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






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






3. 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






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






5. The term for a film's spoken dialogue - as opposed to the underlying meaning contained in the subtext






6. A scene transition in which the first frame of the incoming scene appears to push the last frame of the previous scene off the screen horizontally






7. A process of transferring film to video tapes or DVDs so that the original aspect ratio of the film is preserved






8. 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






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






10. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






11. 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






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






13. A shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






14. A shot depicting the human body from the waist up






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






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






17. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






18. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






19. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






20. 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






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






22. 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






23. 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






24. 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






25. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






26. 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






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






28. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






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






30. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






31. 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






32. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






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






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






35. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






36. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






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






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






39. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






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






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






42. 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






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






44. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






45. A scene transition in which the first frame of the incoming scene appears to push the last frame of the previous scene off the screen horizontally






46. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






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






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






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






50. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography