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






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






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. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






5. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






6. A standard shot pattern that dictates that a shot of one character will be followed by a shot of another character - taken from the reverse angle of the first shot






7. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






8. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






9. A term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






10. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






11. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






12. 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






13. 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






14. A type of film stock that is sensitive to (in other words - registers) all tones in the color spectrum






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






16. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






17. Thin - flexible material comprised of base and emulsion layers - onto which light rays are focused and which is processed in chemicals to produce film images






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






19. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






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






21. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






22. A single take that contains an entire scene






23. 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






24. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






25. A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the directions the character looks - simulating the character's field of vision






26. 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






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






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






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






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






31. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






32. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






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






34. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






35. A shot combining two kinds of movement: the camera tracks in toward the subject wile the lens zooms out






36. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






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






38. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






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






40. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






41. A style of stage acting developed from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavsky - which trains actors to get into character through the use of emotional memory






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






43. 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






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






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






46. 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






47. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






48. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






49. 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






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