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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 details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






2. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city






3. 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






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






5. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






6. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






7. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






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






9. 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






10. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






11. The first print made from a film negative






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






13. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






14. 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






15. A process of transferring film to video tapes or DVDs so that the original aspect ratio of the film is preserved






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






17. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






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






19. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






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






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






22. 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






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






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






25. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






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






27. 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






28. 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






29. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






30. A shot that interrupts a scene's master shot and may include character reactions






31. 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






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






33. 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






34. A consistent style - theme - and subject matter developed over the course of a director's body of work






35. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






36. 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






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






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






40. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






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






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






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 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






45. 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






46. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






47. 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






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






49. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






50. 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