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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 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






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






3. 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






4. 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






5. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






6. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






7. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






8. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






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






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






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






12. 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






13. A small - variable opening on a camera lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera and striking the surface of the film






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






16. A shot taken from a camera mounted on a crane that moves three-dimensionally in a space






17. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






18. A technique of overdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in the chemical bath longer than indicated) in order to increase density and contrast in the image






19. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






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






21. 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






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






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






24. The term for a film's spoken dialogue - as opposed to the underlying meaning contained in the subtext






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






26. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






27. 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






28. 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






29. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






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






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






32. 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






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






34. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






35. A process of transferring film to video tapes or DVDs so that the original aspect ratio of the film is preserved






36. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






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






38. A shot taken when the camera is so close to a subject that it fills the frame. It is most commonly used for a shot that isolates and encompasses a single actor's face - to emphasize the expression of emotion






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






40. 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






41. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






42. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






43. 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






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






45. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






46. 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






47. 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






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






49. 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






50. 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