A film is a collection of frames and images that tell a story. Their composition is just as important as their relationship to the frames that follow and precede them. The first films were static, showing events and actions that were happening around them, such as people walking down the street or the view from the front of a trolly. The first time a locomotive went by in a moving picture, the audience began to panic and run out of the theater in fear. Fortunately, the medium was evolving and filmmakers began to understand how to weave together different shots to tell a story.
Films may have a serious message, be educational, or entertain. Others are made for profit, but there is no reason to dismiss them. While both have their benefits, the terms aren’t exactly interchangeable. In the United States, the terms are generally used to refer to the same thing: movies that are produced for entertainment. However, when referring to a movie, the term “movie” connotes a low quality production. Moreover, the word “movie” implies a moving picture, which is why it has a negative connotation.
While the word “movie” can mean any number of things, the word “movie” is more frequently associated with the cinema than with a motion picture. A movie can be a purely artistic or commercial work. The term is derived from the French term ‘picture’, which means “moving picture.”