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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. 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






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






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






4. 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






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






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






7. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






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






9. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






10. A technique of recording very few images over a long period of time - say - one frame per minute or per day






11. 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






12. 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






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






14. Smaller corporations that did not own distribution and/or exhibition companies in the studio era - including Universal - Columbia - and United Artists






15. 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






16. 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






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






18. A widescreen process that uses three cameras - three projectors - and a wide - curved screen






19. 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






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






21. 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






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






23. A shot taken fro a position directly above the action - also called a 'birds' eye shot'






24. 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






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






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






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






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






29. 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






30. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






31. 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






32. 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






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






34. An animation technique that uses a computer program to interpolate frames to produce the effect of an object or creature changing gradually into something different. The program calculates the way the image must change in order for the first image to






35. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






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






37. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






38. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






39. 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






40. A videotape system that records images onto magnetic tape - using electronic signals






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






42. 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.






43. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






44. A picture element - a measure of image density. There are approximately 18 million pixels in a frame of 35mm film and 300000-400000 in a video image






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






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






47. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






48. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






49. A technique of arranging the actors on the set to take advantage of deep focus cinematography - which allows for many planes of depth in the film frame to remain in focus






50. A system for recording images on magnetic tape using a digital signal - that is - an electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s