The Movies Glossary
This is not a complete glossary but rather a collection of important terms. If it were comprehensive this glossary would indeed span multiple posts so in an effort to reduce the amount of scrolling required for this first page, the glossary is intentionally incomplete. However, the important terms are listed.
A
action - A film genre dealing with danger and excitement.
activity icon - An icon as represented by either a lightning bolt, a "Zz", or a camera representing what a worker is currently doing in a studio.
actor - A worker who acts in the films and portrays the characters.
Activision - The official publisher of
The Movies.
addictions - The level of dependance a star has on food or alcohol.
advanced movie-making - The manner in which a user makes an innovative and creative movie using all resources provided by
The Movies.
age of discovery - The bonus that gives laboratory research a 20% increase in speed.
ambience - The audio that assists in making a set or location seem more life-like.
AMM - An abbreviation for “advanced movie-making”.
archiving - The preservation of a movie to be watched later, but removing its card on the right side of the screen. Archiving can only be done after all profits are made.
assets - Items that are released with the progression of the timeline that will assist in studio or movie development.
attractiveness - The overall visual appeal of a studio.
audio - The sound of a movie including but not limited to music, sound effect, and ambience.
avatar - The visual image that represents a user in the forums.
awards - 1. A prize recieved for achievements either in
The Movies or
The Movies Online. 2. An element of a studio's rating determined by how many awards are won in the previous awards ceremony.
awards ceremony - A ceremony that takes place every five years on the timeline in which awards are issued to various studios.
B
backdrop - An image that is placed behind sets in
The Movies to give the illusion of realism.
bar - A place where stars can eat to reduce stress or enhance relationships.
best acting performance - The award that’s given for the star with the highest acting performance in any movie released since the last awards ceremony. To win, the star must rank in the top 10 of the movie charts at the time of the ceremony. Comes with a “Super Star” bonus.
best direction - The award that’s given for the star with the highest director performance in any movie released since the last awards ceremony. To win, the movie must rank in the top 10 of the movie charts at the time of the ceremony. Comes with a “Midas Touch” award.
best employer - The award that’s given for the studio with the highest average star mood since the last awards ceremony. Comes with a “Brainwasher” bonus.
bonus - An extra feature a studio receives after winning an award.
Box Officer Factor, The - The system used to chart movies on
The Movies Online through the average community rating, number of community views, and number of days since its release of the movie.
brainwasher - The bonus where public boredom with overused sets and actors is cut in half. This improves novelty score and thus movie success.
builder - A worker who’s responsible for the building and maintenance of structures.
C
capital - A rating that relies on how much money a studio has.
card - An item that lines the left or right side of the screen and is used to represent scripts, stars, or movies in
The Movies.
catering - The level of availability of food in a studio.
casting - Assigning duties to crew members, extras, actors, and directors for a film.
casting office - The facility where a user can assign casting roles.
ceremony - See “awards ceremony”.
charts - See “online charts”.
cleanliness - The amount of litter on the lot. The fewer pieces the higher this rating.
comedy - A film genre dealing with humor.
connectiveness - The rating as to how well all structures are linked to pathways.
continuity - A term referring to the lack of visual errors such as characters switching places between shots.
copyright - the exclusive right, granted by law for a certain term of years, to make and dispose copies of, and otherwise to control, a literary, musical, or artistic work.
cosmetic surgery - The facility where a user can place stars to gain physical attributes.
costume - The attire that a character or star wears including clothing, make-up, and/or jewelry.
credits - The author, publisher, or otherwise creator of a work as represented by text at the beginning and/or end of a film.
crew - The group of workers responsible for assisting in the filming of movies.
crew facility - The facility where a user can hire crew members.
custom script office - The facility where a user can customize the elements of a script.
cut - 1. The act of removing an element in the editing room. 2. The act of finishing a segment of filming.
D
decoration - Any item that assists in the prestige of a studio.
dev - An abbreviation for developer.
developer - An official worker for
The Movies.
director - A worker who overseas the creation of a film.
dressing - the act of decorating a set using various props.
