KURE Dark LogoKURE Light Logo
ArticleDiscussion

Feature-Length (Dictionary)

Cinema And Television
fav gif
Save
Quote
kure star outline

Definition:

  1. Film Duration: In cinema and television terminology, it refers to films typically lasting 60-90 minutes or longer. According to international standards, a film is considered feature-length if its runtime is generally 70 minutes or more.
  2. Type: Designed to tell a story in greater detail, feature-length films are intended for theatrical release.

Etymology:

  • Derived from the French term "métrage" (measurement, length), used in cinema to denote the length of a film reel. The concept evolved as films transitioned from short reels to longer formats suitable for detailed storytelling.
  • Historical Usage: In the early days of cinema, films were predominantly short. Feature-length films gained popularity with advancements in technology and storytelling techniques. One of the first feature-length films is the Australian production The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), with a runtime of 70 minutes.

Applications:

  1. Cinema: The term "feature-length" is a standard category in film production.
  2. Television: Refers to films produced for theatrical release but also broadcasted on television.
  3. Academic Studies: In cinema theory and analysis, feature-length films are compared to short films.
  4. Festivals and Awards: Feature-length categories in film festivals are evaluated separately from short and documentary categories.

Use in Different Contexts:

  • Literature: "Feature-length" can metaphorically describe a prolonged narrative.
    • Example: "My life feels like a feature-length film—complex and gripping."
  • Television Series: Some series produce special or finale episodes in a feature-length format.
    • Example: The 90-minute specials of the Sherlock series.
  • Advertising and Marketing: Feature-length advertisements or brand storytelling projects.

Example Sentences:

  1. Colloquial Use: "I want to watch a feature-length film this weekend; do you have any recommendations?"
  2. Technical Use: "At this festival, only feature-length films exceeding 90 minutes will compete."
  3. Metaphorical Use: "Reading the novel felt like watching a feature-length film."

Bibliographies

Australian National Film and Sound Archive, "The Story of the Kelly Gang," accessed January 17, 2025, https://www.nfsa.gov.au.

David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction, 11th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013), 34–36.

Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "Feature-length," accessed January 17, 2025, https://www.oed.com.

You Can Rate Too!

0 Ratings

Author Information

Avatar
AuthorAbdurrahman Abdul MujeebJanuary 17, 2025 at 6:55 AM

Tags

#Storytelling#Feature-length#Duration#Dictionary#Cinema#Film

Discussions

No Discussion Added Yet

Start discussion for "Feature-Length (Dictionary)" article

View Discussions

Contents

  • Definition:

  • Etymology:

  • Applications:

  • Use in Different Contexts:

  • Example Sentences:

This article was created with the support of artificial intelligence.

Ask to Küre