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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. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






2. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






3. 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






4. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






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






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






7. A shot taken fro a position directly above the action - also called a 'birds' eye shot'






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






9. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






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






11. 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






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






13. 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.






14. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






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






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






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






18. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






19. 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






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






21. Wheeled platform with wheels that rotate - so the dolly can change direction






22. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






23. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






24. A lens with a focal length greater than 50 mm (usually between 80mm and 20mm) - which provides a larger image of the subject than a normal or wide-angle lens but which narrows the angle of vision and flattens the depth of the image relative to normal






25. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






26. A lens with a variable focal length that allows changes of focal length while keeping the subject in focus






27. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






28. 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






29. 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






30. 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






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






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






33. 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






34. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






35. A narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation






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






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






38. 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






39. The length in minutes for a film to play in its entirety (for example - 120 minutes). Also referred to as 'screen time.'






40. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






41. The practice or repeatedly casting actors in similar roles across different films






42. 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






43. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






44. 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






45. 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






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






47. A format that uses a larger film stock than standard 35mm. IMAX - Omnimax - and Showscan are shot on 70mm film






48. 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






49. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships






50. Because film stock is sensitive to the color of light - directors work with film labs in post-production to monitor the color scheme of each scene in a film - making adjustments for consistency and aesthetic effect