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






2. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






3. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






4. 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






5. 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






6. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






7. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






8. Optical illusions created during post-production






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






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






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






12. Everything audiences hear when they watch a sound film. The soundtrack is the composite of all three elements of film sound: dialogue - music - and sound effects






13. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






14. The narrative path of the main or supporting characters - also called a plotline. Complex films may have several lines of action






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






16. The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object






17. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






18. Thin - flexible material comprised of base and emulsion layers - onto which light rays are focused and which is processed in chemicals to produce film images






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 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






21. A shot taken from a vantage point so close that only a part of the subject is visible. On an actor - it might show only an eye or a portion of the face






22. 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






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






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






25. 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






26. 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






27. 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






28. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






29. The building block of a scene; an uninterrupted sequence of frames that viewers experience as they watch a film - ending with a cut - fade - dissolve - etc. See also Take






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






31. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






32. 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






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






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






35. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






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






37. A term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






38. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






39. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






40. 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






41. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






42. 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






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






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






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






47. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






48. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






49. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up






50. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city