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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. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






2. 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






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






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






5. 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






6. An optical effect whereby the human eye fills in gaps between closely spaced objects - so that two light bulbs flashing on and off are understood as one light moving back and forth






7. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






8. 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






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






10. A consistent style - theme - and subject matter developed over the course of a director's body of work






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






12. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






13. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






14. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






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






16. 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






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






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






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






20. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking






21. 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






22. 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






23. 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






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






25. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






26. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






27. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






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






29. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






30. 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






31. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






32. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






33. 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






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






35. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






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






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






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






39. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






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






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






42. A fiction film (often a comedy) that uses documentary conventions on fictional rather than real-world subject matter






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






44. A technique of depicting two layered images simultaneously. Images from one frame or several frames of film are added to pre-existing images - using an optical printer - to produce the same effect as a double exposure






45. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






46. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






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






48. 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






49. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






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