page 75 n.— «In a typical Hollywood screenplay, there comes a moment just before the third act when the protagonist is faced with certain defeat. It is the part of the film in which the bad guys gain crucial ground after a series of...
stagger n.— «Myself, I go to the run-through and then to what is called the “stagger”, the first rehearsal without a script in one’s hands.» —“She put me in mind of the Hollywood star of whom it was enquired, ‘Would you...
gabber n.— «The guild was pointing out how soon television might grind to a halt, including shows like Saturday Night Live (almost immediately) and what the trades call “gabbers,” like the Letterman show (the host was a union...
magical black man n.— «“Angel Levine” introduces us to another flying Jew, without feathers, this time simply black, a magical black man, Alexander Levine, by name, but by narrational locution, “the Negro.”…Where...
hard figure n.— «Some might call Clappy a dummy for not taking such a high-profile part in a Hollywood movie. But you’re not supposed to call him that. The proper term is “hard figure,” those in the ventriloquism trade say. Clappy is a...
pickle shot n.— «But eventually he skateboards past a bush that reveals his private parts—at least in outline—for what Hollywood insiders call the “pickle shot.” No spiky hair down there.» —“The Simpsons Movie—The Times...