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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. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking






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






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






4. 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






5. A scene filmed and processed but not selected to appear in the final version of the film






6. A form of shot transition - generally concluding a scene - where a circular mask constricts around the image until the entire frame is black






7. A series of related scene joined through elliptical editing that indicates the passage of time






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






9. 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






10. 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






11. 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






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






13. 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






14. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






15. 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






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






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






18. 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






19. A system for recording images on magnetic tape using a digital signal - that is - an electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s






20. A specialist who monitors the processing of color on the se and in the film lab






21. 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






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






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






24. A picture element - a measure of image density. There are approximately 18 million pixels in a frame of 35mm film and 300000-400000 in a video image






25. 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






26. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






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






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






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






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






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






32. The first print made from a film negative






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






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






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






36. 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






37. 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






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. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






40. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






41. Light emitted from a larger source that is scattered over a bigger area or reflected off a surface before it strikes the subject. Soft light minimizes facial details - including wrinkles






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






43. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






44. 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






45. A style of stage acting developed from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavsky - which trains actors to get into character through the use of emotional memory






46. 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






47. 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






48. 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






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






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