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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. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






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






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






4. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






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






6. 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






7. 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






8. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






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






10. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






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






12. Then Hollywood writers and directors cited for Contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities' attempts to root out Communists in the film industry






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






14. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






15. 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






16. Natural light; The process of suing sunlight rather than artificial studio lights when filming






17. A series of related scene joined through elliptical editing that indicates the passage of time






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






19. A picture element - a measure of image density. There are approximately 18 million pixels in a frame of 35mm film and 300000-400000 in a video image






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






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






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






23. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






24. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






25. A camera shot taken at a large distance from the subject. Using the human body as the subject - a long shot captures the entire human form






26. 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






27. A shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented






28. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






29. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






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






31. An outlawed studio era practice - where studios forced exhibitors to book groups of films at once - thus ensuring a market for their failures along with their successes






32. Materials intentionally released by studios to attract public attention to films and their stars. Promotion differs from publicity - which is information that is not (or does not appear to be) intentionally disseminated by studios






33. A property of older television monitors - where each frame was scanned as two fields: One consisting of all the odd numbered lines - the other all the even lines. If slowed down - the television image would appear to sweep down the screen one line at






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






35. 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






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






37. 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






38. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






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






40. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






41. 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






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






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






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






45. 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






46. A technique of moving the camera - on a specially built track. Such shots often trace character movement laterally across the frame or in and out of the depth of the frame






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






48. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






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






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