P & A is short for “prints and advertising,” the most significant direct costs that a distributor incurs to release a film. It is recouped by the distributor from the gross receipts from the commercial release of a film, after the distribution fee is charged.

p.a. is the abbreviation for "personal appearance." Often required of major stars to promote or provide public relations marketing (PR) for their films.

PA is the abbreviation for “production assistant.” The PA is a member of the film’s crew who is responsible for numerous aspects of the production. The duties of a PA can vary greatly depending on the size of the film’s budget, as does how much a PA can make.

Pace refers to the speed/tempo of the dramatic action, which is usually enhanced by the soundtrack and the speed of the dialogue, the type of editing, etc.

A package is all the marketing elements of a film project, such as script, signed film stars, director, locations, "high-concept" hook, etc.

Pan is a noun, meaning 'to express a totally negative opinion of' a film, normally in a critical film review; also known as 'trashing' a film. Pan is also an abbreviation for a panorama shot, referring to the rotation, scan, or horizontal movement of the camera in one direction. In film criticism, pan means to express a negative opinion of a movie.

Pan and scan is a technique that avoids the "letterboxing" of a widescreen film for a full-framed 4x3 home video or TV picture, by focusing on the elements of the picture that are most important to the plot and by adjusting or cropping the image. When an important part of the image drops out of the visible screen, the picture is mechanically panned to the side (left or right in a ping-pong effect) to show the missing part. Hence, the term pan-and-scan; approximately 43% of the visuals are sacrificed or cropped out in the pan-and-scan version, affecting the director's original intent and aesthetic sense.

A paradox is a statement, proposition, or situation that seems illogical, absurd or self-contradictory, but which, upon further scrutiny, may be logical or true, or at least contain an element of truth.

Parallel is an editing technique that cuts between two sequences taking place at different locations and possibly different times. "Parallel action" refers to a narrative device in which two scenes are observed in parallel by cross-cutting. "Parallel sound" refers to sound that matches the accompanying image. Parallel can also be referred to as “cross-cutting" or “inter-cutting."

Parenthetical refers to screenplay directions (shown in parentheses) to guide a performer to deliver his/her lines in a particular way, such as (calmly) or (angrily), etc., but should not be over-used.

A parody is a comedy that imitates or makes fun of an existing work(s) in an absurd, non-sensical way, and exaggerates its characteristics.

Pass-through entity is a term for an entity whose taxable income or net operating loss is allocated to its owners according to the terms of that entity’s organizational documents and reported on such owners’ individual tax returns.

Payoff is a dramatic scene that justifies everything that preceded it. A payoff is the necessary result of a complication for which the audience has been prepared. Contrast to "punchline" and "money shot."

Payola refers to bribery or under-the-table payments.

Persistence of vision is an optical phenomenon where the illusion of motion is created because the brain interprets multiple still images as one. When multiple images appear in fast enough succession, the brain blends them into a single, persistent, moving image.

Persona is literally, Latin for “mask,” and related to the on-screen image or personality associated with a star.

Pick up refers to starting a shot from somewhere other than the beginning of a scene.

Pic, or pix, is a slang term for motion picture(s).

Picture within a picture is a particular storytelling approach, literally, to have one film within another. In some cases, the characters are aware of the "film-within-a-film," and break the fourth wall and enter into or interact with it. Also known as a subset film or film within a film.

Pin-up girl refers to the most sexually attractive star-actresses of an era, who would be popularized in seductive poses usually semi-clad in pictures, calendars, or mass-produced posters that were usually literally "pinned-up," usually with thumbtacks, on bedroom walls, the insides of lockers, and so forth. This practice started especially amongst GI servicemen away from home during military combat who pined for the "girl-back-home." Related terms for pin-up girl are "cover girl" (for magazine covers) or "cheesecake."

Pipeline refers to movie projects in the system that are under development or production and scheduled for release in the future. Pipeline is synonymous with "in the works," "in process," "underway," and "in the queue."

A pitch is an orally or written (sales) proposals for film projects usually made by screenwriters (to sell a screenplay idea), or independent producers for studio producers or executives to obtain financial backing; anything from a one-line description to a two or three-page treatment of an idea (before becoming a script). Also refers to short phrases that capture or succinctly sum up the script.

A pivotal character is a character that launches the action between the protagonist and the antagonist in the story, or the character who sets the main events of the plot in motion. Films with a classic "love triangle" involve a woman who serves as the "pivotal character" between two rival suitors.

Pixillation is a technique where the illusion of continuous movement in three-dimensional subjects, typically people, is broken up and made to look jerky or uneven. Pixillation is achieved by only printing selected frames from the continuously-exposed negative.

