Film is an artistic endeavor produced by the recording of worldly images by the means of camera or the creating of these images by special effects or animation techniques. Films are regarded as artifacts of significant importance as they are an effective means of communication and a powerful method for teaching or educating a mass audience. Films are also considered as cultural artifacts which reflect particular cultures as well as affect those cultures. Films mainly gain popularity through attractions such as subtitles translations or dubbing.

Film term and research papers are significantly written MLA styles as all other art term and research papers but the writing styles may vary due to specific requirements such as word limits. Film term and research papers mainly tend to focus upon the details of techniques used such as special effects or the traditional techniques used such as frames. When these frames are rapidly shown one after another causes an illusion of motion occurring. The flickering between the frames remains unnoticed as the human eye only retains the image for a very short while once the source has been removed; this is called persistence of vision. It is through the beta movement (a psychological effect) whereby viewers perceive motion in the film.

The primary traditional medium for recording as well as displaying of motion pictures was film stock also commonly referred to as photographic film. Film term and papers also tend to focus upon the film theory that pertains to the development of systematic and concise concepts in the study of film as an art.