Talkies – The nickname given to films where you could hear the actors talking. Origionally all films were silent as sound on film had not yet been invented. The first film to feature sound was “The Jazz Singer” made in 1929.

Mime - Acting without words is called mime and requires a greater use of an actor’s body and facial expressions in order to communicate to the audience what

he or she is thinking. Certain films (or genres) of film really thrived with no talking, in particular comedy. Famous comedians of the silent screen era included Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and of course Laurel and Hardy. Drama also worked in silence, but often the acting needed to be flamboyant and over the top, demonstrating the big emotions. This larger than life style of acting is referred to as melodrama. 

Studio – The studios in Hollywood were the companies who employed everyone needed (actors, director, etc) and paid for movies to be made. As the studio bosses had all the money, they had all the power and decided which films got made and which didn’t. Some of the original studios (inc. Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios) still exist and make movies today although the system of producing films has changed significantly since the 1950’s.

Screenplay – A play script written for the screen.

Salome – A biblical figure who in modern times, has come to represent danger and seduction (there are of course links between her and Norma Desmond). The bible story has it that Salome danced for King Herod and when he promises to give her anything, she asks for the death of John the Baptist.

Picture – An American word for a film.