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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. 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






2. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






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






4. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






5. 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






6. A single take that contains an entire scene






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






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






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






10. A shot that interrupts a scene's master shot and may include character reactions






11. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






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






13. 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






14. The rules of character - setting - and narrative that films that belong to a genre - such as Westerns - horror films - and screwball comedies - generally obey.






15. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






16. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






17. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






18. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






19. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






20. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






21. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






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






23. 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






24. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






25. 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






26. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






27. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






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






29. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






30. 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






31. 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






32. Cinema verite; a documentary style in which the filmmaker attempts to remain as unobtrusive as possible - recording without obvious editorial comment






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






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






35. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






36. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






37. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






38. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






39. 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






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






41. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






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






43. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






44. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






45. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






46. A shot taken fro a position directly above the action - also called a 'birds' eye shot'






47. A lens with a variable focal length that allows changes of focal length while keeping the subject in focus






48. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






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






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