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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 measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






2. 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






3. A form of shot transition - generally concluding a scene - where a circular mask constricts around the image until the entire frame is black






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






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






6. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






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






8. The aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences until the development of widescreen formats in the 1950s






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






10. A direct vocal address to the audience - Which may emanate from a character or from a narrative voice apparently unrelated to the diegesis






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






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






13. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






14. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






15. 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.






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






17. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






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






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






20. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






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






22. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






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






24. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






25. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






26. A crew member who reports to the Director of Photography (DP) and is in charge of tasks involving lighting and electrical needs






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






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






29. 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






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






31. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






32. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






33. 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






34. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






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






36. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






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. An optical effect whereby the eye continues to register a visual stimulus in the brain for a brief period after that stimulus has been removed






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






40. The narrative path of the main or supporting characters - also called a plotline. Complex films may have several lines of action






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






42. 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






43. 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






44. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






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






46. A consistent style - theme - and subject matter developed over the course of a director's body of work






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






48. 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






49. The term for a film's spoken dialogue - as opposed to the underlying meaning contained in the subtext






50. 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