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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 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






2. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






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






4. 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






5. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






6. 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






7. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






8. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






9. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






10. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






11. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






12. 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






13. Sound recorded on a set - on location - or - for documentary film - at an actual real-world event - as opposed to dubbed in post-production through ADR or looping






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






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






16. A style of stage acting developed from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavsky - which trains actors to get into character through the use of emotional memory






17. 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






18. 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






19. 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






20. 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






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






22. 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






23. Sound recorded on a set - on location - or - for documentary film - at an actual real-world event - as opposed to dubbed in post-production through ADR or looping






24. A computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






25. A sound editing technique that links several scenes through parallel and overlapping sounds. Each sound is associated with one scene - unlike a sound bridge - where a sound from one scene bleeds into that of another






26. A musical film in which each song and dance number is narratively motivated by a plot that situates characters in performance contexts






27. 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






28. 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






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






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






31. A videotape system that records images onto magnetic tape - using electronic signals






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






33. 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






34. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






35. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






36. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






37. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






45. 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






46. Light emitted from a relatively small source positioned close to the subject. It tends to be unflattering because it creates deep shadows and emphasizes surface imperfections






47. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut






48. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






49. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






50. A film process that uses 35mm film stock but changes the orientation of the film so that the film moves through the camera horizontally instead of vertically. The larger image is of higher quality than standard 35mm processes