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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 individual arrangement of lighting and camera placement used for each shot






2. 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






3. 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






4. 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






5. A form of shot transition - generally concluding a scene - where a circular mask constricts around the image until the entire frame is black






6. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






7. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






8. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






9. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






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






11. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






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






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






14. 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






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






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






17. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






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






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






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






21. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






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






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






24. 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






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






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






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






28. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






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






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






31. 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






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






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






34. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






35. 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






36. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






37. 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






38. 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






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






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






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






42. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






43. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






44. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






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






46. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






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






48. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






49. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






50. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city