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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. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






2. 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






3. Smaller corporations that did not own distribution and/or exhibition companies in the studio era - including Universal - Columbia - and United Artists






4. 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






5. 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






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






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






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






9. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






10. Muted - washed out color that contains more white than a saturated color






11. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






12. An early color process that replaced silver halide grains with colored salts






13. A technique of recording very few images over a long period of time - say - one frame per minute or per day






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






15. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






16. A similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual - narrative - and/or sound elements






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






18. The individual arrangement of lighting and camera placement used for each shot






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






20. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






21. 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






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






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






24. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






25. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






26. A production crew responsible not for shooting the primary footage but - instead - for remote location shooting and B-roll. See also B-roll






27. 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






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






29. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






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






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






32. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






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






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






35. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






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






37. Optical illusions created during post-production






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






39. 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






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






41. A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement






42. A type of film stock that is sensitive to (in other words - registers) all tones in the color spectrum






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






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






45. 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






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






47. 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






48. The average length in seconds of a series of shots - covering a portion of a film or an entire film; a measure of pace within a scene or in the film as a whole.






49. A transparent sheet on which animation artists draw images.






50. A shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented