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






2. 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






3. The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object






4. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






5. Natural light; The process of suing sunlight rather than artificial studio lights when filming






6. 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






7. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






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






10. 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






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






12. 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






13. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






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






15. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






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






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






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






19. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






20. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






21. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






22. A process of blending the three elements of the sound track (dialogue - music - and effects) in post-production






23. 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






24. 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.






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






26. 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






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






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






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






30. 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






31. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






33. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






34. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking






35. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






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






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






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






39. 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






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






41. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






42. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city






43. The measurement of how forgiving a film stock is. It determines whether an acceptable image will be produced when the film stock is exposed to too little or too much light






44. An optical effect whereby the eye continues to register a visual stimulus in the brain for a brief period after that stimulus has been removed






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






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






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






48. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






49. A crew member whose job is to maintain consistency in visual details from one shot to the next






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