Level 1: Cinema and Theater

Actor (female actress) - a professional who performs on stage or plays in movies.

Example:

Not many people are actually aware of that, but becoming an actor is not that easy even for talented and charismatic people.

Backstage - the area in the theater behind the stage.

Example:

A few actors waited backstage while others were already performing.

Cast - all the actors who played in a movie or play.

Example:

This movie has an amazing cast. We should definitely go see it.

Casting - the process of selecting actors for certain roles in a movie or play.

Example:

The casting for our new movie will start in a week.

Cinema/ Movie theater - a place where films are shown on a big screen.

Example:

This is the oldest cinema in town. It was built more than a hundred years ago.

Entrance - the act of appearing on the stage.

Example:

The Odette entrance is one of the most iconic solos in ballet.

Film/ Movie - a story recorded by a camera that is shown to the audience in movie theaters or watched at home.

Example:

I adore Tim Burton’s movies for their dark aesthetic and incredible attention to detail.

Lines - the words an actor is supposed to say on the stage or while shooting a movie.

Example:

If you keep forgetting your lines, we will never shoot this scene.

Makeup - cosmetics applied to an actor’s face to make their features more vivid on screen or stage.

Example:

When you watch a movie and see a character who seems like not wearing makeup at all, in fact, this actor wears a lot of makeup. That happens because the lights used while shooting a movie kind of “eat up” the makeup and make it less vivid.

Mask - a face covering used as a disguise or to alter an actor’s face for a specific role.

Example:

To create an accurate representation of the book character, makeup artists made several special silicone masks for the actor.

Movie star - a famous actor or actress who mainly plays leading roles.

Example:

When I was a kid, I dreamt of becoming a movie star, but at that time I didn't realize that the chances of that happening were really low.

Plot - the main events in a movie, play, book, etc.

Example:

The acting was great, but I didn’t really like the plot.

Role - an actor’s part in a movie or play.

Example:

I still cannot believe I got a leading role in a big movie.

Stage - a special rectangular platform, usually in a theater, used for performances.

Example:

The stage in his theater is huge, which gives the directors a lot of freedom for their creativity.

To act - to perform in front of the audience or filming crew representing a character.

Example:

Acting in that famous play was an honor for me.

Action - a movie with a dynamic plot that often contains scenes of violence.

Example:

My boyfriend really likes action movies, but I find them rather violent and avoid watching them.

Comedy - a movie with many funny scenes.

Example:

’Friends’ is my favorite comedy ever.

Family movie - a movie for all ages that can be watched by the entire family.

Example:

Let's order pizza and watch a family movie with our kids.

Fantasy - a movie that contains supernatural events, magic, folklore, etc., and is often set in fantasy worlds.

Example:

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most famous fantasy movies in the world.

Romantic comedy - a movie about love that usually deals with it in a humorous way.

Example:

When I feel a little depressed, I just grab some ice cream and watch a romantic comedy. That really cheers me up.

Superhero film - a movie about superheroes.

Example:

My favorite superhero movie is probably Spiderman.

Teen drama - a movie about teenagers that usually contains love lines as well as features important topics for teenagers.

Example:

When I was fifteen, I adored teen drama, but now I find it silly.

War film - a movie about war.

Example:

Schindler's List is perhaps the most famous war film in the world.