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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. 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






2. 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






3. 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






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






5. A visual effect achieved through the use of photography and digital techniques that appears to stop time and allow the viewer to travel around the subject and view it from a multitude of vantage points






6. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






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






8. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






9. A technique of depicting two layered images simultaneously. Images from one frame or several frames of film are added to pre-existing images - using an optical printer - to produce the same effect as a double exposure






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






11. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






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






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






14. 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






15. 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






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






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






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






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






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






21. 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






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






23. 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






24. A term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






25. 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






26. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






27. 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






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






29. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






30. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






31. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






32. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






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






34. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






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






36. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






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






38. 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






39. 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






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






41. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






42. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






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






44. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






45. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time






46. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






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






48. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






49. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






50. The width of the film stock - measured across the frame. Typical sizes are 8mm - 16mm - 35mm - and 70mm