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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 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






2. A similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual - narrative - and/or sound elements






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






4. 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






5. A fiction film (often a comedy) that uses documentary conventions on fictional rather than real-world subject matter






6. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






7. 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.






8. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






9. 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






10. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






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






12. 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






13. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






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






15. 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






16. 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






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






18. A platform on wheels - used for mobile camera shots






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






20. A shot taken from a vantage point so close that only a part of the subject is visible. On an actor - it might show only an eye or a portion of the face






21. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up






22. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






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






24. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






25. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






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






27. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






28. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






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






30. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






31. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






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






33. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






34. 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






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






36. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






37. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. 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






45. 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






46. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






47. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






48. 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






49. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






50. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera