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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 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






2. 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






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






4. 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






5. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






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






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






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






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






10. 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






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






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






13. A measure of a film stock's sensitivity to light. 'Fast' refers to sensitive film stock - while slow film is relatively insensitive






14. The first print made from a film negative






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






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






17. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






18. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






19. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






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






21. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






22. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






23. 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






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






25. 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






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






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






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






29. 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






30. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






32. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc






33. 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






34. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






35. 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






36. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






37. 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






38. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






39. A technique of depicting two layered images simultaneously. Images from one frame or several frames of film are added to pre-existing images - using an optical printer - to produce the same effect as a double exposure






40. 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






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






42. 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






43. The first print made from a film negative






44. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






45. 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






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






47. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






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






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






50. A shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots