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Film Vocab

Subjects : performing-arts, film
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A technique of overdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in the chemical bath longer than indicated) in order to increase density and contrast in the image






2. A technique of 'pushing' the film (overdeveloping it) to correct problems of underexposure (resulting from insufficient light during shooting) by increasing image contrast






3. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






4. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






5. A shot that makes the human subject very small in relation to his or her environment. The entire figure from head to toe is onscreen and dwarfed by the surroundings






6. Then Hollywood writers and directors cited for Contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities' attempts to root out Communists in the film industry






7. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






8. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






9. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






10. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






11. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






12. A platform on wheels - used for mobile camera shots






13. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






14. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






15. The average length in seconds of a series of shots - covering a portion of a film or an entire film; a measure of pace within a scene or in the film as a whole.






16. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships






17. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






18. A shot taken from a vantage point so close that only a part of the subject is visible. On an actor - it might show only an eye or a portion of the face






19. Also called 'd-cinema.' Not to be confused with digital cinematography (shooting movies on digital video) - this term refers to using digital technologies for exhibition






20. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






21. A film's main characters - one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward






22. The first shot in a standard shot sequence. Its purpose is to provide a clear representation of the location of the action






23. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






24. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






25. The non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world






26. The narrative path of the main or supporting characters - also called a plotline. Complex films may have several lines of action






27. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






28. A type of matte shot - created by positioning a pane of optically flawless glass with a painting on it between the camera and the scene to be photographed. This combines the painting on the glass with the set or location - seen through the glass - be






29. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






30. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






31. A production crew responsible not for shooting the primary footage but - instead - for remote location shooting and B-roll. See also B-roll






32. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






33. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






34. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






35. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






36. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






37. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






38. The rules of character - setting - and narrative that films that belong to a genre - such as Westerns - horror films - and screwball comedies - generally obey.






39. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






40. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






41. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






42. A computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






43. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






44. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






45. A technique of running the motion picture camera at a speed slower than projection speed (24 frames per second) - in order to produce at a fast motion sequence when projected at normal speed. The term derives from early film cameras - which were cran






46. Non-diegetic; any element in the film that is not part of the imagined story world






47. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






48. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






49. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






50. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator