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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 written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






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






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






4. 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






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






6. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






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






8. A single take that contains an entire scene






9. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






10. 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






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






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






13. A shot depicting the human body from the waist up






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






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






16. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






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






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






19. 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






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






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






22. 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






23. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






24. 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






25. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






26. Reels of film that are shipped to movie theaters for exhibition. Digital cinema - which can be distributed via satellite - broadband - or on media such as DVDs - may soon replace film prints because the latter are expensive to create - copy - and dis






27. A shot that makes the human subject very small in relation to his or her environment. The entire figure from head to toe is onscreen and dwarfed by the surroundings






28. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






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






30. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






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






32. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






33. An animation technique that uses a computer program to interpolate frames to produce the effect of an object or creature changing gradually into something different. The program calculates the way the image must change in order for the first image to






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






35. Everything audiences hear when they watch a sound film. The soundtrack is the composite of all three elements of film sound: dialogue - music - and sound effects






36. 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






37. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






38. 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






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






40. 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






41. A shot that makes the human subject very small in relation to his or her environment. The entire figure from head to toe is onscreen and dwarfed by the surroundings






42. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






43. A technique of arranging the actors on the set to take advantage of deep focus cinematography - which allows for many planes of depth in the film frame to remain in focus






44. The first shot in a standard shot sequence. Its purpose is to provide a clear representation of the location of the action






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






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






47. A term that refers to the organization of an industry wherein one type of corporation also owns corporations in allied industries - for example - film production and video games






48. 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






49. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






50. 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