Question 1

Using the film Blue Valentine (2010), explain how its unique production schedule helped to shape performances.

Accepted Answer

The student should mention how Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling were executive producers and devised a three-stage process for shooting the film, which significantly shaped the performances we see on-screen. In the first stage, all of the happy scenes of the relationship were shot, without rehearsals, on film stock. This helped to capture a lighter, more romantic dynamic. In the second stage, Williams, Gosling, and Faith Wladyka "lived their parts" for a month, in the house used for shooting. They improvised scenes, and in this way were able to fully adopt the lives of their characters, at least during the day. (At night they returned to their respective real-life homes.) This approach helped to bring a truthfulness to the relationship that is not usually captured on-screen. The final stage of shooting depicted the marriage's dissolution. These scenes were shot on digital media, which is bright and clinical-looking. Finally, footage from these three different stages was intercut to create a clear, yet nonlinear, arc of their relationship.

Question 2

Johnny Depp's acting career is unusual because he has attained star status

Accepted Answer

A)  despite his reluctance to play varied roles. 
B)  yet primarily has worked with only one director. 
C)  without winning any Academy Awards. 
D)  despite his selection of roles in noncommercial films. 
E)  without any fixed persona. 
A)  despite his reluctance to play varied roles. 
B)  yet primarily has worked with only one director. 
C)  without winning any Academy Awards. 
D)  despite his selection of roles in noncommercial films. 
E)  without any fixed persona. E

Question 3

What does transparency mean when used to describe an actor's performance?

Accepted Answer

A)  The character is so clearly recognizable that the actor becomes, in a sense, invisible. 
B)  The character appears to be a blank slate upon which the audience may project. 
C)  The actor's vulnerability is so apparent that our identification with the character increases. 
D)  The actor is illuminated so that the character appears to be radiant. 
E)  The actor's characterization holds together, creating an expressive coherence. 
A)  The character is so clearly recognizable that the actor becomes, in a sense, invisible. 
B)  The character appears to be a blank slate upon which the audience may project. 
C)  The actor's vulnerability is so apparent that our identification with the character increases. 
D)  The actor is illuminated so that the character appears to be radiant. 
E)  The actor's characterization holds together, creating an expressive coherence. A

Question 4

Because a screen actor delivers slightly different performances on each take, the ________ has considerable power of shaping it in postproduction.

Accepted Answer

A)  actor. 
B)  cinematographer. 
C)  marketing team. 
D)  editor. 
E)  casting director. 
A)  actor. 
B)  cinematographer. 
C)  marketing team. 
D)  editor. 
E)  casting director.

Question 5

Unlike actors performing in the golden age of Hollywood, today's superstars

Accepted Answer

A)  may choose their roles and negotiate earnings. 
B)  have the security of a seven-year option contract. 
C)  enjoy a very close relationship to the editor. 
D)  have little control over their image in advertising and publicity. 
E)  must commit to work with only one studio. 
A)  may choose their roles and negotiate earnings. 
B)  have the security of a seven-year option contract. 
C)  enjoy a very close relationship to the editor. 
D)  have little control over their image in advertising and publicity. 
E)  must commit to work with only one studio.

Question 6

In which of the following films did the directors insist the actors not stray from the script?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris (1972) 
B)  Robert Altman's Gosford Park (2001) 
C)  Ethan and Joel Coen's Fargo (1996) 
D)  Mike Leigh's Another Year (2010) 
E)  John Cassavetes's Gloria (1980) 
A)  Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris (1972) 
B)  Robert Altman's Gosford Park (2001) 
C)  Ethan and Joel Coen's Fargo (1996) 
D)  Mike Leigh's Another Year (2010) 
E)  John Cassavetes's Gloria (1980)

Question 7

Acting roles with little or no dialogue, reserved for highly recognizable actors or personalities, are known as

Accepted Answer

A)  bit players. 
B)  extras. 
C)  cameos. 
D)  walk-ons. 
E)  stand-ins. 
A)  bit players. 
B)  extras. 
C)  cameos. 
D)  walk-ons. 
E)  stand-ins.

