Film Final

1. Study the key terms and concepts at the beginning and end of each chapter. 

2.  Be familiar with these areas of the visual effects lesson & video: 

     a. What are the different types of mattes? 

Paintings used to fil the set areas that are too difficult or expensive to build or placed in the screen areas by the use of a blue or green screen  

     b.  How does a green or blue screen work as a visual effect? 

the chroma key is often referred to as a ‘blue screen’ or ‘green screen’ effect. Real-time chroma keying enables you to turn certain colored areas into transparent. This allows you to layer video sources. 

     c.  What is CGI?  How is it created? 

Computer generated imagery; applying chroma keying, a process that digitally removes that color so it can be replaced with computer-generated images. 

     d.  What is a 3D or stereoscopic movie? 

A movie in 3 dimensions? 

3. Be familiar with these areas of chapter 3: 

     a. What are the basic modes of screen reality? 

Pertains to the principles of time, space, character, behavior and design.  

Reality can be configured physically, socially, and psychologically 

Cinema persuades viewers to accept the validity of the reality shown on screen  

     b. What are the different types of realism and how do they differ?  How does expressionism and fantasy differ in terms of realism from these types? 

Fictional realism- closely resembles the real world, but is constructed and created.  

Historical realism- reality of the past- recreate a period through authentic detail and historical accuracy within the scope of the  

Documentary realism- filming of actual events, interviews, and dramatic recreations based on world events 

Fictional documentaries- are fictional stories intended to look like documentaries  

EXPRESSIONISM- extreme mode of stylized screen reality; visual distortions that suggest emotional or phycological disturbances; Bizarre Camera angles; poetic use of lighting; first used by Germans after world war I  

Contemporary expressionism is more subtle- more emphasis on the macabre, fearful themes, and dark side of human behavior  

FANTASY- worlds that don’t exist; use of familiar helps of disbelief; must make viewer believe that it could happen; special effects play an important part; special effects are critical  to success of the films; creatures, aliens, monsters, elves, magic 

  c. What are the two modes of cinematic self-reflexivity? 

Formal Self Reflexivity- works that openly reflect upon their own processes of artful composition. 

Narrative Self Reflexivity 

The reality portrayed is meant to say “ this is a movie,” ;  

Most are comedies, self reflexivity is often making fun of a movie; suggestive camera angles; referencing to other films; use of satire and imitation; viewers tend not to be as emotionally involved 

Animation?   

     d.  How does 2D animation differ from 3D animation?  

• 2D animation occurs in a flat, two-dimensional space, while 3D animation moves in a three-dimensional environment. 

• 2D animation requires drawing or creating every frame, while 3D animation uses computer software to create and manipulate models and rigs. 

• 2D animation is more artistic and relies on illustration skill, while 3D animation is more mechanical and requires a deep understanding of physics and motion. 

• 2D animation can only show objects from one side or angle, while 3D animation can show objects from any angle. 

4. Be familiar with these areas of chapters 10 & 11 and the foreign film lesson: 

     a. Who are the major Hollywood studios - see list in text or Google it. 

The 'Big Five', consisting of Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox), Universal Pictures, and Columbia Pictures, have shaped Hollywood and the studio system in the industry over the last century. 

     b. What are the ways Hollywood has had a stylistic influence on world cinema?  How has the world influenced Hollywood?\ 

In terms of storytelling Hollywood pioneered narrative techniques that became standard across the globe. Elements like three-act structures, clear character arcs, and cause-and-effect storytelling were popularized by Hollywood films . In terms of cinematic language The use of close-ups, tracking shots, and dramatic lighting became universal. Hollywood’s genre films (such as film noir, westerns, and musicals) shaped global cinema. Other countries adapted and reinterpreted these genres. 

     c. What are product tie-ins and product placement? 

     d. What were the two key features of the international film art movement? 

Avant Garde Techniques 

Cross Cultural Influences 

     e. Describe the New German Cinema as compared to German expressionism. 

Similar to French new wave with somewhat darker themes  

     f. What was the French New Wave? 

Film critics turned directors in to “Aurtuerists” with film making, experimental camera and editing techniques 

5. Be familiar with these areas from the theory lessons: 

     a. What are the three basic modes or types of film criticism?  (check notes on this also) got two any idea what the third one is? 

Jornal based critic- work for magazine, take a deeper look into films- perspective  

Scholarly critic- examines films as to its social and historical impact  

     b. What are the three stages in the creation of film criticism? (check your notes for this, the book may have dropped this information in the latest version) 

Identification, description, and Interpretation 

     c. What is an attributional error? 

• Fundamental attribution error refers to the overestimation of a person’s personality and the underestimation of the situation that person is in. 

1. The Lunch Date: 

• In the short film The Lunch Date, the white woman who misses her train commits a fundamental attribution error. 

• Fundamental attribution error refers to the overestimation of a person’s personality and the underestimation of the situation that person is in. 

• In this case, the woman’s lateness is attributed to her personality (e.g., being careless) rather than considering external factors (e.g., train delays or unforeseen circumstances). 

     d.  What are differences among the theories? - name and definition or explanation. 

Realist theory- considers correspondence between film images and social, psychological, and physical realities developed by Andre Baz; Film should not force the reality on the audience  

Auterist theory- looks at the way film authors or directors create a consistent and recognizable cinematic style  

Psychanalytic theory- film activates deep rooted psychological desires and anxieties; voyeurism; body fetish; taboo images  

Ideological theories- examines the relationship between movies and society; films communicate ideology, morality, and social order; Ideology is implicit or explicit  

Feminist THeory- studies images of Women in film, examines how film presents gender issues, such as male dominance in action pictures  

Only the movies featured in class lessons (videos and documentaries) will be on the test. Make sure to look at your notes as much of the the test is film history. 

7. Go over your notes from class on subjects such as film history, alternative film theories, etc. that were not in your book.  Expect a matching exercise for this material. 

ALTERNATIVE FILM THEORIES,  

Formalist theory- film images become art with their referential qualities; filmmakers should be allowed to create new realties for their audiences;  

Marxist theory- Concentrates on the class hierarchy of the characters portrayed; films can be illusionistic or utopian; stresses political implications of the story; capitalism or Marxism manipulates the culture to advance 

Structuralism- Narrative is reduced to its most basic form; Basic structure of the story and plot are identified; how are films structured; do specific narrative structures reinforce certain values within culture.  

Semiotic theory – AN image or picture can be a sign; A sign has a signifier( what the image looks like); the editing together of images creates a “grammer” or syntax much like creating a sentence  

Post colonial theory- concerns with films related to countries and cultures that have been determined by other countries ; Does the film examine the status or development of colonized people?; Does it show the abuses of the colonizer  

8. There will be movie still frames to identify from films shown in class or featured in the book chapters - frames will be limited to these movies: 

Star Wars, Jurassic Park, The Bicycle Thief, Metropolis, The Grande Illusion, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Rashomon, The Seventh Seal, Jaws, Citizen Kane, Dial M for Murder, Silence of the Lambs, Battleship Potemkin, and Rebel Without A Cause.