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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 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.'






2. 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






3. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






4. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






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






6. A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement






7. Natural light; The process of suing sunlight rather than artificial studio lights when filming






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






9. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






10. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






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






12. 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






13. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






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






15. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






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






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






18. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






19. A shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots






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






21. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






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. 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






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






25. 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






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






27. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






28. The rules of character - setting - and narrative that films that belong to a genre - such as Westerns - horror films - and screwball comedies - generally obey.






29. A shot taken from a vantage point so close that only a part of the subject is visible. On an actor - it might show only an eye or a portion of the face






30. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






31. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






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






33. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






34. 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






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






36. 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






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






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






39. Optical illusions created during post-production






40. The width of the film stock - measured across the frame. Typical sizes are 8mm - 16mm - 35mm - and 70mm






41. 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






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






43. 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






44. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






45. 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






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






47. 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






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






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






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