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






2. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






3. 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






4. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






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






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






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






8. A single take that contains an entire scene






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. 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






11. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






12. 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






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






14. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






15. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






16. 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






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






18. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






19. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






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






21. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






22. 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






23. 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






24. A crew member responsible for logging the details of each take on the set so as to ensure continuity






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






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






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






28. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






29. Light emitted from a larger source that is scattered over a bigger area or reflected off a surface before it strikes the subject. Soft light minimizes facial details - including wrinkles






30. A term that refers to the organization of an industry wherein one type of corporation also owns corporations in allied industries - for example - film production and video games






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






32. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






33. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






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. 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






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






37. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






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






39. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






41. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






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






43. 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






44. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






45. 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






46. 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






47. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






48. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






49. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






50. 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






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