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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 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






2. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






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






4. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






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






6. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






7. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






8. An unstated meaning that underlies and is implied by spoken dialogue






9. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






10. 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






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






12. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






13. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






14. 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






15. 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






16. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






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






18. The imagined world of the story






19. A sound editing technique that links several scenes through parallel and overlapping sounds. Each sound is associated with one scene - unlike a sound bridge - where a sound from one scene bleeds into that of another






20. Individuals who were prevented from working in the film industry because of their suspected involvement with Communist interests






21. A technique of running the motion picture camera at a speed slower than projection speed (24 frames per second) - in order to produce at a fast motion sequence when projected at normal speed. The term derives from early film cameras - which were cran






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






23. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






24. Also called 'rushes.' Footage exposed and developed quickly so that the director can assess the day's work






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






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






27. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






28. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






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






30. 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






31. 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






32. 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






33. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






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






35. 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






36. 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






37. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






38. 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






39. A device that projects photographs or footage onto glass so that images can be traced by hand to create animated images






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






41. The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object






42. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






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






44. 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






45. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






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






47. 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






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






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






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