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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 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






2. The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object






3. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






4. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






5. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






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






7. 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






8. 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






9. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






10. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera






11. 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






12. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






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






14. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






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






17. 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






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






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






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






21. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






22. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






23. 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






24. 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






25. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






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






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






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






29. 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






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






31. A shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






32. 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






33. A consistent style - theme - and subject matter developed over the course of a director's body of work






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






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






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






37. 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






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






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






40. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






41. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






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






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






44. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






45. The narrative path of the main or supporting characters - also called a plotline. Complex films may have several lines of action






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






47. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






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






49. 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






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