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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 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






2. A type of matte shot - created by positioning a pane of optically flawless glass with a painting on it between the camera and the scene to be photographed. This combines the painting on the glass with the set or location - seen through the glass - be






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






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






5. The plotline that surrounds an embedded tale. The frame narration may or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale






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






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






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






9. 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






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






11. A crew member whose job is to maintain consistency in visual details from one shot to the next






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






13. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






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






15. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






16. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






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






18. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






19. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






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






22. A technique of cutting back and forth between action occurring in two different locations - which often creates the illusion that they are happening simultaneously. Also called 'cross cutting.'






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






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






25. Because film stock is sensitive to the color of light - directors work with film labs in post-production to monitor the color scheme of each scene in a film - making adjustments for consistency and aesthetic effect






26. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






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






28. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






29. A shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots






30. Any lens with a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame. For 35mm filmmaking - a 35-50 mm lens does not distort the angle of vision or depth






31. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






32. Sound recorded on a set - on location - or - for documentary film - at an actual real-world event - as opposed to dubbed in post-production through ADR or looping






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






34. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






35. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






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






37. The space between the camera and subject it is filming.






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






39. 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






40. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






41. 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






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






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






44. 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






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






46. 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






47. 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






48. 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






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






50. 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