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






2. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






3. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






4. 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






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






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






7. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






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






9. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






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






11. 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






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






13. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






14. 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






15. 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






16. A production crew responsible not for shooting the primary footage but - instead - for remote location shooting and B-roll. See also B-roll






17. The first print made from a film negative






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






19. 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






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






21. 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






22. 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






23. 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






24. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






25. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






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






27. 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






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






29. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






30. 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






31. Light emitted from a larger source that is scattered over a bigger area or reflected off a surface before it strikes the subject. Soft light minimizes facial details - including wrinkles






32. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






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






34. 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






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






36. 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






37. A musical in which some or all musical numbers are not motivated by the narrative; for example - characters sing and dance throughout the film but at least some performances are not staged for an onscreen audience. Examples include Oklahoma - The umb






38. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






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






40. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






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






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






43. A computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






44. 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






45. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






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






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






48. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






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






50. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time