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






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






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






4. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






5. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






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






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






8. 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






9. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






10. 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






11. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






12. 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






13. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






14. 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






15. Color. The strength of a hue is measured by its saturation or desaturation






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






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






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






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






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. 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






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






23. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






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






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






26. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






27. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






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






29. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






30. Dense accumulation of detail conveyed in the opening moments of a film






31. The narrative path of the main or supporting characters - also called a plotline. Complex films may have several lines of action






32. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography






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






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. The imagined world of the story






37. 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






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






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






40. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






41. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






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






43. 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






44. 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.






45. 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






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






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






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






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






50. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera