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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 central cause(s) behind a character's actions






2. 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






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






4. 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






5. An effect created when too little light strikes the film during shooting. As a result the image will contain dark areas that appear very dense and dark (including shadows) and the overall contrast will be less than with a properly exposed image






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






7. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






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






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






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






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






12. 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






13. 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






14. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






15. A shot taken from a vantage point so close that only a part of the subject is visible. On an actor - it might show only an eye or a portion of the face






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






17. Non-diegetic; any element in the film that is not part of the imagined story world






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






19. 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.'






20. 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






21. A device that projects photographs or footage onto glass so that images can be traced by hand to create animated images






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






23. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






24. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






25. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






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






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 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






29. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






30. Early films that documented everyday events - such as workers leaving a factory






31. 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






32. A specialist who monitors the processing of color on the se and in the film lab






33. 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






34. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






35. 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






36. 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






37. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






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






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 shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






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






42. The rules of character - setting - and narrative that films that belong to a genre - such as Westerns - horror films - and screwball comedies - generally obey.






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






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






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






46. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






47. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






48. Because film stock is sensitive to the color of light - directors work with film labs in post-production to monitor the color scheme of each scene in a film - making adjustments for consistency and aesthetic effect






49. 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






50. 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







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