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






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






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






4. 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






5. Non-diegetic; any element in the film that is not part of the imagined story world






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






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






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






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






10. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






11. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






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






13. 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






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






15. 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






16. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






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






18. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






19. 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






20. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






21. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






22. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






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






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






25. 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






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






27. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






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






29. 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






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






31. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






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






33. 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






34. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






35. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






36. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






37. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






38. A term that refers to the organization of an industry wherein one type of corporation also owns corporations in allied industries - for example - film production and video games






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






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






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






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






43. A film style that - in contrast to the classical and formalist styles - focuses characters - place - and the spontaneity and digressiveness of life - rather than on highly structured stories or aesthetic abstraction






44. 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






45. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






46. 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






47. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






48. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






49. 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






50. 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







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