Film

A film is a motion picture, also often called a movie (originally slang for moving picture). Films, collectively, are often called cinema. Motion pictures are an art form, a popular form of entertainment, and a business.

The word film also often refers to photographic film used to make still photographs, or to the flexible strip of plastic covered in a light-sensitive silver halide solution, also called filmstock, on which motion pictures have historically been made.

Film venues

Originally, all films were made to be shown in movie theaters. The development of television has allowed films to be broadcast to larger audiences, usually after the film is no longer being shown in theaters. Recording technology has also enabled consumers to rent or buy copies of films on video tape or DVD, and Internet downloads may be available. Some films are now made specifically for these other venues, being released as made-for-TV movies or direct-to-video movies. These are often considered to be of inferior quality compared to theatrical releases.

Development of film technology

Originally moving picture film was shot at various speeds using hand-cranked cameras; then the speed for mechanized cameras and projectors was standardized at 16 frames per second, which was faster than much existing hand-cranked footage. A new standard speed, 24 frames per second, came with the introduction of sound. Improvements since the late 1800s include the mechanization of cameras, allowing them to record at a consistent speed, the invention of more sophisticated filmstocks and lenses, allowing directors to film in increasingly dim conditions, and the development of synchronized sound, allowing sound to be recorded at exactly the same speed as its corresponding video.

As a medium, film is not limited to motion pictures, since the technology developed as the basis for photography. It can be used to present a progressive sequence of still images in the form of a slideshow. Film has also been incorporated into multimedia presentations. However, film also creates problems in terms of preservation and storage, and the motion picture industry is exploring digital alternatives to film.

People involved in films

Actors

Film crew

Film critics

Film directors

Screenwriter

Movie studio

Experimental filmmaker

Lists

• List of movie-related topics
• List of 'years in film'
• Decades in film:
  • 1920s _ 1930s _ 1940s _ 1950s _ 1960s _ 1970s _ 1980s _ 1990s _ 2000s
• List of movies by title, beginning with:
  • a number _ E-I _ S-Z

External links, references, and resources

• Rasp New Movie Database Information about released, new, and upcoming films, listed by title, year, or person
• The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Information on current and historical films, cast listings, etc.
• Rotten Tomatoes Overview of reviews of a film
• Ain't It Cool News Rumors and reviews about current and upcoming films
• The Open Movie Database An effort at OpenSourcing the information on IMDB. A good try, but it hasn't worked yet.
• Yahoo! Movies Information on specific movies, including upcoming movies by title, date, actor
• Box Office Mojo Box office figures by date, genre, etc. including box office records
• The Numbers Box office figures by movie, actor, etc. including box office records
• AllWatchers Comprehensive movie reviews. Really dissects every movie down to bits of categorisable information.

Referenced By