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






2. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






3. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






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






5. 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






6. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






7. 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






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






9. A technique of overdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in the chemical bath longer than indicated) in order to increase density and contrast in the image






10. 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






11. 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






12. 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






13. An action film cycle of the late 1960s and early 1970s that featured bold - rebellious African American characters






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






15. A small - variable opening on a camera lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera and striking the surface of the film






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






17. A scene filmed and processed but not selected to appear in the final version of the film






18. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






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






20. A device that projects photographs or footage onto glass so that images can be traced by hand to create animated images






21. 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






22. A similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual - narrative - and/or sound elements






23. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






24. Natural light; The process of suing sunlight rather than artificial studio lights when filming






25. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






26. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






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






28. The imagined world of the story






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






30. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






31. 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






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






33. 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






34. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






35. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






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






37. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






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






39. 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






40. An unstated meaning that underlies and is implied by spoken dialogue






41. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






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






43. 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






44. Also called 'rushes.' Footage exposed and developed quickly so that the director can assess the day's work






45. 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






46. A type of film stock that is sensitive to (in other words - registers) all tones in the color spectrum






47. 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






48. A film process that uses 35mm film stock but changes the orientation of the film so that the film moves through the camera horizontally instead of vertically. The larger image is of higher quality than standard 35mm processes






49. A series of related scene joined through elliptical editing that indicates the passage of time






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