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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. Also called 'rushes.' Footage exposed and developed quickly so that the director can assess the day's work






2. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






3. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






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 shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






6. 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






7. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






8. 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






9. 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






10. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography






11. 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






12. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






13. 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






14. 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






15. 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






16. 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






17. 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






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






19. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






20. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






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. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






23. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






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






25. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






26. The width of the film stock - measured across the frame. Typical sizes are 8mm - 16mm - 35mm - and 70mm






27. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






28. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






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






30. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






31. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






32. 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






33. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice






34. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






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






36. A single take that contains an entire scene






37. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






38. 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






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






40. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






41. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






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






43. 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






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






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






46. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






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






48. 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






49. 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






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