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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 manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






2. A film's main characters - one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward






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






4. The measurement of how forgiving a film stock is. It determines whether an acceptable image will be produced when the film stock is exposed to too little or too much light






5. A shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






6. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






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






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






9. The space between the camera and subject it is filming.






10. 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






11. A film process that uses 35mm film stock but changes the orientation of the film so that the film moves through the camera horizontally instead of vertically. The larger image is of higher quality than standard 35mm processes






12. Optical illusions created during post-production






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






14. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






15. A similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual - narrative - and/or sound elements






16. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






17. 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






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






19. 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






20. A digital technique developed by Industrial Light and Magic - which builds movement sequences from single frames of film






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






22. A production term referring to coordinating actors' movements with lines of dialogue






23. A process of blending the three elements of the sound track (dialogue - music - and effects) in post-production






24. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






25. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






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






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






28. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






29. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






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






31. 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






32. 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






33. Individuals who were prevented from working in the film industry because of their suspected involvement with Communist interests






34. 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






35. 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






36. 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






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






38. 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






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






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






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






42. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






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






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






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






46. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






47. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






48. 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






49. A type of film stock that is sensitive to (in other words - registers) all tones in the color spectrum






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