Cinema

1 Match the types of films with the phrases that are most likely to describe them.

  a  thriller               a  romantic  comedy           an  animated  film

  a  sci-fi film          a horror  film                         a  costume  film

1 An all-action movie with great stunts and a real cliffhanger of an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat.

2 Set on a star cruiser in the distant future, this film has great special effects

3 A hilarious new film, about two unlikely lovers, which will have you laughing  out loud.

4 Based on a novel by Jane Austen, this new adaptation by William Jones has been filmed on location at Harewood House in Hampshire.

5 A fantastic new computer-generated cartoon, featuring the voice of Eddie Murphy as the donkey.

6 This new film will scare you to death.

Now match the words in italics in the descriptions to the definitions below.

1 exciting

2 not filmed in a studio

3 the story comes from (a novel)

4 dangerous action sequences like car chases or people falling from skyscrapers

5 amazing, impossible visual sequences, often created by computers

6 changing a novel to a film screenplay

7 where the story takes place

8 exciting end – you want to know what happens

2 Use the words below to answer the questions.

            the latest release     the soundtrack         a trailer

            the  credits                a  multiplex               the rushes

            the title                      a screen  test

1 What do you call the songs and background music to a film?

2 What do you call a big cinema with lots of screens?

3 What do you call the bit at the start of the film that tells you the name of the film, the actors and director? And what do you call the words on the screen at the end that tell you who played who, and who was the cameraman, set designer, etc.?

4 Which phrase means a new film?

5 Which word means a short film made to advertise a new film?

6 What do you call film before it is edited?

7 What do you call a short scene filmed to find out if the actor is good in a particular part?

3 What is the difference between the following?

1 A film and a movie

2 An arthouse film and a blockbuster

3 A co-star and an extra

4 A cameraman and a projectionist

5 The cinema and the pictures

6 The cast and casting

7 Action! and Cut!

4 When making a movie, in which order do you do the things in the list?

            editing  the film                               filming

            casting                                             releasing  the  film

            writing  the screenplay                   finding  location

5 Film reviews often use compound adjectives to describe films. Make

compound adjectives by matching words in A with words in B.

Example action-packed

A                                 B

action                         moving

slow                            packed

spine                           warming

breath                         fetched

hard                            taking

heart                           chilling

far                               hitting

6 Use compound adjectives from 5 to complete the film reviews below.

Beautiful People is a romantic melodrama. It lasts three hours, and has a ________________ plot, which gets a bit boring. However, the _________________ performance by Tim Franks in the central role will move you to tears. It also has a ________________ message about how we should deal with AIDS.The Monster Movie is both a comedy and a horror film. It has a _______________ storyline, which you just won’t believe, but it also has some ________________ stunts, which look really dangerous. It has a _______________ ending which is so scary you will cover your eyes.

7 Think of a film that you have seen recently, and answer the questions.

1 What was the name of the film?

2 What sort of film was it?

3 Who directed it? Who starred in it?

4 What was it based on?

5 Where was it set?

6 What was it about?

7 How would you describe the film, the performance of the actors, the stunts

and special effects?

8 Would you recommend it? why?

Interview your partner about their film. Tell the class about your partner’s film.

Using the Macmillan English Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and CD ROM

If you have access to the Macmillan English Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and CD ROM, do the following quiz. You can find all the answers by finding the key word film, and following the various links. You can also try the quiz if you don’t have the dictionary.

Films Dictionary Quiz

1 Name three places where you see films.

2 What is the difference between a cartoon and an animated film?

3 What does captured on film mean?

4 What does filmic mean?

5 What’s a film noir?

6 If something is filmy, is it thin or thick?

7 What’s a roll of film?

8 What’s the difference between a director and a producer?

9 If something films over, what happens?

10 Complete the sentence: it’s a film about….

11 Find two meanings of film that have nothing to do with cinema and Hollywood.