CINEMA midterm

Question 1

What is a medium? (4)

Answer 1

1. An agency or the means of doing something using the latest technology
2. A liquid (oil, water) which pigments are then mixed to make paint
3. A particular form of storage for digitalized information, such as magnetic tape or discriminating
4. Intervening substance where impressions are conveyed to the sconce or a force that acts or depicts a distance - the radio doesn’t need a connecting medium between stations

Question 2

Medium Specificity

Answer 2

• aesthetic approach
• critical practical
• emphasizes the medium used, unique, distinguished from other artistic mediums

Question 3

Medium Specific Question?

Answer 3

What can a film do that a painting or novel cannot? What is unique to sculptures? What can one medium do that another cannot?

Question 4

Signifier:

Answer 4

What is materially presented to a viewer, an object, a person, or a combination of them

Question 5

Signified:

Answer 5

The meaning that the viewer supplies to the singnifier

Question 6

Sign:

Answer 6

The relation of signifier and signified

Question 7

Style:

Answer 7

The particular way a filmmaker organizes cinematic signifiers

Question 8

Mise-en-scene:

Answer 8

The arrangement of what appears in front of the camera

Question 9

Shot:

Answer 9

• unbroken span of action by an uninterupted run of the camera
• lasts until it is replaced by another shot with a cut or transition

Question 10

Duration of Shot

Answer 10

• length of shot indicated by “take.”
• long take, shot typically longer than 1 minute

Question 11

Close-up

Answer 11

• fill the screen with object or figure of significant
• typically face close-up for figure
• typically key, knife, or letter for object close-up
• leaves no room for doubt
• viewers attention is directed

Question 12

Medium Long Shot

Answer 12

body is visible from ankles or knees up

Question 13

Medium Shot

Answer 13

Shows the human figure’s waist up

Question 14

Medium Close Shot

Answer 14

Shows figure from mid-chest up

Question 15

Long Shot

Answer 15

Shows central characters as small figures relative to surroundings

Question 16

Rhetoric

Answer 16

the art and techniques of persuasion

Question 17

Continuity

Answer 17

unbroken and consistent existence or operation over time (OED)

Question 18

Continuity Editing

Answer 18

• standard rhetorical editing form
• a smooth sense of flow
• attention goes to characters and actions
• fictional or non-fictional

Question 19

Match Editing/Action

Answer 19

• shot is carried over to next shot smoothly
• matches using movement are the most common
• matching position of the object in the frame occurs

Question 20

Screen Direction

Answer 20

onscreen direction where characters are looking
- e.g. screen right, screen left

Question 21

Master Shot

Answer 21

camera is at good distance from actors covering all movements and gestures

Question 22

Establishing Shot

Answer 22

provides overview of scene

Question 23

Over the Shoulder Shot

Answer 23

shows two main characters in relation to each other by filming over each others shoulder

Question 24

Insert or Cut-Aways

Answer 24

• separate shots inserted into the scene
• closer shots of objects can be taken at diff times or places
• inserted or cut onto scene at right time

Question 25

Shot-reverse shot

Answer 25

• one character talks to the other who is off-screen
• next shot reverses view and shows other person talking to the first person whos now off screen

Question 26

for art is always conflict

Answer 26

• its social mission
• its nature
• its methodology