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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 machine that converts film prints to videotape format






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






3. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






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






5. 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






6. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






7. 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






8. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






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






10. 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






11. 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






12. Everything audiences hear when they watch a sound film. The soundtrack is the composite of all three elements of film sound: dialogue - music - and sound effects






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






14. 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






15. 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






16. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






17. A specialist who monitors the processing of color on the se and in the film lab






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






19. A musical film in which each song and dance number is narratively motivated by a plot that situates characters in performance contexts






20. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






21. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






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






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






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






25. 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






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






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






28. 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






29. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






30. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






31. 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






32. Materials intentionally released by studios to attract public attention to films and their stars. Promotion differs from publicity - which is information that is not (or does not appear to be) intentionally disseminated by studios






33. The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object






34. The imagined world of the story






35. 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






36. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






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. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






39. 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






40. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






41. 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






42. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






43. An outlawed studio era practice - where studios forced exhibitors to book groups of films at once - thus ensuring a market for their failures along with their successes






44. 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






45. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






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






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






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






49. 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






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