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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. 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.






2. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






3. 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






4. 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






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






6. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






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






8. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






9. 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






10. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






12. An early color process that replaced silver halide grains with colored salts






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






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






15. Also called 'd-cinema.' Not to be confused with digital cinematography (shooting movies on digital video) - this term refers to using digital technologies for exhibition






16. A process of transferring film to video tapes or DVDs so that the original aspect ratio of the film is preserved






17. 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






18. 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






19. Reels of film that are shipped to movie theaters for exhibition. Digital cinema - which can be distributed via satellite - broadband - or on media such as DVDs - may soon replace film prints because the latter are expensive to create - copy - and dis






20. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






21. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






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






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






24. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






25. A series of related scene joined through elliptical editing that indicates the passage of time






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






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






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






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






30. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






31. A production term referring to coordinating actors' movements with lines of dialogue






32. 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






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






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






35. A shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented






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






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






38. 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






39. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






40. 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






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






42. A chemical embedded in the emulsion layer of film stock that - when developed after exposure - releases a particular color dye (red - green - or blue)






43. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






44. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






45. 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






46. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






47. 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






48. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






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






50. 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