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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. 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






2. A style of stage acting developed from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavsky - which trains actors to get into character through the use of emotional memory






3. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






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






5. 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






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






7. A technique of 'pushing' the film (overdeveloping it) to correct problems of underexposure (resulting from insufficient light during shooting) by increasing image contrast






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






10. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






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






12. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






13. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






14. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






15. 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






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






17. 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






18. A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement






19. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






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






21. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






22. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






23. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography






24. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






25. The practice or repeatedly casting actors in similar roles across different films






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






27. A shot taken when the camera is so close to a subject that it fills the frame. It is most commonly used for a shot that isolates and encompasses a single actor's face - to emphasize the expression of emotion






28. 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






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






30. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






31. 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






32. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






33. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






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






35. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






36. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






37. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






38. 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






39. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






40. 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






41. 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






42. 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






43. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






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






45. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






46. A technique of leaving empty space around the subject in the frame - in order to covey openness and continuity of visible space and to imply offscreen space






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






48. 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






49. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






50. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1