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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. 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






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






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






4. 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






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






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






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






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






9. The non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world






10. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






11. 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






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






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






14. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






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






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






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






18. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






19. 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






20. 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






21. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






22. A technique of arranging the actors on the set to take advantage of deep focus cinematography - which allows for many planes of depth in the film frame to remain in focus






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






24. 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






25. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






26. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






27. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






28. 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






29. 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






30. A neutral account of the basic plot and style of a film - a part of a film - or a group of films






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






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






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






34. 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






35. 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






36. 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






37. Any lens with a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame. For 35mm filmmaking - a 35-50 mm lens does not distort the angle of vision or depth






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






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






40. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






41. 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






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






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






44. 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






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






46. Then Hollywood writers and directors cited for Contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities' attempts to root out Communists in the film industry






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






48. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






49. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






50. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice