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






2. 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






3. 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






4. 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






5. A shot taken from a camera mounted on a crane that moves three-dimensionally in a space






6. 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






7. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






8. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






9. The imagined world of the story






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






11. A crew member whose job is to maintain consistency in visual details from one shot to the next






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






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






14. Thin - flexible material comprised of base and emulsion layers - onto which light rays are focused and which is processed in chemicals to produce film images






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






16. Individuals who were prevented from working in the film industry because of their suspected involvement with Communist interests






17. Light emitted from a larger source that is scattered over a bigger area or reflected off a surface before it strikes the subject. Soft light minimizes facial details - including wrinkles






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






19. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






20. The term for a film's spoken dialogue - as opposed to the underlying meaning contained in the subtext






21. 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






22. 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






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






24. 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






25. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






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






27. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






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






29. 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






30. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






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






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






33. 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






34. Then Hollywood writers and directors cited for Contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities' attempts to root out Communists in the film industry






35. A shot that interrupts a scene's master shot and may include character reactions






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






37. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






38. 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






39. A chemical embedded in the emulsion layer of film stock that - when developed after exposure - releases a particular color dye (red - green - or blue)






40. A visual effect achieved through the use of photography and digital techniques that appears to stop time and allow the viewer to travel around the subject and view it from a multitude of vantage points






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






42. 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






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






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






45. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up






46. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






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






48. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






49. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






50. 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