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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 non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world






2. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






3. 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






4. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






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






6. 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






7. The first print made from a film negative






8. 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






9. 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






10. 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






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






13. A shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






14. 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






15. Muted - washed out color that contains more white than a saturated color






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






17. 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






18. Optical illusions created during post-production






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






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






21. 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






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






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






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






25. 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






26. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






27. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






28. A system for recording images on magnetic tape using a digital signal - that is - an electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s






29. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






30. 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






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






32. 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)






33. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






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






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






36. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






37. 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






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






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






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






41. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






42. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






43. 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






44. 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






45. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






46. A fiction film (often a comedy) that uses documentary conventions on fictional rather than real-world subject matter






47. 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






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






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






50. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter