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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. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






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






3. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






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






5. 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






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






7. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut






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






9. 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






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






11. The term for a film's spoken dialogue - as opposed to the underlying meaning contained in the subtext






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






13. A term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






14. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






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






16. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






17. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






18. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






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






20. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






21. A shot taken when the camera is so close to a subject that it fills the frame. It is most commonly used for a shot that isolates and encompasses a single actor's face - to emphasize the expression of emotion






22. A technique of cutting back and forth between action occurring in two different locations - which often creates the illusion that they are happening simultaneously. Also called 'cross cutting.'






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






24. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






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






26. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






27. 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






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






29. A format that uses a larger film stock than standard 35mm. IMAX - Omnimax - and Showscan are shot on 70mm film






30. 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






31. 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






32. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






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






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






35. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






36. A visual effect achieved through the use of photography and digital techniques that appears to stop time and allow the viewer to travel around the subject and view it from a multitude of vantage points






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






38. 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






39. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






40. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






41. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






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






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






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






45. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






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






47. A small - variable opening on a camera lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera and striking the surface of the film






48. 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






49. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






50. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






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