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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 picture element - a measure of image density. There are approximately 18 million pixels in a frame of 35mm film and 300000-400000 in a video image






2. 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






3. Color. The strength of a hue is measured by its saturation or desaturation






4. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






5. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






6. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






7. 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






8. 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






9. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






10. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






11. An effect created when too little light strikes the film during shooting. As a result the image will contain dark areas that appear very dense and dark (including shadows) and the overall contrast will be less than with a properly exposed image






12. 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






13. 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






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






15. A shot depicting the human body from the waist up






16. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






17. A videotape system that records images onto magnetic tape - using electronic signals






18. The first print made from a film negative






19. 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






20. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






21. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






22. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






23. 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






24. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






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






26. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time






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






28. A shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots






29. 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






30. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






31. 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






32. Reels of film that are shipped to movie theaters for exhibition. Digital cinema - which can be distributed via satellite - broadband - or on media such as DVDs - may soon replace film prints because the latter are expensive to create - copy - and dis






33. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






34. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera






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






36. The space between the camera and subject it is filming.






37. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






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






39. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






40. 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






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






42. A lens with a variable focal length that allows changes of focal length while keeping the subject in focus






43. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






44. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






45. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






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






47. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






48. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






49. A process of blending the three elements of the sound track (dialogue - music - and effects) in post-production






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