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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. 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






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






3. A shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots






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






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 scene filmed and processed but not selected to appear in the final version of the film






7. A neutral account of the basic plot and style of a film - a part of a film - or a group of films






8. 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






9. Optical illusions created during post-production






10. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






11. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






12. 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






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 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






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






16. Any lens with a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame. For 35mm filmmaking - a 35-50 mm lens does not distort the angle of vision or depth






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






18. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






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






20. 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






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






22. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






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






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






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






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






27. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






28. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






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






30. The practice or repeatedly casting actors in similar roles across different films






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






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






33. 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






34. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






35. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






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






37. Optical illusions created during post-production






38. An action film cycle of the late 1960s and early 1970s that featured bold - rebellious African American characters






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






40. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






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






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






43. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






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






45. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






46. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






47. 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






48. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






49. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






50. A production crew responsible not for shooting the primary footage but - instead - for remote location shooting and B-roll. See also B-roll