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






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






3. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






4. 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






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






6. An animation technique that uses a computer program to interpolate frames to produce the effect of an object or creature changing gradually into something different. The program calculates the way the image must change in order for the first image to






7. 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






8. 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






9. A shot that makes the human subject very small in relation to his or her environment. The entire figure from head to toe is onscreen and dwarfed by the surroundings






10. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






11. 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






12. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






13. 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






14. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






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






16. A shot depicting the human body from the waist up






17. 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






18. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






19. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






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






21. A single take that contains an entire scene






22. 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






23. 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






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






25. 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






26. A musical in which some or all musical numbers are not motivated by the narrative; for example - characters sing and dance throughout the film but at least some performances are not staged for an onscreen audience. Examples include Oklahoma - The umb






27. 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






28. The narrative path of the main or supporting characters - also called a plotline. Complex films may have several lines of action






29. An optical effect whereby the eye continues to register a visual stimulus in the brain for a brief period after that stimulus has been removed






30. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






31. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






32. The first print made from a film negative






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






34. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






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






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






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. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






40. 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.






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






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






43. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






44. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut






45. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






46. 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






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






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






49. 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






50. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance