Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Blumenfeld’s Dictionary of Acting and Show Business. Robert Blumenfeld. 377p. Milwaukee: Limelight Editions, 2009. 978-0-87910-363-7; 2008-45504. $19.99.

With his background as an actor, dialect coach and author of practical guides to acting, Robert Blumenfeld is well-qualified to explore the jargon of acting and show business. From “above scale” to “zoom out,” his dictionary defines more than 2,500 terms used in film, television, radio and theater. The terminology comes from all areas of production, from scriptwriting, auditions and rehearsals to performance, editing and voiceover recording. While the scope emphasizes acting and directing, special attention is given to the language of music, dance, recording and even contract negotiation. From Greek choruses to vaudeville gags, the coverage includes historical and archaic theater terms. British usages (for example, “interval” for “intermission”) and contemporary slang (“kudocast” for award shows) are also explained. Stage directions, technical terms, colloquial expressions, film genres, scenery, equipment, lighting techniques and venues are likewise defined. From advance men and gaffers to grips and wranglers, the roles of countless crew and support personnel are illuminated. The succinct entries often note multiple meanings, parts of speech, usage and the historical origins of terms. Pronunciation guides are included for many foreign language terms. An index of people helps to highlight the history of show business and the categorized subject index groups terms into broad fields of entertainment. The result is a comprehensive but affordable guide that will serve students, teachers and professionals.