Film Quiz 1 & 2

What are the different kinds of special effects (in camera and processed shots)

Bullet time, miniature shots, CGI, Digital compositing, in-camera effects, match moving

Be familiar with the idea of cinematic language and be able to define how certain cinematic elements effect storytelling: Camera Angle Transitions (fades, motion cutting) Lighting Parallel editing Patterns Manipulation of Time/Space

Cinematic Language-

What is the difference between a closed frame and an open frame?

Closed frame- Does not require knowledge of what's off-screen to communicate a concept or action. Open frame- Require context from other shots.

Be familiar with the idea of cultural invisibility in film and how films attempt to achieve it

Cultural invisibility is the prejudices lurking under the surface of a movie. Will attempt to achieve with humor. (Political views, religion, etc)

Understand the elements of Design and Composition

Elements of design- line, shape, color, value, texture, form, and space Composition- Placement or arrangement of visual elements or 'ingredients' in a work of art

What is the difference between Explicit and Implicit meaning as it relates to film theory?

Explicit- Close to the point of the film, with an openly asserted meaning when describing a film's meaning. Implicit- An abstract meaning that goes beyond what is explicitly stated in the film. Think interpretive meaning.

What is meant by generic transformation?

The process by which a particular genre is adapted to meet the expectations of a changing society.

Understand various types of shots and compositions with the frame of a film including: High vs Low angle Close Up vs Wide Extreme Long Shot Rack Focus Zoom

Extreme Long Shot- Shot from a very far distance Rack focus- Changing the focus of the lens during a shot

Understand the various cinematographic properties of a shot Film stock Film gauges Color vs. Black and white Aspect ratio

Film stock-

Understand the difference between form and content in film

Form- The films style, techniques, and media used and how the elements of design are implemented. Content- A work's subject matter, or what is being depicted

What is a genre? Explain how the following six guidelines can be used in classifying whether a film falls into a particular genre. Story formula Theme Character types Setting Presentation Stars

Genre- a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. Story formula, Theme, Character types, Setting, Presentation, Stars can classify whether a film falls into a particular genre.

What is the difference between instructional, factual, persuasive, and propaganda documentaries?

Instructional- A documentary film that seeks to educate viewers about common interests, rather than persuading them with particular ideas. Compare factual film, persuasive film, and propaganda film. Factual- A documentary film that, usually, presents people, places, or processes in a straightforward way meant to entertain and instruct without unduly influencing audiences. Compare instructional film, persuasive film, and propaganda film. Persuasive- A documentary film concerned with presenting a particular perspective on social issues, or with corporate and governmental injustice. Compare factual film, instructional film, and propaganda film. Propaganda- A documentary film that systematically disseminates deceptive or distorted information. Compare factual film, instructional film, and persuasive film.

Understand the difference between shooting on location versus on a soundstage. What are the pros and cons of each approach?

Location- A real place in the world. Don't need to add in special effects for nature. Sound stage- An indoor fake set for a movie. You can manipulate different things.

What is meant by meditation? Gaze?

Meditation- The process by which an agent, structure, or other formal element, whether human or technological, transfers something from one place to another. In feminist film criticism, this term usually refers to the predominantly male gaze of Hollywood cinema, which tends to objectify women.

Understand the term Mise-en-Scene and how the various components that compromise it

Mise-en-Scene- The arrangements of scenery and stage properties in a play. Components- Actor, lighting, decor, props, costume

What is the difference between Narrative, Documentary, and Experimental Movies?

Narrative- Telling a story Documentary- Nonfiction motion picture (reality) Experimental- Fiction written work

What is the difference between a short focal-length (wide-angle) lens, a long focal-length (telephoto) lens

One can zoom

Understand the concepts of Persistence of Vision, Phi Phenomena and Flicker fusion as the eye works with the brain in producing "apparent motion"

Persistence of Vision- Optical Illusion whereby multiple discreet images blend into one image. Phi Phenomena- An illusion that is visual in nature, that causes the viewer to perceive motion in stationary objects. Flicker Fusion- The frequency at which an intermittent light stimulus appears to be completely steady to the average human observer.

What is the difference between realism and anti-realism? How do they both convey story?

Realism-An interest or concern for the actual or real; a tendency to view or represent things as they really are. Anti-Realism- An interest in or concern for the abstract, speculative, or fantastic.

Know the difference between a shot, take, and set-up.

Shot- Those images which are recorded continuously from the time the camera starts to the time it stops. That is, an unedited, uncut strip of film. Take- One version of a shot.A film-maker shoots one or more takes of each shot or set-up. Only one of each group of takes appears in the final film. Set-up- The positioning of the camera and lights for a specific shot.

What is the difference between a shot, scene, and a sequence?

Shots- Product of one interrupted run of the camera. Scenes- Complete units of plot action. Sequences- A series of shots unified by theme or purpose.

Know the basics of 3 point lighting and different types of lighting styles used in film (hard, soft, high key, low-key)

Soft Light-softest light is shadow less Hard Light- casts strong, well defined shadows Low-Key- a lighting effect that uses a hard light source to enhance shadows in your scene.

What is the difference between a static frame and a moving frame? What is meant by Kinesis?

Static frame- A still frame that does not move Moving frame- The camera is not still Kinesis- Actively moving

What is meant by depth of field? What is deep focus photography?

The area in front of the camera that appears sharp in the frame is called depth of field. In deep focus the foreground, middle-ground and background are all in focus.

Be familiar with the role of the Production Designer in creating a look of the film with the setting

The production designer is responsible for the overall visual of the production.

Explain how patterns and viewer expectations help shape the movie audience's experience

The viewers expect that if there is a problem in the story, it will be solved before the end. It causes them to predict and anticipate what it going to come next and makes the experience for participatory for them.

What are the responsibilities of the director of photography?

They are responsible for making artistic and technical decisions related to the image.

Understand the concept of verisimilitude and how films create it

Verisimilitude is making something appear very real. Something would be having an accident happen to them, show them going to the bathroom, or sneezing, etc