving the enlargement of a film frame or photographic image. A blow-up was often used to make 70mm film prints from original 35mm movies.

Blue screen is a special-effects process whereby actors work in front of an evenly-lit, monochromatic (usually blue or green) background, screen, or backdrop. The background is then replaced (or matted) in post-production by chroma-keying or optical printer, allowing other footage or computer-generated images (CGI) to form the background image.

A blurb is another name for a commercial or advertisement, usually for TV.

A body double is an on-camera performer who takes the place of an actor in scenes that require a close-up of body parts without the face visible, often for nude scenes requiring exposed close-ups (considered distasteful by some actors), or scenes requiring physical fitness. Not to be confused with a "stunt double" or "stand-in."

Bollywood is the huge filmmaking industry in India. It derives its name from Bombay (now Mumbai) and Hollywood. Sholay and Mother India are examples of Bollywood films.

Bookends is a term denoting scenes at the beginning and end of a film that complement each other and help tie a film together. Also known as "framing device."

Booking is a term used when a performer locks a role.

The boom is a traveling or moveable counter-balanced pole (also called fishpole or fishing rod), arm, or telescoped extension device upon which a microphone, light or camera can be suspended overhead above a scene and outside the frame during filming (by a boom operator or boom man). For example, a microphone (mic) boom, a camera boom, or a light boom. The most common film mistake is the appearance of the boom mic (or its shadow) in the frame. A mechanical boom mic is known as a "giraffe."

The boom operator is the crewmember that holds the boom microphone, closest to the action, to best absorb quality sound. On smaller sets, this will also be the role of the production sound mixer.

The boom shot is any shot where the camera is attached to a mechanical arm like a crane or jib.

Bootleg refers to illegally copied, unauthorized, and/or distributed version of a copyrighted film/video/DVD, often of second-rate quality. Bootleg is also termed "pirated."

A bounce board is a production device used to reflect light during filming. It is typically a solid white surface constructed out of poster board or foam. A bounce board helps add a soft light to a scene.

Bowdlerize refers to purging anything considered disturbing, vulgar, or adult in content to make it sanitized for mass-market consumption and appropriate for children. Bowdlerize was originally a literary term derived from the name of Englishman Thomas Bowdler, who published a "censored" Family Shakespeare version in the early 1800s.

Box office is the measure of the total amount of money or theatrical receipts paid by movie-goers to view a movie. Also referred to as "B. O." or "gross." Box office is usually divided into "domestic grosses" (unadjusted and adjusted for inflation) and "worldwide grosses." Films with great box-office results or a strong and outstanding performance are often termed "boff," "boffo," "boffola," "whammo," "hotsy," or "socko."

Bracketing is the process of shooting the same scene multiple times using "F-stops" resulting in different exposures. An F-stop is the ratio of the focal length of a lens to the entrance pupil’s diameter.

Bridging show is a transitional type of film shot used to cover or "bridge" a jump in time or place or other discontinuity. See also "audio bridge" and "match-cut."

A buddy film is a subgenre of film (comedies, westerns, dramas, action films, road films, etc.) in which two mismatched persons are forced to work together. Buddy films situations are often contrived to present the pair with challenges or strains that both strengthen their bond and weaken it. Buddy films are often action/comedy films with witty dialogue between the two characters and sometimes the inclusion of a love triangle. Compare to a "fish-out-of-water tale."

Building a scene means to use dramatic devices such as increased tempo, volume, and emphasis to bring a scene to a climax.

Bumper is a segment that plays before the movie begins. A bumper typically contains the movie studio’s logo. Disney movies have a bumper of a magical castle, for example.

A butterfly is a large sheet of fabric used to diffuse a wide area of light.

Buzz is a slang for the sense of excitement, expectancy, and hype that surrounds a film, an actor, or a director.

A buzz track is a soundtrack of natural, atmospheric, on-location background noise added to the re-recorded (or looped) track of actors' dialogue and other sound effects recordings to create a more realistic sound. The buzz track is also known as "room tone" or "matching ambient sound." A "wild track" or "wild sound" refers to a soundtrack without any synchronized picture accompanying it (e.g., the sounds of a playground).

Stage 32 Glossary

B-film (B-movie, B-picture)

back end

back projection

back to one

backdrop

background

background artist

background music

backlighting

backlot

backstory

balance

banned

barn doors

barney

based on a true story

beat

behind the scenes

below the line

best boy

beta

billing

bio

bio-pic (biographic)

bit part (bit player)

biz

black and white

black comedy

blacklisting (blacklist)

blaxploitation

Blighty

blimp

blockbuster

blocking

blocking a shot (blocking a scene)

blooper

blow-up

blue screen (blue screen shot; green screen)

blurb

body double

Bollywood

bookends

booking

boom

boom operator

boom shot

bootleg

bounce board

bowdlerize(d)

box office

bracketing

bridging shot

buddy film

building a scene

bumper

butterfly

buzz

buzz track