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






2. 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






3. 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






4. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






5. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






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






7. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






8. 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






9. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






10. A lens with a variable focal length that allows changes of focal length while keeping the subject in focus






11. 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






12. 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






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






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






15. 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






16. Sound recorded on a set - on location - or - for documentary film - at an actual real-world event - as opposed to dubbed in post-production through ADR or looping






17. A musical in which some or all musical numbers are not motivated by the narrative; for example - characters sing and dance throughout the film but at least some performances are not staged for an onscreen audience. Examples include Oklahoma - The umb






18. 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






19. 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






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






21. 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






22. A standard shot pattern that dictates that a shot of one character will be followed by a shot of another character - taken from the reverse angle of the first shot






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






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






25. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






26. The imagined world of the story






27. 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






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






29. A musical film in which each song and dance number is narratively motivated by a plot that situates characters in performance contexts






30. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






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






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






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






34. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






35. 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






36. 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






37. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






38. 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






39. A film that fuses the conventions of two or more genres






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






41. 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






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






43. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships






44. A shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






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






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






47. A specialist who monitors the processing of color on the se and in the film lab






48. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






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






50. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience