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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 film that fuses the conventions of two or more genres






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






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






4. A shot that makes the human subject very small in relation to his or her environment. The entire figure from head to toe is onscreen and dwarfed by the surroundings






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






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






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






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






9. A musical in which some or all musical numbers are not motivated by the narrative; for example - characters sing and dance throughout the film but at least some performances are not staged for an onscreen audience. Examples include Oklahoma - The umb






10. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






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






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






13. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






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






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






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






17. A technique of recording very few images over a long period of time - say - one frame per minute or per day






18. 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






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 narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation






21. Early films that documented everyday events - such as workers leaving a factory






22. Wheeled platform with wheels that rotate - so the dolly can change direction






23. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






24. 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






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






26. The first print made from a film negative






27. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






28. A property of older television monitors - where each frame was scanned as two fields: One consisting of all the odd numbered lines - the other all the even lines. If slowed down - the television image would appear to sweep down the screen one line at






29. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






30. A process of transferring film to video tapes or DVDs so that the original aspect ratio of the film is preserved






31. 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






32. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






33. The plotline that surrounds an embedded tale. The frame narration may or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale






34. 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






35. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






36. A narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation






37. A technique of leaving empty space around the subject in the frame - in order to covey openness and continuity of visible space and to imply offscreen space






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






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






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






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






42. Any lens with a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame. For 35mm filmmaking - a 35-50 mm lens does not distort the angle of vision or depth






43. 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






44. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






45. Non-diegetic; any element in the film that is not part of the imagined story world






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






47. A film's main characters - one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward






48. 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






49. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






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