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






2. A technique of 'pushing' the film (overdeveloping it) to correct problems of underexposure (resulting from insufficient light during shooting) by increasing image contrast






3. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






4. 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






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






6. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






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






8. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






9. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






10. 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






11. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






12. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






13. 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






14. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






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






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






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






18. 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






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






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






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






22. An optical effect whereby the human eye fills in gaps between closely spaced objects - so that two light bulbs flashing on and off are understood as one light moving back and forth






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






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






25. 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






26. An unstated meaning that underlies and is implied by spoken dialogue






27. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






28. 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






29. A lens with a focal length greater than 50 mm (usually between 80mm and 20mm) - which provides a larger image of the subject than a normal or wide-angle lens but which narrows the angle of vision and flattens the depth of the image relative to normal






30. 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






31. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






32. 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






33. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






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






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






36. A long shot in which the film frame resembles the proscenium arch of the stage - distancing the audience






37. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






38. 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






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






40. 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






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






42. 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






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






44. The length in minutes for a film to play in its entirety (for example - 120 minutes). Also referred to as 'screen time.'






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






46. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






47. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






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






49. A transparent sheet on which animation artists draw images.






50. 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