Rack focusing refers to an on-screen film technique of focus change that blurs the focal planes in sequence, forcing the viewer's eye to travel to those areas of an image that remain in sharp focus; the focus changes from an object in the foreground to an object in the background or vice versa, to direct, shift, and steer the attention of the viewer forcibly from one subject to another. Also known as "selective focusing" or "pull focus."

Also known as the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) film rating system, first officially instituted in late 1968. Rating system refers to the ever-evolving classification system for films usually based upon age-appropriateness, and the judgment of a film's suitability for various audiences, in terms of sexual content, offensiveness, or violence. See also "censorship."

A re-enactment is a film production that re-creates an actual event as closely as possible.

A re-release is a revival or rebroadcast of a work by the original distributor, studio, releaser, or broadcaster.

A reaction shot is a quick shot that records a character's or group's response to another character or some on-screen action or event; often accompanied with a POV shot. Reaction shots are usually cutaways.

Real-time is the actual time it would take for an event to occur in reality, as contrasted to filmic time (time can be sped up or slowed down). Real time and filmic time often coincide for long sequences within a film. Also see "running time."

Realism involves filming so that the reality outside the camera is shown in a neutral style with as little distortion and interference as possible; realism is attained by long, uninterrupted takes, deep focus shots, and other filmic techniques. Contrast to "expressionism." Similar to the "reality" of docudramas. See also "Cinéma Vérité."

Rear screen projection is a special effects technique to create backgrounds, in which actors are filmed in front of a screen on which a background scene is projected; commonly used in early films to produce the effect of motion in a vehicle. Also see "process shot," "process photography," or "back projection."

Recoupment is the repayment of amounts contributed to the financing of a film.

Red carpet refers the common locale for live interviews and photo opportunities; literally, to "roll out" a welcoming red carpet for major ceremonies (film premieres, awards ceremonies) to signify an important, honorary event with dignitaries and esteemed guests attending.

A red herring is a plot device using foreshadowing to deliberately plant information to make viewers suspect an outcome, but the audience is to be deceived, the opposite happens and the false clue “plant” is irrelevant. A red herring is often done for humor, irony, or for other thematic reasons. Contrast to "McGuffin."

Redlight is a film project that had previously been greenlighted but has now been canceled, either temporarily or permanently. It is also known as a "film in turnaround."

A reel is a metal or plastic spool for winding film. Older movies would be measured in reels since one reel would equal about 10 minutes of running time. More contemporary connotations refer to reels as highlights of an actor or director's work used to get more work.

Reference refers to how one film in its storyline (through dialogue, images) alludes to, recalls, or refers to another film. Similar to "homage."

Reissue refers to a studio releasing a work subsequent to the original or initial release. Similar to "re-release."

Release is the process of advertising, promoting, and physically distributing films to theaters or other media.

Remake refers to a later production (of a previous film), with different credits, script, and cast; a redone, second version of a film's narrative and subject matter. Remakes have been common throughout all of film history.

Rembrandt lighting is a film lighting technique utilizing one light and one reflector or two separate lights. Rembrandt lighting is predominantly characterized by a lit-up triangle underneath the subject’s eye on the less illuminated area of the face (fill side).

Rentals refers to that portion of film grosses that goes to film distributors. Rentals also refers to videocassette (or DVD) rentals.

Reshoot contingency refers to funds saved by the producer in case supplementary shoots, or reshoots, are necessary to complete a film. These reshoots often occur after test screenings or when studio executives offer their input.

Residuals are compensation paid to above-the-line individuals beyond the theatrical window.

A resolution is the outcome, or the "untying" of tension in the scenes after the climax of a film. Refers to how things turned out for all of the characters. Some films abruptly end without a scene following the climax. The resolution is also known as the "denouement."

A resume List of credits. A resume may also include a headshot and reel depending on the production role.

A retrospective is a tribute, exhibition, or 'looking back' at a film star's, artist's or director's work over a span of years with a comprehensive compilation or montage of film clips or excerpts; also known as a retro. Also, in terms of a screenplay, a film in which nearly the entire story is looking back in time at events that have already taken place, usually accomplished by flashback.

Revenue refers to any money made through distribution of a project.

A reverse angle shot is a camera angle composed of a shot photographed from the opposite (or reverse) side of a subject to provide a different perspective or different angle from the preceding shot. In a dialogue scene between characters, a shot of the second participant is commonly composed as an over-the-shoulder shot; sometimes known as a 180-degree angle shot or change in perspective. The alternating pattern between two characters' points of view is known as "shot/reverse shot."

Reverse motion refers to a trick camera effect, created by running film backwards in the camera or during optical printing. Also known as "reverse action."

Revisionistic is a term for films that present an apparent genre stereotype and then subvert, revise, or challenge it. Also known as "deconstruction."

A revival house is a film or exhibition theatres that are dedicated to emphasizing or specializing in only one type of film, such as foreign films, older films, silent films, classics, rarely-screened films, etc.

A rigger is a crewmember on set during filmmaking who sets up, hangs, and focuses lighting equipment and constructs scaffolding.

Roadshow refers to exploitation films (such as "sex-hygiene" films) with controversial content (disguised as educational medical information) that were heavily promoted and shown on the road, and would be packed up quickly in case of the authorities. Also refers to films that were released early and shown in prestigious theatres.

Roman a clef is a French term literally meaning "novel with a key." In film terms, roman a clef refers to a film in which actual persons/events are disguised or masked as fictional characters, but with a "key," the true persons/events are revealed.

Rotation refers to a camera rotation - which can be a vertical or horizontal pan; or rotation may refer to a camera move in which the camera is moved in a complete (or half) circle to produce a spinning, disorienting effect to the viewer. A partial rotation is termed a tilt.

Rotoscoping is an animation technique in which images of live, motion-picture action footage are traced frame by frame (manually or automatically) by animators; now a process that uses computers, although originally this was done by hand. See also "motion capture."

Rough cut refers to an early edited (or "cut") version of a film, with all the pieces of the film assembled in continuous, sequential order, but without any fancy editing. Also sometimes known as "first cut." One of the stages toward the final cut. Often used in a focus group screening.

Running time is a measure of the duration or length of a film, usually about two hours for a feature film.

A rush is a print of the camera footage from one day’s worth of shooting. It is typically shown without any editing or correction. The director will look through the rush before shooting for the next day. Also known as "dailies."

rack focusing

rating system(s) (ratings)

re-enactment

re-release

reaction shot

real-time

realism

rear screen projection

recoupment

red carpet

red herring

redlight

reel

reference

reissue

release

remake

Rembrandt lighting

rentals

reshoot contingency

residual

resolution

Resume

retrospective

revenue

reverse angle shot

reverse motion

revisionistic

revival house

rigger

roadshow

roman a clef

rotation

rotoscoping

rough cut

running time

rush(es)

Stage 32 Glossary