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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 business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






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






3. The imagined world of the story






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






5. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






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






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






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






9. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






10. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






11. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






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






13. 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






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






15. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






16. 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






17. 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






18. 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






19. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






20. 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






21. 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






22. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






23. A measure of a film stock's sensitivity to light. 'Fast' refers to sensitive film stock - while slow film is relatively insensitive






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






25. 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






26. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






27. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






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






29. A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the directions the character looks - simulating the character's field of vision






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






31. Also called 'd-cinema.' Not to be confused with digital cinematography (shooting movies on digital video) - this term refers to using digital technologies for exhibition






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






33. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






34. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






35. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






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






37. 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






38. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






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






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






41. 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






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






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






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






45. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






46. A film style that - in contrast to the classical and formalist styles - focuses characters - place - and the spontaneity and digressiveness of life - rather than on highly structured stories or aesthetic abstraction






47. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






48. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






49. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






50. 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







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