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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. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography






2. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






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






4. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






5. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






6. A crew member whose job is to maintain consistency in visual details from one shot to the next






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






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






9. An action film cycle of the late 1960s and early 1970s that featured bold - rebellious African American characters






10. A measure of a film stock's sensitivity to light. 'Fast' refers to sensitive film stock - while slow film is relatively insensitive






11. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






12. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






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






14. 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






15. 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






16. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






17. 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






18. An early color process that replaced silver halide grains with colored salts






19. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice






20. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






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






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






23. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






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






25. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice






26. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






27. 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






28. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






29. A widescreen process that uses three cameras - three projectors - and a wide - curved screen






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






31. Materials intentionally released by studios to attract public attention to films and their stars. Promotion differs from publicity - which is information that is not (or does not appear to be) intentionally disseminated by studios






32. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






33. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






34. 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






35. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






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






37. The aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences until the development of widescreen formats in the 1950s






38. 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






39. A system of constructing and arranging buildings and objects on the set so that they diminish in size dramatically from foreground to background - which creates the illusion of depth






40. 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






41. 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






42. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






43. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






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






45. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






46. 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






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






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






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






50. A technique of moving the camera - on a specially built track. Such shots often trace character movement laterally across the frame or in and out of the depth of the frame