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






2. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






3. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






4. The imagined world of the story






5. A shot taken from a vantage point so close that only a part of the subject is visible. On an actor - it might show only an eye or a portion of the face






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






7. 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






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






9. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






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






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






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






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






14. 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






15. 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






16. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






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






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






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






20. The individual arrangement of lighting and camera placement used for each shot






21. 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






22. 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






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






24. 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






25. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






26. An outlawed studio era practice - where studios forced exhibitors to book groups of films at once - thus ensuring a market for their failures along with their successes






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






28. A shot that interrupts a scene's master shot and may include character reactions






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






30. 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






31. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






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






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






34. An optical effect whereby the human eye fills in gaps between closely spaced objects - so that two light bulbs flashing on and off are understood as one light moving back and forth






35. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






36. 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






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






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






39. 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






40. A film that fuses the conventions of two or more genres






41. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






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






43. 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






44. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






45. 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






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






47. 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






48. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






49. 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






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