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






2. 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






3. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






4. 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






5. 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






6. A technique of overdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in the chemical bath longer than indicated) in order to increase density and contrast in the image






7. 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






8. 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






9. An effect created when too little light strikes the film during shooting. As a result the image will contain dark areas that appear very dense and dark (including shadows) and the overall contrast will be less than with a properly exposed image






10. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






11. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






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






13. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






14. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






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






16. 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






17. Natural light; The process of suing sunlight rather than artificial studio lights when filming






18. 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






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






20. Muted - washed out color that contains more white than a saturated color






21. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






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






23. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






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






25. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






26. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






27. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






28. 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






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






30. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






31. 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






32. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






33. The first print made from a film negative






34. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






35. A consistent style - theme - and subject matter developed over the course of a director's body of work






36. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






37. 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






38. Color. The strength of a hue is measured by its saturation or desaturation






39. 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






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






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






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






43. A technique of leaving empty space around the subject in the frame - in order to covey openness and continuity of visible space and to imply offscreen space






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






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






46. A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement






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






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






49. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






50. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself