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






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






3. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






4. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






5. An effect created when too little light strikes the film during shooting. As a result the image will contain dark areas that appear very dense and dark (including shadows) and the overall contrast will be less than with a properly exposed image






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






7. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






8. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






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






10. A class or type of film - such as the Western or the horror movie. They share narrative - visual - and/or sound conventions






11. Optical illusions created during post-production






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






13. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






14. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






15. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






16. 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






17. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






18. A shot combining two kinds of movement: the camera tracks in toward the subject wile the lens zooms out






19. 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






20. Optical illusions created during post-production






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






22. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






23. 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






24. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






25. 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.






26. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






27. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut






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






29. A transparent sheet on which animation artists draw images.






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






31. The first print made from a film negative






32. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






33. A shot that interrupts a scene's master shot and may include character reactions






34. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






35. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






36. 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






37. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






38. 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






39. 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






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






41. 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






42. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






43. A class or type of film - such as the Western or the horror movie. They share narrative - visual - and/or sound conventions






44. 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






45. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






46. 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






47. 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






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






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






50. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art