blockbusting
[adjective]
(particularly of a novel, motion picture, etc.) commercially successful in terms of sales and reception
Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL - The Entertainment Industry
Here you will learn some English words about the entertainment industry, such as "cameo", "closeup", "backlot", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.
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ad lib
[noun]
a line that is recited in a speech or performance without prior preparation
Ex:
During
the
live
broadcast
,
the
anchor
handled
an
unexpected
technical
glitch
with
a
smooth
ad lib
,
maintaining
the
show
's
flow
seamlessly
.
cameo
[noun]
a minor role that is played by a well-known actor
Ex:
The
director
included
a
subtle
cameo
by
a
beloved
veteran
actor
,
paying
homage
to
the
classic
films
that
inspired
the
new
production
.
cliffhanger
[noun]
an ending to an episode of a series that keeps the audience in suspense
Ex:
The
movie
's
cliffhanger
ending
left
audiences
clamoring
for
a
sequel
,
eager
to
see
how
the
story
would
unfold
and
the
characters
'
fates
resolved
.
closeup
[noun]
a detailed and tightly framed photograph or film shot of a subject at close range
Ex:
The
director
opted
for
a
closeup
of
the
object
to
emphasize
its
significance
within
the
scene
.
soliloquy
[noun]
a speech that a character in a dramatic play gives in the form of a monologue as a series of inner reflections spoken out loud
Ex:
The
soliloquy
served
as
a
window
into
the
character
's
psyche
,
shedding
light
on
their
motivations
and
internal
struggles
.
intermission
[noun]
a short pause between parts of a play, movie, etc.
Ex:
Moviegoers
used
the
intermission
to
stretch
their
legs
and
visit
the
restroom
.
denouement
[noun]
the last section of a literary or dramatic piece where the plot is concluded and all the matters of the work is explained
Ex:
The
film
’s
denouement
tied up
all
loose ends
,
leaving
the
audience
with
a
sense
of
closure
.
green room
[noun]
a room in a theater, a studio, etc. in which performers can relax while not performing
Ex:
After
her
set
,
the
musician
retreated
to
the
green room
to
unwind
and
chat
with
her
bandmates
about
the
performance
.
backlot
[noun]
an outdoor area in a movie studio, where large exterior sets are constructed and some scenes are shot
Ex:
On
the
backlot
tour
,
guests
were
treated to
behind-the-scenes
insights
into
movie
magic
,
from
elaborate
set
constructions
to
cutting-edge
special effects
.
clapperboard
[noun]
a device used in moviemaking that consists of a hinged board, the parts of which are hit together as the shooting of a scene begins to make sure the sound and the picture are synchronized
filmstrip
[noun]
a series of still images on a film, through which light is shone in order to be projected on a screen
cinematography
[noun]
the art and methods of film-making, especially the photographic aspect and camerawork
Ex:
The
film
won
an
award
for
its
breathtaking
cinematography
,
capturing
stunning
landscapes
.
montage
[noun]
a technique or process of selecting, editing, and pasting separate footage in order to create a motion picture
Ex:
The
documentary
used
a
montage
to
illustrate
the
impact
of
climate change
over the years
.
comedy of manners
[noun]
a comic play, movie, book, etc. that portrays the behaviors of a particular social class, satirizing them
Ex:
"
An Ideal Husband
"
by
Oscar Wilde
entertains
with
its
biting
comedy of manners
,
critiquing
Victorian
moralities
.
farce
[noun]
a play or movie that uses exaggerated humor, absurd situations, and improbable events to entertain
Ex:
The
classic
farce
relied on
slapstick
humor
and
mistaken
identities
.
vaudeville
[noun]
a type of comic theatrical production combining pantomime, dance, singing, etc. popular in the 1800s and early 1900s
Ex:
One
of
the
most
famous
vaudeville
acts
was
the
Marx Brothers
,
whose
zany
antics
and
witty
humor
delighted
audiences
across the country
.
film noir
[noun]
a type of movie involving crime including shadowy footage and dark background music that depicted cynical characters caught in dangerous situations
Ex:
"
The
Third Man
"
is
a
film noir
set in
post-war
Vienna
,
where
an
American
writer
investigates
the
mysterious
death
of
his
friend
and
uncovers
a
conspiracy
involving
black marketeers
and
espionage
.
matinee
[noun]
a musical or dramatic performance that takes place in daytime, especially in the afternoon
Ex:
They
studied
classic
films
to
learn
about
the
evolution
of
matinee
in
cinema
.
whodunit
[noun]
a story, play, movie, etc. about a mystery or murder that the audience cannot solve until the end
Ex:
The
film
is
an
engaging
whodunit
,
following
the
detective
's
meticulous
investigation
to
uncover
the
identity
of
the
elusive
murderer
.
continuity
[noun]
the organization of a movie or TV show in a way that the actions and details are consistent in a series of following scenes
debutante
[noun]
a woman who is making a public appearance for the first time, especially in movies or sports
understudy
[noun]
an actor who practices the lines of another actor in order to replace them if necessary
Ex:
The
understudy
had to
memorize
the
script
quickly
when
called
upon
to
perform
.
flashback
[noun]
a scene in a story line that interrupts the chronological order and takes the narrative back in time
fourth wall
[noun]
an imaginary barrier that separates the mise en scene and the fictional characters from the audience, especially in a theatrical performance
Ex:
The
playwright
's
clever
use
of
the
fourth wall
allowed for
intimate
storytelling
,
as
characters
shared
their
innermost
thoughts
and
feelings
with
the
audience
in
moments
of
vulnerability
.
franchise
[noun]
a set of related movies, novels, or other creative works that portray the same character or characters across multiple installments, often in different settings or situations, forming a unified narrative or brand
Ex:
The
franchise
has
expanded
into
video games
,
merchandise
,
and
theme park
attractions
.
computer-generated imagery
[noun]
the use of computer software to create special visual effects in a movie, commercial, etc.