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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 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






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






3. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






4. The first print made from a film negative






5. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






6. 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






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






8. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






9. 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






10. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






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






12. 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






13. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






14. 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






15. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






16. An alternative to continuity editing - this style of editing was developed in silent Soviet cinema - based on the theory that editing should exploit the difference between shots to generate intellectual and emotional responses in the audience






17. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






18. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






19. 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






20. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






21. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






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






23. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






24. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






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






26. A technique of running the motion picture camera at a speed slower than projection speed (24 frames per second) - in order to produce at a fast motion sequence when projected at normal speed. The term derives from early film cameras - which were cran






27. A technique of cutting back and forth between action occurring in two different locations - which often creates the illusion that they are happening simultaneously. Also called 'cross cutting.'






28. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






29. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






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






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






32. A crew member responsible for logging the details of each take on the set so as to ensure continuity






33. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






34. 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






35. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






36. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






37. 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






38. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






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






40. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






41. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






42. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






43. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






44. An outlawed studio era practice - where studios forced exhibitors to book groups of films at once - thus ensuring a market for their failures along with their successes






45. 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






46. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






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






48. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






49. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






50. 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