E
easy to please - This bonus makes upper and lower mood thresholds for all stars ship up to 75% and down to 15%, respectively. If a star’s thresholds are better than those values, they’re left unchanged.
editing - The customization of certain elements of a film ranging from scene length, audio, special effects, and more.
entourage - A worker who sees to the needs of a star.
experience - How skilled a star is in a particular genre. This also applies for workers globally ( without the genre classifications).
export - 1. The final version of a film. 2. The act of converting a film into a separate video file either on a user’s computer or on
The Movies Online.
extras - Minor acting roles that require less attention.
F
facility - Any building that serves a function and is not a set on the studio lot.
fade - A gradual transition from one scene to another, usually through black.
filter - The tool that enables a user to pick specific scenes by filling in a criteria.
flora - The grass, trees, flowerbeds and more that can be placed in a lot for added prestige.
forum - An electronic meeting ground for users to discuss and ask questions pertaining to certain topics. Forums usually consist of threads which consist of posts. Forums are usually run by moderators.
free love - The bonus where relationship building between stars is accelerated.
G
genre - A classification of movie or script type by its contents.
grass - A landscape that features greenery but can be worn down in time.
guiding stream - The next place you should place a star, movie, script, or other person signified by a thick line that connects the element to the suggested location.
H
half price - This bonus causes one-half of your stars’ salaries are paid by the Lionhead Motion Picture Academy. Only half the amount of your stars’ stated salaries is deducted from your funds. Thus, if your star payroll is $200,000, actual expenses for the year will be only $100,000. This has no impact on your star’s salary satisfaction since they’re still being paid in full, just not entirely from your studio.
highest charting movie - The award that’s given for the movie at the top of the movie charts. Comes with a “Easy to Please” bonus.
highest charting newcomber - The award that’s given for the highest ranking star hired since the last awards ceremony. Comes with a “Quick Learner” bonus.
highest charting star - The award that’s given for the star at the top of the star charts. Comes with a “trend setter” bonus.
highest charting studio - The award that’s given for the studio at the top of the studio charts. Comes with a “half price” bonus.
highest climbing star - The award that’s given for the star who makes the biggest leap in the star charts since the last awards ceremony. Comes with a “No Worries” bonus.
highest climbing studio - The award that’s given for the studio that makes the biggest leap in the studio charts since the last award ceremony. Comes with a “Party On” bonus.
horror - A film genre dealing with scary or frightening elements.
I
image - The visual representation of a star in the realm of fashion and current genre popularity.
implants - A function of the cosmetic surgery facility that will increase a star's physique rating.
information bubble - The circle of information that appears when hovering the mouse over an item.
J
janitor - A worker who cleans a studio lot and picks up litter.
K
key code - The number located on the back of
The Movies[I] manual that enables installation of [I]The Movies.
L
laboratory - The facility where a user can place scientists to research ways to enhance the studio, stars and films.
leading role - Also referred to as “the lead”, this is the most prominent actor or actress in a films story.
Lionhead Motion Picture Academy - The company in
The Movies game that issues awards every five years on the timeline.
Lionhead Studios - The official developer of
The Movies and
The Movies Online.
liposuction - A function of the cosmetic surgery facility that will increase a star's physique rating.
lip-synching - The function that will assign dialogue tracks to sync with the movement of a user’s star’s lips.
lot - The physical design of a studio’s location.
M
machinima - A portmanteau word for machine cinema and/or “machine” “animation” as both a collection of associated production techniques and a film genre (film created by such production techniques) that is known primarily for its use of in-game engines of video games to create movies.
makeover department - The facility where a user can place a star to choose new outfits, hair, makeup and more.
maintenance - The average repair level of all facilities and sets on the studio lot.
midas touch - The bonus where the final movie rating of any movie helmed by the award-winning director increases.
mod - 1) An abbreviation of moderator. 2) Any alteration of the original game files
moderator - A user in the forums that has the power to ban other users, to manipulate threads (lock, move or sticky), and more.
mood - The level of enthusiasm and overall happiness of a star.
most prestigious studio lot - The award that’s given for the studio with the highest lot prestige at the time of the ceremony. Comes with a “Age of Discovery” bonus.
most prolific star - The award that’s given for the star who appeared in the most movies since the last awards ceremony. Comes with a “Perfect Fit” bonus.
most prolific studio - The award that’s given for the studio that released the most movies since the previous awards ceremony. Comes with a “Free Love” bonus.
movie charts - The charts that rank the various studio’s movies.
movie quality output - The award that’s given for the studio with the highest total final movie ratings since the last awards ceremony. Comes with a “On the Radar” bonus.
movies - 1. The films that are shot and released in either
The Movies or
The Movies Online. 2. An element of studio rating that is affected by the quality of films released.
