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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 musical in which some or all musical numbers are not motivated by the narrative; for example - characters sing and dance throughout the film but at least some performances are not staged for an onscreen audience. Examples include Oklahoma - The umb






2. A musical film in which each song and dance number is narratively motivated by a plot that situates characters in performance contexts






3. A shot taken from a camera mounted on a crane that moves three-dimensionally in a space






4. A camera shot taken at a large distance from the subject. Using the human body as the subject - a long shot captures the entire human form






5. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






6. Smaller corporations that did not own distribution and/or exhibition companies in the studio era - including Universal - Columbia - and United Artists






7. An unstated meaning that underlies and is implied by spoken dialogue






8. 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






9. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






10. A term that refers to the organization of an industry wherein one type of corporation also owns corporations in allied industries - for example - film production and video games






11. 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






12. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






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






14. Early films that documented everyday events - such as workers leaving a factory






15. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






16. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






17. 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






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






19. A visual effect achieved through the use of photography and digital techniques that appears to stop time and allow the viewer to travel around the subject and view it from a multitude of vantage points






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






21. 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






22. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






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






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






25. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






26. 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






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






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






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






30. 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






31. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






32. A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the directions the character looks - simulating the character's field of vision






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






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






35. The practice or repeatedly casting actors in similar roles across different films






36. 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






37. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






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






39. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






40. 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






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






42. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






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






44. 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.






45. Wheeled platform with wheels that rotate - so the dolly can change direction






46. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






47. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






48. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






49. A shot taken when the camera is so close to a subject that it fills the frame. It is most commonly used for a shot that isolates and encompasses a single actor's face - to emphasize the expression of emotion






50. 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.