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






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. A long shot in which the film frame resembles the proscenium arch of the stage - distancing the audience






4. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






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






6. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking






7. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






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






9. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






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






11. 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






12. Dense accumulation of detail conveyed in the opening moments of a film






13. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






14. The building block of a scene; an uninterrupted sequence of frames that viewers experience as they watch a film - ending with a cut - fade - dissolve - etc. See also Take






15. The first print made from a film negative






16. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






17. 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






18. 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






19. A digital technique developed by Industrial Light and Magic - which builds movement sequences from single frames of film






20. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






21. A neutral account of the basic plot and style of a film - a part of a film - or a group of films






22. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






23. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






24. 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






25. 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






26. 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






27. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






28. The non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world






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






30. A sound editing technique that links several scenes through parallel and overlapping sounds. Each sound is associated with one scene - unlike a sound bridge - where a sound from one scene bleeds into that of another






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






32. 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






33. A shot taken fro a position directly above the action - also called a 'birds' eye shot'






34. A computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






35. 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






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






37. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






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






39. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






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






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






42. 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






43. 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






44. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut






45. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






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






47. The width of the film stock - measured across the frame. Typical sizes are 8mm - 16mm - 35mm - and 70mm






48. 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






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






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