Movies, The - A video game created by Lionhead and published by Activision enabling the player to play a simulation of a Hollywood studio. The video game also enables the user to create machinima-style movies to upload on a community website.
movie card - The visual representation of a ready or released film that appears on the right side of the screen while playing
The Movies. This gives information about money made from the film, the film’s star rating, if the film is still making money, and the film’s progress.
movie mogul ranks - The different ranks a studio head receives by accomplishing certain achievements.
movie player - Watch movies you’ve saved or downloaded in this player.
Movies Online, The - An online extension of
The Movies, where a player can upload machinima-style movies made in
The Movies video game to receive virtual credits to buy additional content for the game.
music - The melodies that accompany a movie.
N
nip & tuck - A function of the cosmetic surgery facility that will increase a star's look value.
no worries - The bonus where stress and boredom bars decline at one-half the normal rate. This means it takes twice as much work or downtime to drop stress or boredom to the tolerance threshold.
O
on the radar - The bonus where the public awareness effect of PR on stars and movies and of marketing spend on movies is doubled. Thus, it takes half the normal time ti fully PR a movie or star and half the money to achieve the normal marketing spend.
online balance - The amount of virtual credits a user currently has.
online charts - A system that displays which user (represented by the user’s studio), which movie and which user’s stars are currently in the top 25 positions.
ornamants - Items that can be displayed around a studio lot to increase prestige.
overlay[/url] - A feature included with your copy of The Movies : Stunts and Effects, you can learn how to make overlays here or download them from the Static Overlay Gallery.
[B]overuse limit - The decrease of effect on prestige an ornament has after placing numerous of the same ornaments.
P
party on - The bonus that cuts the star’s addiction levels in half therefore making it where it takes twice the consumption for a star to become addicted to food or alcohol.
path - A cement pavement that increases travel speed of studio workers.
payroll - The amount of money you spend yearly on all of your star’s salaries.
perfect fit - The bonus that makes all your star’s genre fit ratings double.
photographer - A free-lance worker that assists in increasing the press rating of a star by taking pictures of them in newsworthy situations.
pips - A diamond-shaped element that fills in a larger diamond (divided into fours) that represents the standing of such as studio prestige and more.
post - a comment made within a thread by a forum user.
post production - The facility where a user can edit, add music or special effects, and add subtitles or speech to a filmed script.
PP - An abbreviation for “post production”.
PR - An abbreviation for “public relations”.
prestige - The level of visual attraction a studio has determined by ornaments, sanitation, catering, and more.
production office - The facility where a user can view and alter the budget and also where the user can release movies and see reviews.
profile - A user’s personal information that others can publicly view.
props - The items that can be placed in a scene.
PropShop, The - The online store within
The Movies Online that allows the user to purchase additional content (sets, costumes, props, etc.) using virtual credits.
publicity office - The facility where a user can raise awareness of a movie or star.
public relations - The awareness and overall good relations kept with the public as attainable by the publicity office.
Q
quality - The specific level of a movie’s visual integrity.
quick learner - The bonus where staff and stars gain experience at 110% of normal speed.
