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






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






3. 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






4. 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






5. 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






6. 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






7. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






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






9. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc






10. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






11. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






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






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






14. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






15. 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






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






17. 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






18. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






19. 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






20. 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






21. 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






22. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






23. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






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






25. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






26. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






27. Optical illusions created during post-production






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






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






30. 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






31. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






32. A direct vocal address to the audience - Which may emanate from a character or from a narrative voice apparently unrelated to the diegesis






33. Any lens with a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame. For 35mm filmmaking - a 35-50 mm lens does not distort the angle of vision or depth






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






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






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






37. 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






38. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






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






40. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






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






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






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






44. The first print made from a film negative






45. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






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






47. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






48. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city






49. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






50. 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