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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 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






2. A shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented






3. A shot taken from a camera mounted on a crane that moves three-dimensionally in a space






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






5. 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






6. 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






7. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






8. A shot combining two kinds of movement: the camera tracks in toward the subject wile the lens zooms out






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. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






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






12. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera






13. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






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






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






16. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






17. 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






18. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships






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






20. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






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






22. Materials intentionally released by studios to attract public attention to films and their stars. Promotion differs from publicity - which is information that is not (or does not appear to be) intentionally disseminated by studios






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






24. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






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






26. 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






27. 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






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






29. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






30. 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






31. A form of shot transition - generally concluding a scene - where a circular mask constricts around the image until the entire frame is black






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






33. 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






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






35. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






36. 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






37. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






38. A shot that interrupts a scene's master shot and may include character reactions






39. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






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






41. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






42. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






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






44. The individual arrangement of lighting and camera placement used for each shot






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






46. An unstated meaning that underlies and is implied by spoken dialogue






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






48. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice






49. 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






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