R
ranking - The level of classification that determines the overall quality and success of a studio, movie, or star.
rehab - The facility where a user can place stars to get rid of addictions.
relationships - The level of personal interaction between stars that helps to determine how well they get along on and off set.
release - The posting of a film to make money either on
The Movies (simulated dollar amounts) or on
The Movies Online (virtual credtis).
reputation - the system of ranking that classifies how helpful or pleasant a forum user is.
research - The different technology a studio can receive through the decades.
research pack - A collective group of technology advancements.
restaurant - A place where stars can eat to reduce stress or enhance relationships.
restroom - The facility where studio workers can use sanitation services.
restroom: large - A level 2 restroom facility.
restroom: small - A level 1 restroom facility.
restroom: VIP - A level 3 restroom facility.
reviews - 1. Comments made by the in-game program that assists in defining what is and isn’t right in a movie. 2. Comments made by users of
The Movies Online about uploaded movies.
rival studio - Any studio either in
The Movies or
The Movies Online that is also releasing films and trying to gain a high position in the charts.
romance - A film genre dealing with the relationships between people.
running time - How long a film takes place.
rural - A classification of sets dealing more with desolate, non-technological or natural areas.
rural: field - A set featuring a field.
rural: forest - A set featuring a forest with a number of trees.
rural: graveyard - A set featuring a graveyard on a hilltop with a number of tombstones.
rural: musty cellar - A set featuring a small wooden cellar.
rural: shack exterior - A set featuring a small cabin/shack in the middle of the woods.
rural: shack interior - A set featuring the interior of a small cabin.
S
salary - How much a star is paid.
sand - A landscaping featuring sand that can be placed on the studio.
SandBox - A mode of gameplay within
The Movies that allows you to use unlocked content and customize you’re the gameplay.
sanitation - The level of availability of restrooms.
scene - The action that a character or characters perform on a set.
sci-fi - 1. Short for “science fiction”, this is a film genre that deals with technology and futuristic or alien elements. 2. A classification of sets dealing with alien worlds and ships.
sci-fi: alien world - A set featuring an alien planet.
sci-fi: corridor 1 - A set featuring design 1 of a spaceship corridor.
sci-fi: corridor 2 - A set featuring design 2 of a spaceship corridor.
sci-fi: corridor 3 - A set featuring design 3 of a spaceship corridor.
sci-fi: starship bridge 1 - A set featuring design 1 of a spaceship bridge.
sci-fi: starship bridge 2 - A set featuring design 2 of a spaceship bridge.
sci-fi: starship bridge 3 - A set featuring design 3 of a spaceship bridge.
scientist - A worker who researches ways to enhance the studio, stars and films.
script - A set of instructions as to how a movie is to be made within the in-game engine of
The Movies. These are rated in quality and come in five different genres.
script office - The facility where a user can assign scriptwriters to make a script in a specific genre.
script office: basic - This facility produces one-star scripts.
script office: first class - This facility produces four-star scripts.
script office: intermediate - This facility produces two-star scripts.
script office: proficient - This facility produces three-star scripts.
scriptwriter - A worker that creates scripts.
script card - The visual representation of a script that appears on the right side of the screen while playing
The Movies. This gives information about the script genre, star rating, and progress.
search - The function that allows a user to find and locate certain posts or threads.
set - The location that a movie is filmed on.
shooting - The process of filming.
slider - A customization tool that allows a user to alter scenes.
snack van - A small catering structure.
sound effect - The audio element of realistic noises such as coughing, door’s opening, and more.
stage - A small set that can be catered to fit any set classification.
staff - The workers of your studio that are not classified as stars.
stage school - The facility where a user recruits actors, directors, and extras. Stars can also be imported via StarMaker.
star - 1. Any actors or directors used in
The Movies. 2. A ranking system ranging from 1 to 5 stars used to determine the quality of movies, scripts, stars, or studios. 3. An element that affects studio rating as determined by the collective star ratings of all individual stars.
star card - The visual representation of an actor or director that appears on the left side of the screen while playing
The Movies. This gives information about the stars stress levels, addictions, star level and more.
star charts - The chart that ranks the various studio’s stars.
star performance - A star's skill in an area as determined by mood, experience, and genre fit.
star and script selling facility - The facility where a user can sell a star or a script for money.
star trails - The in-game suggestion of where to place a star, movie, script, or other person signified by a trail of stars that connects the element to the suggested location.
