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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 person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






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






3. A series of related scene joined through elliptical editing that indicates the passage of time






4. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






5. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






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






7. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






8. 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






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






10. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






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






14. 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.






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






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






17. 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






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






19. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






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






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






22. A format that uses a larger film stock than standard 35mm. IMAX - Omnimax - and Showscan are shot on 70mm film






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






24. 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






25. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






26. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






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






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






29. A scene filmed and processed but not selected to appear in the final version of the film






30. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






31. A technique of cutting back and forth between action occurring in two different locations - which often creates the illusion that they are happening simultaneously. Also called 'cross cutting.'






32. 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






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






34. Creating images during post-production by joining together photographic or CGI material shot or created at different times and places






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 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






37. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






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






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






40. 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






41. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






42. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






43. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






44. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






45. 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






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






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






48. Because film stock is sensitive to the color of light - directors work with film labs in post-production to monitor the color scheme of each scene in a film - making adjustments for consistency and aesthetic effect






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






50. 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