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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. Reels of film that are shipped to movie theaters for exhibition. Digital cinema - which can be distributed via satellite - broadband - or on media such as DVDs - may soon replace film prints because the latter are expensive to create - copy - and dis






2. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






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






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






5. A technique of leaving empty space around the subject in the frame - in order to covey openness and continuity of visible space and to imply offscreen space






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






7. 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






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






9. 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






10. A direct vocal address to the audience - Which may emanate from a character or from a narrative voice apparently unrelated to the diegesis






11. A process of blending the three elements of the sound track (dialogue - music - and effects) in post-production






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






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






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






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






16. Early films that documented everyday events - such as workers leaving a factory






17. A musical film in which each song and dance number is narratively motivated by a plot that situates characters in performance contexts






18. 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






19. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






20. 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






21. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






22. 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






23. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






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






25. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






26. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut






27. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






28. An effect created when too little light strikes the film during shooting. As a result the image will contain dark areas that appear very dense and dark (including shadows) and the overall contrast will be less than with a properly exposed image






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






30. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






31. 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






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






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






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






35. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






36. 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






37. 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






38. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






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






40. A technique of depicting two layered images simultaneously. Images from one frame or several frames of film are added to pre-existing images - using an optical printer - to produce the same effect as a double exposure






41. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






42. Color. The strength of a hue is measured by its saturation or desaturation






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






44. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






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






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






47. 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






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






49. Dense accumulation of detail conveyed in the opening moments of a film






50. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up