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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. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






2. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






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






4. 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






5. A lens with a focal length greater than 50 mm (usually between 80mm and 20mm) - which provides a larger image of the subject than a normal or wide-angle lens but which narrows the angle of vision and flattens the depth of the image relative to normal






6. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






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. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






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






10. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






11. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






12. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






13. A format that uses a larger film stock than standard 35mm. IMAX - Omnimax - and Showscan are shot on 70mm film






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






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






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






17. An alternative to continuity editing - this style of editing was developed in silent Soviet cinema - based on the theory that editing should exploit the difference between shots to generate intellectual and emotional responses in the audience






18. 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






19. An alternative to continuity editing - this style of editing was developed in silent Soviet cinema - based on the theory that editing should exploit the difference between shots to generate intellectual and emotional responses in the audience






20. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






21. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






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






23. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






24. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography






25. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






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






27. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






28. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






29. A crew member who reports to the Director of Photography (DP) and is in charge of tasks involving lighting and electrical needs






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






31. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






32. 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






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






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






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






36. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






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






38. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






39. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






40. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






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






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






43. The aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences until the development of widescreen formats in the 1950s






44. 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






45. An optical effect whereby the human eye fills in gaps between closely spaced objects - so that two light bulbs flashing on and off are understood as one light moving back and forth






46. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






47. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






48. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






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






50. A property of older television monitors - where each frame was scanned as two fields: One consisting of all the odd numbered lines - the other all the even lines. If slowed down - the television image would appear to sweep down the screen one line at






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