Plato’s "Allegory of the Cave" is a concept devised by the philosopher to ruminate on the nature of belief versus knowledge.

Plot and plot point are a series of dramatic events or actions that make up a film's narrative. A plot point is a key turning point or moment in a film's story that significantly advances the action. Plot points either set the story further into motion, or disrupt and complicate the plot. Also known as a "beat" or A story. Contrast to a subplot (also known as a B story or C story), which is a secondary plot in a film. A plot plant is the technique of "planting" an apparently trivial piece of information early in a story that becomes more important later on.

Point of view, or POV, is a perspective from which the film story is told, and to let the viewer know what the character is seeing; also refers to a shot that depicts the outlook, view, vantage point or position of a character; Also see "omniscient" and "subjective point of view," and "P.O.V. shot."

Porn refers to a film that exploits or graphically depicts sex, often rated XXX. See also "nudie" or "skin flick."

Portmanteau film refers to a style of film (usually of interwoven stories, as in an anthology film) in which everything revolved around or was tied together by a single event, or person, or single location. A portmanteau film is also known as a "package film" or "omnibus film."

Positive print refers to an original light image printed or captured on film. Opposite of "negative print."

A post-credits sequence is either a throwaway scene or an epilogue that happens during or after the end credits. The post-credits sequence is sometimes used as a bonus for theatergoers who remain to watch the credits, and partly to generate "buzz" about the extra scene. "Iron Man" ends with a post-credits scene of Nick Fury informing Tony Stark about the Avengers Initiative.

Post-modern is a description of all art that rebukes more modernist themes. Post-modern films work to subvert expectations of classic narratives and film structure.

Post-production is the final stage in a film's production after principal photography or shooting, involving picture editing, the addition of sound/visual effects, musical scoring, mixing, dubbing, distribution, etc. In digital post-production, can also include changing facial expressions, removing flaws or obtrusive objects (microphone, boom, etc.), enhancing the visual image, etc. Also known as "post." Contrast to "pre-production."

Post-synchronization refers to the post-production process of recording the sound after the film has been shot, often adding dialogue spoken by actors as they watch the projected film. Also known as "Automatic Dialogue Replacement," "ADR," or "post synching."

A potboiler is a literary reference to the hard-edged, American detective/crime thrillers (also often called "pulp fiction" or "dime novels" rapidly written and filled with violence, crime, and sex, to literally "boil the pot." Potboiler is also known as "hard-boiled."

P.O.V shot, also known as a point-of-view shot, is a subjective shot made from the perspective of one of the characters to show the audience the scene as it would look through the character's eyes; usually coupled (before and/or after) with a reaction shot (or a three-shot sequence called a "shot-reverse shot") to establish the POV; also known as first-person point-of-view shot or subjective camera (the use of the camera to suggest the POV of a particular character).

Pre-Code refers to the four-five years (1930-1934) before the enforcement of the Hays Production Code in Hollywood to rigidly sanitize and censor films. In film plots from mid-1935 and lasting about the next 30 years, adultery and promiscuity were prohibited (unless they ended in a miserable downfall), and all crimes (and their criminals) had to be punished.

Pre-production is the planning stage in a film's production after the project is finally greenlighted, and before principal photography or actual shooting commences, involving script treatment and editing/rewriting, scheduling, set design and construction, casting, budgeting and financial planning, and scouting/selection of locations. Contrast to "post-production."

Pre-sale involves licensing of the distribution rights to a film in a specific sales territory to a distributor before the film is completed.

Pre-screen is to view/watch/see a movie before it is released for the public (at the premiere).

A premiere is the first official public screening of a movie, marking the kick-off, opening, or opening night. A "red carpet" premiere is one with greater publicity and sensational promotion, or hype. A premiere is also known as a bow, debut, or preem.

The premise is the main idea of a movie, usually explainable in a few sentences.

A permium is a fixed charge that equity investors generally require the production company to pay on their investment before the production company shares in the back end.

A prequel is the second or third film released in a series of films that presents characters and/or events that are chronologically set before the time frame of the original movie. Contrast to "sequel."

A preview is a short film, usually with excerpts from a future film, intended as an advertisement. Sneak preview refers to an unadvertised, often surprise showing of an entire film before its general release or announced premiere, often to gauge audience reaction. Also known as a "trailer."

Principal photography refers to the filming of major and significant portions of a film production that involves the main/lead actors/actresses. Contrast to "second-unit photography."

Principals are the main characters in a play or film (usually those that have dialogue). Contrasted to "protagonists," "antagonists," or "extras."

Prison films are a very popular subgenre with the film's plot usually set within the walls of an institutional prison. Themes of prison films involve imprisonment and/or escape, the effects on the characters involved and interactions between officers and inmates, and issues of justice/injustice. The prison flick sub-genre can be found in any major genre (animated, drama, comedy, musical, science fiction, sexploitation, etc.).

