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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 term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






2. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






3. 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






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






5. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






6. 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






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






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






9. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






10. 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






11. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






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






13. 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






14. Cinema verite; a documentary style in which the filmmaker attempts to remain as unobtrusive as possible - recording without obvious editorial comment






15. An optical effect whereby the eye continues to register a visual stimulus in the brain for a brief period after that stimulus has been removed






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






17. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






18. 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






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






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






21. 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






22. The length in minutes for a film to play in its entirety (for example - 120 minutes). Also referred to as 'screen time.'






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






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






25. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






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






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






28. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






29. A transparent sheet on which animation artists draw images.






30. 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






31. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time






32. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






33. A widescreen process that uses three cameras - three projectors - and a wide - curved screen






34. Smaller corporations that did not own distribution and/or exhibition companies in the studio era - including Universal - Columbia - and United Artists






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






36. 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






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






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






39. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






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






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






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






43. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






44. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






45. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






46. A digital technique developed by Industrial Light and Magic - which builds movement sequences from single frames of film






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






48. 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






49. A production crew responsible not for shooting the primary footage but - instead - for remote location shooting and B-roll. See also B-roll






50. A crew member who reports to the Director of Photography (DP) and is in charge of tasks involving lighting and electrical needs