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






2. 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






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






4. 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






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






6. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






7. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






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






9. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






10. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






11. A film style that - in contrast to the classical and formalist styles - focuses characters - place - and the spontaneity and digressiveness of life - rather than on highly structured stories or aesthetic abstraction






12. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






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






14. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






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






16. 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






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






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






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






20. 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






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






22. The first shot in a standard shot sequence. Its purpose is to provide a clear representation of the location of the action






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






24. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






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






26. A type of matte shot - created by positioning a pane of optically flawless glass with a painting on it between the camera and the scene to be photographed. This combines the painting on the glass with the set or location - seen through the glass - be






27. 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






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






29. A shot taken fro a position directly above the action - also called a 'birds' eye shot'






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






31. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






32. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






33. A term that refers to the organization of an industry wherein one type of corporation also owns corporations in allied industries - for example - film production and video games






34. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera






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






36. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






37. A crew member responsible for logging the details of each take on the set so as to ensure continuity






38. Dense accumulation of detail conveyed in the opening moments of a film






39. Everything audiences hear when they watch a sound film. The soundtrack is the composite of all three elements of film sound: dialogue - music - and sound effects






40. 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






41. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






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






43. The average length in seconds of a series of shots - covering a portion of a film or an entire film; a measure of pace within a scene or in the film as a whole.






44. A standard shot pattern that dictates that a shot of one character will be followed by a shot of another character - taken from the reverse angle of the first shot






45. The measurement of how forgiving a film stock is. It determines whether an acceptable image will be produced when the film stock is exposed to too little or too much light






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






47. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






48. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






49. 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






50. Optical illusions created during post-production