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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 aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences until the development of widescreen formats in the 1950s






2. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc






3. 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






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






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






6. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






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






8. 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






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






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






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






12. 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






13. A consistent style - theme - and subject matter developed over the course of a director's body of work






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






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






16. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






17. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






18. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






19. 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






20. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






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






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






23. 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






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






25. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






26. 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






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






28. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






29. A system for recording images on magnetic tape using a digital signal - that is - an electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s






30. A videotape system that records images onto magnetic tape - using electronic signals






31. 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






32. A widescreen process that uses three cameras - three projectors - and a wide - curved screen






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






34. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






35. 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






36. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






37. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






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






39. 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






40. 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






41. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






42. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






43. 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






44. 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






45. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






46. 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






47. The plotline that surrounds an embedded tale. The frame narration may or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale






48. A style of stage acting developed from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavsky - which trains actors to get into character through the use of emotional memory






49. 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






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