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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 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






2. 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






3. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






4. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






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






6. 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






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






8. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






10. Cinema verite; a documentary style in which the filmmaker attempts to remain as unobtrusive as possible - recording without obvious editorial comment






11. 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






12. A film style that - in contrast to the classical and formalist styles - focuses characters - place - and the spontaneity and digressiveness of life - rather than on highly structured stories or aesthetic abstraction






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






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






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






16. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






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






18. 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






19. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






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






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






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






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






24. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






25. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






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






27. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






28. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






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






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






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






32. 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






33. Also called 'rushes.' Footage exposed and developed quickly so that the director can assess the day's work






34. A shot combining two kinds of movement: the camera tracks in toward the subject wile the lens zooms out






35. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






36. A technique of overdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in the chemical bath longer than indicated) in order to increase density and contrast in the image






37. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






38. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






39. 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






40. 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






41. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






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






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






44. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






45. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






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






47. 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






48. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






49. 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






50. 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