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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 shot that contains two characters within the frame






2. Dense accumulation of detail conveyed in the opening moments of a film






3. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






4. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






5. 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






6. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






7. 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






8. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






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






10. 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






11. 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






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






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






14. A film's main characters - one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward






15. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






16. The first print made from a film negative






17. 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






18. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






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






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






21. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






22. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






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






24. A similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual - narrative - and/or sound elements






25. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






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






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






28. 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






29. 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






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






31. A direct vocal address to the audience - Which may emanate from a character or from a narrative voice apparently unrelated to the diegesis






32. The non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world






33. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






34. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






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






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






37. A transparent sheet on which animation artists draw images.






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






39. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






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






41. The non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world






42. 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






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






45. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






46. An early color process that replaced silver halide grains with colored salts






47. 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






48. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






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






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