Process, also known as a process shot or process projection, is a technique that shoots live action in front of a screen on which the background view is projected. A process shot refers to a shot of live action in front of a process projection.

A producer is one or more chief(s) of a film’s production. The producer is in charge of raising funds, acquiring a story, hiring key personnel, finalizing the script, and arranging for distribution. The producer often serves as the liaison between the filmmakers and the financiers.

Product placement refers to how companies buy advertising space within a film for their products, as a way for a producer to fund some film production costs.

Production is the general process of putting a film together, including casting, set construction, costuming, rehearsals, and shooting. Also refers to the middle stage of production which is preceded by pre-production and followed by post-production.

A production coordinator is the individual who ensures all departments are up-to-date with the same information to keep the set running smoothly.

Production design refers to a film's overall design, continuity, visual look and composition (colors, sets, costumes, scenery, props, locations, etc.) that are the responsibility of the production designer; the art department refers to the people in various roles (e.g., matte painters, set designers and decorators, illustrators, title designers, scenic artists, and storyboard artists) who work under the production designer's supervision; the art director is responsible for the film's physical settings (specifically refers to the interiors, landscapes, buildings, etc.)

The production designer is the crewmember that designs the visual landscape of the film. The production designer collaborates creatively with the DP and Director, they are responsible for the look of all sets, costumes, character makeup, and most other aesthetic decisions.

The production manager is the crewmember who is essentially the producer's other arm. The production manager’s job is to ensure that all requirements of the production are streamlined into the daily plan. They prepare the budget, oversee the assembly of the production team, and carry out any necessary production decisions that come up throughout the day.

Production negative cost is a term referring to the cost of producing the film, also known as the “budget.”

The production sound mixer is the crewmember who tracks the audio levels for the entire production. The production sound mixer will listen acutely to the monitor the sound with a pair of headphones, and, if needed, report any flaws, feedback, or unwanted background noise in the scene.

Production value refers to the overall quality of a movie. This value is based on criteria like set design and costumes. It is not based on criteria like the directing, acting, and the script.

Profit participation is a term for an equity participant’s share of the back end.

The projected return on investment measures the percentage of the expected aggregate return to the equity financiers as of the date the last of the projected gross receipts to be generated by the film are received by the production company and distributed to all financiers to the original amount invested by the equity financiers compounded annually over the period from the date of the production company breaks escrow to the liquidation date.

A projector is a machine that rapidly puts a succession of motion picture images (individual frames) up onto a screen, using the principle of illusion of motion.

A prologue is a speech, preface, introduction, or brief scene preceding the the main action or plot of a film. Contrast to "epilogue."

Promo is a slang term for sales promotion.

The prop master oversees the props department and is in charge of sourcing and organizing non-weaponized props.

A props builder or props maker is the individual who makes any props that cannot be purchased and repairs broken props.

Props, an abbreviation for properties, refers to the furnishings, fixtures, hand-held objects, decorations, or any other moveable items that are seen or used on a film (or stage) set but that are not a structural part of the set. Usually, props are the responsibility of the prop man or property master.

The protagonist is the lead or main character in a plot. Also known as "hero/heroine." The protagonist is in contrast to "antagonist."

A pull back is a type of camera shot in which the camera physically moves away from or zooms out from the subject to reveal the full context of the scene; the opposite of push in.

A punchline is a funny, witty line that culminates a story, joke or scene. Contrast with "payoff" and "one-liner."

A push in is a type of camera shot in which the camera physically moves toward or zooms in to the subject or object for a closer look. Opposite of "pull back."

Stage 32 Glossary

P & A

p.a.

PA

pace

package

pan

pan and scan

paradox

parallel (editing, action, sound, etc.)

parenthetical

parody

pass-through entity

payoff

payola

persistence of vision

persona

pick up

pic(s) (pix)

picture within a picture

pin-up girl

pipeline

pitch(es)

pivotal character

pixillation

Plato's Allegory

plot and plot point

point of view (POV)

porn (porno, or pornographic)

portmanteau film

positive print

post-credits sequence

post-modern

post-production

post-synchronization (aka Automatic Dialogue Replacement, or ADR, or post synching)

potboiler

P.O.V. shot (point-of-view shot)

pre-Code

pre-production

pre-sale

pre-screen

premiere

premise

premium

prequel

preview

principal photography

principals

print

prison film

process (projection or shot)

producer

product placement

production

production coordinator

production design

production designer

production manager

production negative cost

production sound mixer

production value

profit participation

projected return on investment

projector

prologue

promo

prop master

props builder (props maker)

props (property)

protagonist

pull back

punchline

push in