About the Film Language Glossary

The Film Language Glossary is an innovative teaching tool for the study of film, designed to enhance screenings, readings, lectures, and discussions throughout the duration of a course. It provides definitions of essential terms used in basic and advanced film courses that are representative of all the major categories of film studies: practical terminology, technical terminology, the language of business, and historical terms, as well as the language of criticism and theory. Through the use of multimedia within the definitions, users will have a more complete understanding of the terms being defined—an explanation of the theory and a demonstration of the practice. Specifically, terms combine visual text, film clips, and audio commentary in creative ways, delivering them in high-quality media for classroom use and private study.

The Film Language Glossary is available to Columbia students over the campus network. Definitions and audio commentary are written by faculty at Columbia University. The glossary will continue to grow each academic semester, as new terms are written by the teaching staff. In addition, selections from graduating MFA students in the Film Division of the School of the Arts can also be found on the site.

If you are interested in contributing to the glossary or using it in your course, please send an e-mail to ccnmtl-filmglossary@columbia.edu.

Copyrights and Permissions

The Film Language Glossary is developed and maintained by the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL) for the purpose of promoting and advancing education and scholarship related to film and media studies. Other uses are not authorized by CCNMTL or Columbia University. Inquiries about copyright or other matters may be sent by e-mail to ccnmtl-filmglossary@columbia.edu.

For information about copyright at Columbia University, visit the website of the Copyright Advisory Office at http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/.

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System Requirements:

Display: 1024 x 768 pixel resolution or higher recommended; 800x600 pixels resolution minimum
Network Connection: The recommended connection is broadband connection (LAN, DSL, or cable modem).
Windows browsers: Latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer 8 or later. Javascript enabled.
Mac OS browsers: Latest versions of Safari, Firefox, Chrome. Javascript enabled.
Plug-ins: Quicktime

Credits

Faculty Partners

Richard Peña
Associate Professor of Film, Columbia University, Program Director, Film Society of Lincoln Center, and Chair of Selection Committee, New York Film Festival.

Nancy Friedland
Librarian for Butler Media, Film Studies and Performing Arts at Columbia University

Faculty Contributors

Larry Engel
Adjunct Professor of Film, Columbia University

David McKenna
Adjunct Professor of Film, Columbia University

James Schamus
Professor of Film, Columbia University

Project Manager

John Frankfurt

Video Production

Brian O'Hagan, Lead
Stephanie Ogden

Interface Design

Marc Raymond

Developer

Catherine Jhee

Creative Direction

Elizabeth Day

Production Director

Ted Bongiovanni

Executive Producers

Frank Moretti
Maurice Matiz

Special Thanks

Jonah Bossewitch
Andrew Boynton
David Miele
Peter Sommer

Copyright © The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York 2004, 2005