Getting specific about Theme, Concept + Premise

A Glossary is a very useful thing. For an Idea to be valuable it needs to be shared and communicated. This sharing requires language and descriptive terms. And this leads us back to the Glossary. If we’re going to share, talk about and ultimately enact new and good ideas we need a common vocabulary.

In making movies and screen media, in the teaching and discussing of ideas connected to screen production, there a significant number of words and terms that are bandied about with weight and importance and yet too often lack clarity of definition – one mans premise is another womansconcept.

This is a dilemma and its one that leads to a dark place. Empty and vacuous terms tossed around without weight or significance. Buzz words and double-speak that serves no one and does a good Idea no justice. Chief among the terms so often used in screen production and screen studies that evoke such mixed and often contradictory understandings are Theme, Premise and Concept…

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