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






2. 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






3. A film process that uses 35mm film stock but changes the orientation of the film so that the film moves through the camera horizontally instead of vertically. The larger image is of higher quality than standard 35mm processes






4. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






5. 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






6. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






7. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






8. A platform on wheels - used for mobile camera shots






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






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






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






12. An outlawed studio era practice - where studios forced exhibitors to book groups of films at once - thus ensuring a market for their failures along with their successes






13. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






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






15. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






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






17. 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






18. Reels of film that are shipped to movie theaters for exhibition. Digital cinema - which can be distributed via satellite - broadband - or on media such as DVDs - may soon replace film prints because the latter are expensive to create - copy - and dis






19. 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






20. 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






21. 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






22. 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






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






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






25. The imagined world of the story






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






27. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






28. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






29. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






30. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






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






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






33. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






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






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






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






37. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






38. An optical effect whereby the human eye fills in gaps between closely spaced objects - so that two light bulbs flashing on and off are understood as one light moving back and forth






39. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






40. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






41. A process of transferring film to video tapes or DVDs so that the original aspect ratio of the film is preserved






42. 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






43. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






44. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






45. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up






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






47. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






48. Also called 'd-cinema.' Not to be confused with digital cinematography (shooting movies on digital video) - this term refers to using digital technologies for exhibition






49. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






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