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






2. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






3. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






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






5. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






6. 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






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






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






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






10. A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the directions the character looks - simulating the character's field of vision






11. A term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






12. A transparent sheet on which animation artists draw images.






13. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






14. 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






15. 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






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






17. A single take that contains an entire scene






18. 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






19. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






20. A standard shot pattern that dictates that a shot of one character will be followed by a shot of another character - taken from the reverse angle of the first shot






21. A fiction film (often a comedy) that uses documentary conventions on fictional rather than real-world subject matter






22. 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






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






24. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






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






26. Because film stock is sensitive to the color of light - directors work with film labs in post-production to monitor the color scheme of each scene in a film - making adjustments for consistency and aesthetic effect






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






28. The length in minutes for a film to play in its entirety (for example - 120 minutes). Also referred to as 'screen time.'






29. The imagined world of the story






30. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






31. 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






32. 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






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






34. Creating images during post-production by joining together photographic or CGI material shot or created at different times and places






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






36. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






37. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






38. 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






39. 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






40. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city






41. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc






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






43. A measure of a film stock's sensitivity to light. 'Fast' refers to sensitive film stock - while slow film is relatively insensitive






44. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






45. 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






46. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






47. The individual arrangement of lighting and camera placement used for each shot






48. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






49. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






50. A technique of cutting back and forth between action occurring in two different locations - which often creates the illusion that they are happening simultaneously. Also called 'cross cutting.'