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






2. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






3. 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






4. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






5. Light emitted from a relatively small source positioned close to the subject. It tends to be unflattering because it creates deep shadows and emphasizes surface imperfections






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






7. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






8. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






9. Color. The strength of a hue is measured by its saturation or desaturation






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






11. The practice or repeatedly casting actors in similar roles across different films






12. 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






13. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






14. Individuals who were prevented from working in the film industry because of their suspected involvement with Communist interests






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






16. A crew member responsible for logging the details of each take on the set so as to ensure continuity






17. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






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






19. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking






20. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






21. A format that uses a larger film stock than standard 35mm. IMAX - Omnimax - and Showscan are shot on 70mm film






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






23. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






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






25. 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






26. 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






27. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






28. 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






29. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






30. A shot combining two kinds of movement: the camera tracks in toward the subject wile the lens zooms out






31. A property of older television monitors - where each frame was scanned as two fields: One consisting of all the odd numbered lines - the other all the even lines. If slowed down - the television image would appear to sweep down the screen one line at






32. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






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






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






35. Sound recorded on a set - on location - or - for documentary film - at an actual real-world event - as opposed to dubbed in post-production through ADR or looping






36. 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






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






38. A film process that uses 35mm film stock but changes the orientation of the film so that the film moves through the camera horizontally instead of vertically. The larger image is of higher quality than standard 35mm processes






39. 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






40. 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






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






42. Muted - washed out color that contains more white than a saturated color






43. Optical illusions created during post-production






44. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






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






46. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






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






48. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






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






50. 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