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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 selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






2. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






3. 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






4. A system of constructing and arranging buildings and objects on the set so that they diminish in size dramatically from foreground to background - which creates the illusion of depth






5. 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






6. 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






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






8. The average length in seconds of a series of shots - covering a portion of a film or an entire film; a measure of pace within a scene or in the film as a whole.






9. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






10. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






11. A measure of a film stock's sensitivity to light. 'Fast' refers to sensitive film stock - while slow film is relatively insensitive






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






13. 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






14. The rules of character - setting - and narrative that films that belong to a genre - such as Westerns - horror films - and screwball comedies - generally obey.






15. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






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






17. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






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






19. 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






20. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up






21. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships






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






23. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






24. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






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






26. A narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation






27. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






28. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






29. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






30. 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






31. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






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






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






34. 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






35. 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






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






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






38. 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






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






40. A technique of running the motion picture camera at a speed slower than projection speed (24 frames per second) - in order to produce at a fast motion sequence when projected at normal speed. The term derives from early film cameras - which were cran






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






42. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






43. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






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






45. The imagined world of the story






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






47. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






48. 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






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






50. 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