StarMaker - A modding tool designed to customize the facial and personal aspects of stars to be used
in
The Movies.
structure - The manner in which a script’s story is outlined.
studio - 1. The in-game simulated company that a user runs to make movies. 2. A real life company that users can use to release movies on
The Movies Online.
studio charts - The charts that rank the various studios.
subtitles - The text that is placed on the lower third of the screen in a movie, usually representing spoken words or text on a sign or book.
suburban - A classification of sets dealing with residential landscapes and town-themed buildings.
suburban: diner - A set featuring a small diner.
suburban: living room 1 - A set featuring design 1 of a living room.
suburban: living room 2 - A set featuring design 2 of a living room.
suburban: modern jail - A set featuring a contemporary jail and office.
suburban: bathroom - A set featuring a bathroom complete with a shower, toilet, and sink.
suburban: school corridor - A set featuring a hallway of a school with lockers.
suburban: school library - A set featuring a library suitable for a school or public library.
suburban: street - A set featuring two houses on a residential street.
super star - The bonus that increases the final movie rating of any movie featuring the award-winning actor or actress.
T
tarmac - A landscaping featuring cement and tar used primarily as roadways.
technology - The level of quality in a film's picture integrity and overall items at disposal.
thread - An initial post creates a thread, which is a topic in which other users can post under. Threads can be seen from the forums main page.
threshold - The most a star can take before stress levels considerably rise.
thumbnail - A frame selected as a visual representation of a movie on
The Movies Online.
timeline - The line along the top of the screen while playing
The Movies that shows the passage of time from the past, present day, to the future with each segment representing one year.
TM - An abbreviation for
The Movies.
TMO - An abbreviation for
The Movies Online.
TMOA - An abbreviation for
The Movies On-Air
track - A line of media that is used to represent either video or audio in the editing process.
trailer - The on-studio residence of a star.
trailer: cheap - A level 2 trailer.
trailer: comfortable - A level 3 trailer.
trailer: palatial - A level 5 trailer.
trailer: plush - A level 4 trailer.
trailer: rickety - A level 1 trailer.
traveling vehicle - A set classification featuring a moving backdrop to simulate movement.
traveling vehicle: automobile - A set featuring a moving backdrop for cars or an alien craft.
trend setter - A bonus that doubles genre interest in every genre for all your studio’s films, increasing the success and revenue of every release.
tropical - A set classification featuring sets that deal with jungles and beaches.
tropical: beach - A set featuring a large beach with rocks.
U
uploading - The act of placing a movie on
The Movies Online for ratings, comments, competitions, and/or virtual credits.
urban - A set classification dealing with larger cities.
urban: alleyway - A set featuring an alleyway.
urban: bar - A set featuring a bar with booths, tables, and a small dance floor.
urban: city block corridor - A set featuring an intersecting hallway of a hotel or apartment complete with an two elevators.
urban: city street - A set featuring a large city street.
urban: modern bank - A set featuring a contemporary bank.
urban: municipal building - A set featuring a large stone building with pillars.
urban: office - A set featuring a large office with a single desk, window and door.
urban: plush hotel bedroom - A set featuring a lavish room at a hotel or apartment.
urban: rooftop - A set featuring a simulated high-altitude rooftop.
urban: shabby hotel room - A set featuring a run-down room at a hotel or apartment.
urban: subway carriage - A set featuring a subway car.
urban: subway station - A set featuring an underground subway station.
urban: wall - A set featuring a portion of a building's wall.
user - 1. A registered member of a forum or online community. 2. A participant of a computer program.
user CP - An abbreviation for “user control panel”
user control panel - The function that allows a user to alter certain personal parameters.
V
VC - An abbreviation of “virtual credit”.
virtual credit - A credit valuable towards the PropShop to purchase additional content (sets, costumes, props, etc.) for
The Movies video game.
W
war - A set classification dealing with battles, weaponry, and damaged structures.
war: battlefield - A set featuring a large open battlefield.
war: bombed street - A set featuring a street of a war torn city.
wild west - A set classification dealing with western themed locations.
wild west: bank - A set featuring a western themed bank.
wild west: desert - A set featuring a desert complete with desert flora.
wild west: jail - A set featuring a western themed jail.
wild west: saloon - A set featuring a saloon with a bar, piano, and various tables.
wild west: street - A set featuring a western town with western buildings.
X
Y
Z