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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. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






2. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






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






4. 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






5. The aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences until the development of widescreen formats in the 1950s






6. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






7. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






8. 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






9. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






10. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






11. 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






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






13. 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






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






15. 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






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






17. A camera shot taken at a large distance from the subject. Using the human body as the subject - a long shot captures the entire human form






18. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






19. 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






20. 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






21. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






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






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






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






25. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






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






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






28. A lens with a focal length greater than 50 mm (usually between 80mm and 20mm) - which provides a larger image of the subject than a normal or wide-angle lens but which narrows the angle of vision and flattens the depth of the image relative to normal






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






30. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






31. 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






32. 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






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






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






35. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






36. The plotline that surrounds an embedded tale. The frame narration may or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale






37. 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






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. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






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






41. 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






42. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






43. 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






44. A long shot in which the film frame resembles the proscenium arch of the stage - distancing the audience






45. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






46. A type of matte shot - created by positioning a pane of optically flawless glass with a painting on it between the camera and the scene to be photographed. This combines the painting on the glass with the set or location - seen through the glass - be






47. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






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






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






50. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc