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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 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






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






3. 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






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






5. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






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






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






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






9. A widescreen process that uses three cameras - three projectors - and a wide - curved screen






10. 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






11. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






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






13. 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






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






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






16. A film style that - in contrast to the classical and formalist styles - focuses characters - place - and the spontaneity and digressiveness of life - rather than on highly structured stories or aesthetic abstraction






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






18. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






19. 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






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






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






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






23. Creating images during post-production by joining together photographic or CGI material shot or created at different times and places






24. 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






25. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






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






27. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






28. 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






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






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






31. 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






32. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






33. 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






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






35. 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






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






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






38. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






39. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






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






41. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






42. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






43. The measurement of how forgiving a film stock is. It determines whether an acceptable image will be produced when the film stock is exposed to too little or too much light






44. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






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






46. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






47. 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






48. A long shot in which the film frame resembles the proscenium arch of the stage - distancing the audience






49. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






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