Chapter 8: Film & Video

Which of the following was TRUE of the major movie studios of the 1930s and 1940s? a. They tended to focus solely on one genre of movie-making. b. They refused to release major, mass-appealing feature films. c. They made most of their money on "B movies." d. Each failed to distinguish its style from the others.

C

In its earliest days, the content of films was not heavily regulated by either the federal government or the MPAA. Which of these controversies made the industry start to think about imposing regulatory standards for content? a. The NAACP's response to the depiction of African Americans in The Birth of a Nation. b. National protests over communist sympathizers working in the film industry. c. Public outrage over the extreme violence of The Wild Bunch. d. GLAAD's reaction to callous portrayals of homosexual characters in films like Braveheart.

a

What is the primary goal for most first-time independent directors? a. getting quality actors b. getting distribution c. getting a skilled producer d. getting a screenplay

b

What was the "star system"? a. directors' use of star-power to alter the acting of lesser known actors b. film studios' use of stars' popularity to promote their movies c. fans' reactions to stars when seen on the streets or in public d. film studios' use of their power to attract stars to act in their movies

b

Which of these court cases would play an enormous role in the breakup of vertical integration in Hollywood? a. United States vs. MGM. This case imposed sanctions on studios that did not respect child labor laws. b. United States vs. Paramount. This case made it illegal for studios to own every part of the production and distribution process. c. United States vs. RKO. This case made it illegal for film studios to act as distributors without also owning stakes in the production process. d. United States vs. Fox. This case set a minimum percentage of profits that studios had to pay actors.

b

Why were silent films oriented toward action, dramatic visuals, and lavish sets? a. because Hollywood budgets were much larger during the silent film era b. because producers had to rely on visuals, with only brief written dialogue c. because the international movie-going crowd of the day had high standards d. because technology did not allow for slower-paced, more subtle films

b

Denise is an editor at Luminescence Films. She is working on an action film for which she is merging several layers of images of an elaborate car chase scene that were shot separately on different days. What type of technique is Denise employing? a. Rear projection b. Nonlinear editing c. Compositing d, Matting

c

Most often, the controlling hand on film production and storytelling is the _______. a. producer b. editor c. director d. screenwriter

c

What was different about Toy Story (1995) and virtually all of its animated film predecessors? a. It was the first animated feature film. b. It was the first major studio animated film. c. It was the first computer-animated hit film. d. It was the first full-length animated film.

c

Which of the following was one of the ways Hollywood tried to compete with television in the 1950s and 1960s? a. by making movies explicitly for television release and viewership b. by eliminating the need for traditional acting or directing c. by capitalizing on more controversial material than TV could offer d. by changing the way camerawork is performed and arranged

c

Joaquin's large company, MiraFlax, handles both the production and distribution sides of many of today's biggest films. With ONLY this information about Joaquin's company, which of the following do we know for certain it is engaged in? a. concentration of ownership b. first-run distribution c. the studio system d. vertical integration

d

King Kong (1933) was the first film to use a technique called _______. a. nonlinear editing b. rear projection c. compositing d. front projection

d

Mackenzie has been an integral part of the feature film being shot in New Zealand, which tells the story of a king from ancient times and his armies. Her role in the film has included lining up the financing, story developers, scriptwriters, and the major stars. Which of the following is most likely Mackenzie's role in this film? a. screenwriter b. editor c. director d. producer

d

One of the most famous scenes in all of movie history is Dorothy's skipping off down the yellow brick road from Munchkin City in The Wizard of Oz (1939). In this scene, Dorothy is actually skipping toward a large painted scene meant to look like continuing rolling hills. What special effects technique is utilized in this famous movie scene? a. nonlinear editing b. compositing c. rear projection d. mattes

d

What percentage of films are now being produced outside of the studios? a. 56% b. 10% c. 23% d. 77%

d

Which of the following is TRUE of digital filmmaking? a. It has made desktop filmmaking obsolete. b. It has removed the Internet as a distribution mechanism. c. It has significantly increased the cost of filmmaking. d. It has opened the film industry to student filmmakers.

d

(T/F) "B movies" were usually more prestigious movies that also cost more to make than other feature films. a. True b. False

f

(T/F) Although audiences tend to think of movies in terms of the directors and producers, filmmaking is probably more driven by the actors on screen.

f

(T/F) During the 1950s, the film industry began to realize that if it couldn't beat television, it had better join it.

t

(T/F) Special effects are glitzy, but the real computer revolution in Hollywood is taking place behind the scenes, during the post-production process, when films get their finishing touches.

t