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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 form of shot transition - generally concluding a scene - where a circular mask constricts around the image until the entire frame is black






2. 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






3. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






4. 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






5. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice






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






7. A specialist who monitors the processing of color on the se and in the film lab






8. A process of blending the three elements of the sound track (dialogue - music - and effects) in post-production






9. 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






10. 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






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






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






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






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






15. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






16. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






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






18. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






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






20. A camera shot taken at a large distance from the subject. Using the human body as the subject - a long shot captures the entire human form






21. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc






22. 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






23. A device that projects photographs or footage onto glass so that images can be traced by hand to create animated images






24. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






25. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






26. A production crew responsible not for shooting the primary footage but - instead - for remote location shooting and B-roll. See also B-roll






27. 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






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






29. 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






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






31. Also called 'd-cinema.' Not to be confused with digital cinematography (shooting movies on digital video) - this term refers to using digital technologies for exhibition






32. 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






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






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






35. A computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






36. A long shot in which the film frame resembles the proscenium arch of the stage - distancing the audience






37. The imagined world of the story






38. 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






39. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






40. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






41. 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






42. A chemical embedded in the emulsion layer of film stock that - when developed after exposure - releases a particular color dye (red - green - or blue)






43. A technique of overdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in the chemical bath longer than indicated) in order to increase density and contrast in the image






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






45. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






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






47. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






48. 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






49. 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






50. 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