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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. Materials intentionally released by studios to attract public attention to films and their stars. Promotion differs from publicity - which is information that is not (or does not appear to be) intentionally disseminated by studios






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






3. 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






4. 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






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






6. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






7. A picture element - a measure of image density. There are approximately 18 million pixels in a frame of 35mm film and 300000-400000 in a video image






8. 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






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






10. 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






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






12. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






13. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






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






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






16. A technique of arranging the actors on the set to take advantage of deep focus cinematography - which allows for many planes of depth in the film frame to remain in focus






17. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






18. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






19. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






20. 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






21. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






22. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






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






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






26. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






27. A technique of cutting back and forth between action occurring in two different locations - which often creates the illusion that they are happening simultaneously. Also called 'cross cutting.'






28. Creating images during post-production by joining together photographic or CGI material shot or created at different times and places






29. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






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






31. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






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






33. 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






34. 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






35. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






36. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






37. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






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






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






40. 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






41. A shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots






42. 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






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






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






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






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






47. 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






48. 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






49. 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.






50. 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