Portuguese, like any language, has its own set of terms and expressions specifically tied to film and television. Here are some key Portuguese vocabularies that pertain to the world of the moving image, which may be useful for enthusiasts looking to discuss this topic in the language or even for those venturing into the industry itself.

Roteiro
The word “roteiro” in Portuguese refers to a script or screenplay. It’s the written text for a film, television show, or play, including the dialogue and instructions for actors and directors.
O roteirista passou meses aperfeiçoando o roteiro antes da produção começar.

Diretor
“Diretor” translates to director, the individual responsible for overseeing the artistic and dramatic aspects of a film, controlling the film’s visual narrative, and guiding the actors and crew to fulfill that vision.
O diretor trabalhou em estreita colaboração com os atores para garantir uma atuação autêntica.

Cena
The term “cena” stands for a scene, a sequence of continuous action in a movie, opera, book, or play.
Aquela cena no final do filme foi extremamente emocionante.

Elenco
“Elenco” means cast, referring to all the actors and actresses who play roles in a particular play, film, or television show.
O elenco do filme incluiu muitos atores conhecidos.

Filme
Quite straightforwardly, “filme” is the Portuguese word for film or movie.
Fomos ao cinema para ver o último filme do nosso diretor favorito.

Série
A “série” refers to a television series, which is a show with a predetermined number of episodes.
A nova série brasileira da Netflix tem recebido críticas excelentes.

Figurino
“Figurino” denotes the costume or wardrobe, an essential part of the visual elements in a production that helps define the characters and the setting in which the story takes place.
O figurino do espetáculo foi inspirado na moda vitoriana.

Efeitos especiais
Special effects in Portuguese are referred to as “efeitos especiais.” These are illusions or visual tricks used in the film, television, theatre, video game, and simulator industries to simulate the imagined events in a story or virtual world.
Os efeitos especiais do filme foram tão realistas que me senti como se estivesse no espaço.

Cinematografia
Cinematography, “cinematografia” in Portuguese, is the art of photographing and recording motion pictures.
A cinematografia daquele filme foi responsável por criar uma atmosfera sombria e envolvente.

Dublagem
Dubbing, or “dublagem,” is the process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting.
Prefiro assistir a filmes na língua original, mas a dublagem pode ser uma opção quando estou cansado.

These terms form the basic lexicon when discussing film and television in Portuguese, giving language learners a good starting point for exploring this facet of media in a new language. Whether it’s the gripping “cena” of a “filme” or the impressive “efeitos especiais” employed by the “diretor,” these words will help you articulate your experiences and critiques of visual storytelling in Portuguese.