archival footage (also "stock footage") (noun): footage from the past used in a new film - The archival footage was from old news broadcasts.
biographical documentary (noun): a documentary about a person's life - Is it a biopic or a biographical documentary?
box office hit (noun): a film many people have paid to see - If our film's a box office hit, we'll be rich!
box office record (noun): a record for highest ticket sales or box office earnings - It broke the box office record in China!
chronicle (verb): to make a record of a series of events - The film chronicles the events that led to World War One.
document (verb): to record something on film or in writing - We should document our trip and make a movie about it.
documentary (also "doco") (noun): a film or TV show about real events or real people - Let's see that new rap music documentary.
experimental documentary (noun): any documentary made in a new style - My brother is doing an experimental documentary that combines home movies and historical footage.
exposé (noun): a report or a film that reveals hidden facts - You should do an exposé on companies that avoid paying tax.
expository documentary (noun): a documentary that tries to persuade us of something - Brad loves making expository documentaries on social issues.
feature film (noun): a full-length film made for release in cinemas - Most feature films are between 80 and 140 minutes long.
host (noun): a presenter who appears on-screen during a film or TV show - David Attenborough's the host in lots of wildlife documentaries.
interview (noun): a meeting in which one person asks another person questions - I enjoy watching interviews where journalists are on location with their guests rather than in the studio.
narrator (noun): a person who does voice-overs for films or TV shows - Why don't you get Morgan Freeman to be the narrator?
observational documentary (noun): one in which we see whatever the camera records - Observational documentaries make you feel like you're really there.
photojournalist (noun): someone who reports news by filming or taking photographs - Being a photojournalist can be really dangerous.
political documentary (noun): a documentary about the use or abuse of political power - My dad loves watching political documentaries.
re-enact (verb): to recreate a past event by acting, wearing costumes, etc - We saw an American Civil War battle re-enacted at Gettysburg.
slow motion (also "slo-mo") (noun): a film technique that slows down movement on screen - The birds are shown in slow motion.
time-lapse (adjective): of a film technique that speeds up movement on screen - Check out the time-lapse shots of traffic from above.
title screen (noun): written information on screen for viewers to read - Did you read everything on the title screen before it disappeared?
voice-over (noun): recorded words heard during a film or TV show - Have you recorded the voice-overs yet?