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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 camera position above the subject - looking down at it






2. 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.






3. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






4. Light emitted from a larger source that is scattered over a bigger area or reflected off a surface before it strikes the subject. Soft light minimizes facial details - including wrinkles






5. Non-diegetic; any element in the film that is not part of the imagined story world






6. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






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






8. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






9. 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






10. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






11. The space between the camera and subject it is filming.






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






13. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






14. A single take that contains an entire scene






15. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






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






17. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






18. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






19. 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






20. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






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






22. 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






23. A technique of moving the camera - on a specially built track. Such shots often trace character movement laterally across the frame or in and out of the depth of the frame






24. 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






25. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






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






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






28. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






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






30. A system for recording images on magnetic tape using a digital signal - that is - an electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s






31. 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






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






33. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






34. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






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






36. 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






37. 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






38. A production term referring to coordinating actors' movements with lines of dialogue






39. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






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






42. 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






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






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






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






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






47. 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






48. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






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






50. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes







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