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






2. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






3. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






4. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






5. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






6. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






7. A film style that - in contrast to the classical and formalist styles - focuses characters - place - and the spontaneity and digressiveness of life - rather than on highly structured stories or aesthetic abstraction






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






9. A crew member who reports to the Director of Photography (DP) and is in charge of tasks involving lighting and electrical needs






10. The building block of a scene; an uninterrupted sequence of frames that viewers experience as they watch a film - ending with a cut - fade - dissolve - etc. See also Take






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






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






13. Everything audiences hear when they watch a sound film. The soundtrack is the composite of all three elements of film sound: dialogue - music - and sound effects






14. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






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






16. 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






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






18. A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the directions the character looks - simulating the character's field of vision






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






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






21. A term that refers to the organization of an industry wherein one type of corporation also owns corporations in allied industries - for example - film production and video games






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






23. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






24. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






25. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






26. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






27. 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






28. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






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






30. 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






31. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






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






33. An alternative to continuity editing - this style of editing was developed in silent Soviet cinema - based on the theory that editing should exploit the difference between shots to generate intellectual and emotional responses in the audience






34. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






35. 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






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






37. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






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






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






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. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






42. Early films that documented everyday events - such as workers leaving a factory






43. The aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences until the development of widescreen formats in the 1950s






44. 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






45. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






46. 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






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






48. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






49. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






50. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)