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






2. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






3. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






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






5. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






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






7. The average length in seconds of a series of shots - covering a portion of a film or an entire film; a measure of pace within a scene or in the film as a whole.






8. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






9. A technique of moving the camera - on a specially built track. Such shots often trace character movement laterally across the frame or in and out of the depth of the frame






10. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






11. An alternative to continuity editing - this style of editing was developed in silent Soviet cinema - based on the theory that editing should exploit the difference between shots to generate intellectual and emotional responses in the audience






12. 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






13. 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






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






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






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






17. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






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






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






20. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






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






22. 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






23. 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






24. Individuals who were prevented from working in the film industry because of their suspected involvement with Communist interests






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






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






27. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






28. A shot that makes the human subject very small in relation to his or her environment. The entire figure from head to toe is onscreen and dwarfed by the surroundings






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






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






32. 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






33. A scene transition in which the first frame of the incoming scene appears to push the last frame of the previous scene off the screen horizontally






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






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






36. 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






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






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






39. The width of the film stock - measured across the frame. Typical sizes are 8mm - 16mm - 35mm - and 70mm






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






41. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






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






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






44. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






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






46. 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






47. A film that fuses the conventions of two or more genres






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






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






50. An animation technique that uses a computer program to interpolate frames to produce the effect of an object or creature changing gradually into something different. The program calculates the way the image must change in order for the first image to