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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 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






2. A technique of arranging the actors on the set to take advantage of deep focus cinematography - which allows for many planes of depth in the film frame to remain in focus






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






4. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






5. 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






6. 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






7. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






8. 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






9. Light emitted from a relatively small source positioned close to the subject. It tends to be unflattering because it creates deep shadows and emphasizes surface imperfections






10. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






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






12. 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






13. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






14. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






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






16. 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






17. A property of older television monitors - where each frame was scanned as two fields: One consisting of all the odd numbered lines - the other all the even lines. If slowed down - the television image would appear to sweep down the screen one line at






18. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






19. A type of matte shot - created by positioning a pane of optically flawless glass with a painting on it between the camera and the scene to be photographed. This combines the painting on the glass with the set or location - seen through the glass - be






20. 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






21. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc






22. 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






23. 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






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






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






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






27. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






28. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






29. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






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






31. A technique of recording very few images over a long period of time - say - one frame per minute or per day






32. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






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






34. 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






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






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






37. 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






38. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






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






40. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






41. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






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






43. 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






44. Then Hollywood writers and directors cited for Contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities' attempts to root out Communists in the film industry






45. 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






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






47. A scene transition in which the first frame of the incoming scene appears to push the last frame of the previous scene off the screen horizontally






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






49. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






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