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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 vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






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






3. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






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






5. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






6. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






7. A similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual - narrative - and/or sound elements






8. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






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






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






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






12. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






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






14. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






16. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






17. A small - variable opening on a camera lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera and striking the surface of the film






18. 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






19. 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






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






21. 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






22. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






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. Cinema verite; a documentary style in which the filmmaker attempts to remain as unobtrusive as possible - recording without obvious editorial comment






25. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






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






27. 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






28. 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.






29. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






30. 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






31. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






32. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






33. A platform on wheels - used for mobile camera shots






34. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time






35. An optical effect whereby the eye continues to register a visual stimulus in the brain for a brief period after that stimulus has been removed






36. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






37. 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






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






39. 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






40. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






41. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






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






43. 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






44. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






45. 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






46. 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






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






48. 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






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






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