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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 platform on wheels - used for mobile camera shots






2. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






3. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






4. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships






5. 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






6. 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






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






8. 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






9. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






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






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






12. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






13. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






14. 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






15. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






16. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






17. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






18. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






19. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






20. 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






21. 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






22. A lens with a variable focal length that allows changes of focal length while keeping the subject in focus






23. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice






24. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






25. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






26. 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






27. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






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






29. 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






30. 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.






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






32. A format that uses a larger film stock than standard 35mm. IMAX - Omnimax - and Showscan are shot on 70mm film






33. Sound recorded on a set - on location - or - for documentary film - at an actual real-world event - as opposed to dubbed in post-production through ADR or looping






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






35. The first print made from a film negative






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






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






38. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






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






40. 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






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






42. The imagined world of the story






43. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






44. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






45. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






46. Muted - washed out color that contains more white than a saturated color






47. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






48. 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






49. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






50. 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