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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 term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






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






3. 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






4. A videotape system that records images onto magnetic tape - using electronic signals






5. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






6. 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






7. 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






8. 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






9. 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






10. A camera shot taken at a large distance from the subject. Using the human body as the subject - a long shot captures the entire human form






11. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






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






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






14. A crew member whose job is to maintain consistency in visual details from one shot to the next






15. 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






16. Muted - washed out color that contains more white than a saturated color






17. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






18. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






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






20. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






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






22. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






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






24. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






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






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






27. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






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






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






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






31. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






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






33. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






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






35. 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






36. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






37. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






38. Thin - flexible material comprised of base and emulsion layers - onto which light rays are focused and which is processed in chemicals to produce film images






39. An action film cycle of the late 1960s and early 1970s that featured bold - rebellious African American characters






40. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






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






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






43. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






44. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






45. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






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






47. Wheeled platform with wheels that rotate - so the dolly can change direction






48. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






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






50. 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