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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. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






2. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






3. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






4. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






5. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






6. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






7. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






8. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






9. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






10. A neutral account of the basic plot and style of a film - a part of a film - or a group of films






11. A small - variable opening on a camera lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera and striking the surface of the film






12. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






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






14. 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






15. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






16. A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement






17. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






18. A system of constructing and arranging buildings and objects on the set so that they diminish in size dramatically from foreground to background - which creates the illusion of depth






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






20. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






21. Light emitted from a relatively small source positioned close to the subject. It tends to be unflattering because it creates deep shadows and emphasizes surface imperfections






22. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






23. 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






24. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






25. Cinema verite; a documentary style in which the filmmaker attempts to remain as unobtrusive as possible - recording without obvious editorial comment






26. A technique of moving the camera - on a specially built track. Such shots often trace character movement laterally across the frame or in and out of the depth of the frame






27. A consistent style - theme - and subject matter developed over the course of a director's body of work






28. 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






29. 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






30. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






31. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






32. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






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






34. A series of related scene joined through elliptical editing that indicates the passage of time






35. Optical illusions created during post-production






36. A shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented






37. A production term referring to coordinating actors' movements with lines of dialogue






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






39. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






40. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






41. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






42. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






43. 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






44. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






45. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






46. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






47. A shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






48. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






49. A widescreen process that uses three cameras - three projectors - and a wide - curved screen






50. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages