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






2. A digital technique developed by Industrial Light and Magic - which builds movement sequences from single frames of film






3. A film that fuses the conventions of two or more genres






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






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






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






7. A film's main characters - one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward






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






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






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






11. Thin - flexible material comprised of base and emulsion layers - onto which light rays are focused and which is processed in chemicals to produce film images






12. 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






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






14. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






15. The length in minutes for a film to play in its entirety (for example - 120 minutes). Also referred to as 'screen time.'






16. 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






17. 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






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






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






20. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






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






22. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






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






24. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






25. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






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






27. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






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






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






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






31. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






32. A fiction film (often a comedy) that uses documentary conventions on fictional rather than real-world subject matter






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






34. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






35. The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object






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






37. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






38. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






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






40. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






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






42. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






43. 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






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






45. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






46. 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






47. 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






48. 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






49. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






50. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience