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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 machine that converts film prints to videotape format






2. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






3. A class or type of film - such as the Western or the horror movie. They share narrative - visual - and/or sound conventions






4. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






5. 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






6. 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






7. A shot taken when the camera is so close to a subject that it fills the frame. It is most commonly used for a shot that isolates and encompasses a single actor's face - to emphasize the expression of emotion






8. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






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






10. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






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






12. A class or type of film - such as the Western or the horror movie. They share narrative - visual - and/or sound conventions






13. A film's main characters - one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward






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






15. Non-diegetic; any element in the film that is not part of the imagined story world






16. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






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






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






19. 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






20. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






21. 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






22. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






23. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






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






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






26. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






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






28. 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






29. 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






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






31. 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






32. A digital technique developed by Industrial Light and Magic - which builds movement sequences from single frames of film






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






34. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






35. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






36. 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






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






38. Optical illusions created during post-production






39. 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






40. A type of film stock that is sensitive to (in other words - registers) all tones in the color spectrum






41. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






42. 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






43. 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






44. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






45. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






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






47. A technique of 'pushing' the film (overdeveloping it) to correct problems of underexposure (resulting from insufficient light during shooting) by increasing image contrast






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






49. 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






50. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s