Question 8

Moviegoers are most accepting of digital characters

Accepted Answer

A)  that resemble stars they are familiar with. 
B)  that epitomize the uncanny valley. 
C)  in films where reality is more important than fantasy. 
D)  that do not represent recognizable human beings. 
E)  when they provide comic relief alongside real actors. 
A)  that resemble stars they are familiar with. 
B)  that epitomize the uncanny valley. 
C)  in films where reality is more important than fantasy. 
D)  that do not represent recognizable human beings. 
E)  when they provide comic relief alongside real actors.

Question 9

Explain the fundamental differences between acting for the stage and the screen.

Accepted Answer

Stage actors perform uninterrupted and d

Question 10

How do actors best reveal themselves to the camera during a close-up?

Accepted Answer

A)  They step back from the camera. 
B)  They pay attention to how their entire bodies contribute to the shot. 
C)  They focus on the power of even the slightest facial gesture. 
D)  They gesticulate wildly. 
E)  They project their voices. 
A)  They step back from the camera. 
B)  They pay attention to how their entire bodies contribute to the shot. 
C)  They focus on the power of even the slightest facial gesture. 
D)  They gesticulate wildly. 
E)  They project their voices.

Question 11

Carl Theodor Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) illustrates the power of

Accepted Answer

A)  improvisation. 
B)  composition. 
C)  a long take. 
D)  the close-up. 
E)  ensemble acting. 
A)  improvisation. 
B)  composition. 
C)  a long take. 
D)  the close-up. 
E)  ensemble acting.

Question 12

What is often the most important factor in determining a film's financial success?

Accepted Answer

A)  casting 
B)  the story 
C)  special effects 
D)  the director 
E)  the sound track 
A)  casting 
B)  the story 
C)  special effects 
D)  the director 
E)  the sound track

Question 13

Describe some good ways to assess an actor's performance.

Accepted Answer

Although there is no objective list of s

Question 14

Which director is correctly paired with his preferred style?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stanley Kubrick emphasized intellectual analysis and counseled actors to think, not act. 
B)  Terrence Malick encourages actors to identify with characters in a Method acting style. 
C)  Brian De Palma favors spontaneity and encourages improvisation. 
D)  Robert Altman meticulously storyboarded and pushed actors to see their performance cinematographically. 
E)  Elia Kazan moved characters around the set like pawns on a chessboard. 
A)  Stanley Kubrick emphasized intellectual analysis and counseled actors to think, not act. 
B)  Terrence Malick encourages actors to identify with characters in a Method acting style. 
C)  Brian De Palma favors spontaneity and encourages improvisation. 
D)  Robert Altman meticulously storyboarded and pushed actors to see their performance cinematographically. 
E)  Elia Kazan moved characters around the set like pawns on a chessboard.

Question 15

What is the biggest difference between the careers of Bette Davis, a major star during the studio era, and Nicole Kidman, a top star of today?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bette Davis performed in many different genres, while Nicole Kidman acts mostly in period films. 
B)  Bette Davis worked with a broad range of directors, while Nicole Kidman works almost exclusively with Robert Benton. 
C)  Bette Davis made much more money from advertising work than Nicole Kidman does. 
D)  Bette Davis's earning power was much greater than Nicole Kidman since studios were under contract to share a large percentage of profits. 
E)  Bette Davis fought for the roles she wanted to play, while Nicole Kidman takes advantage of her freedom to choose parts and has handpicked a broad range of characters. 
A)  Bette Davis performed in many different genres, while Nicole Kidman acts mostly in period films. 
B)  Bette Davis worked with a broad range of directors, while Nicole Kidman works almost exclusively with Robert Benton. 
C)  Bette Davis made much more money from advertising work than Nicole Kidman does. 
D)  Bette Davis's earning power was much greater than Nicole Kidman since studios were under contract to share a large percentage of profits. 
E)  Bette Davis fought for the roles she wanted to play, while Nicole Kidman takes advantage of her freedom to choose parts and has handpicked a broad range of characters.

Question 16

In Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003), actor Paul Bettany frequently

Accepted Answer

A)  employs outlandish costumes. 
B)  behaves in a very self-conscious and comic manner. 
C)  stares off camera with no expression. 
D)  breaks the fourth wall. 
E)  exaggerates his emotions. 
A)  employs outlandish costumes. 
B)  behaves in a very self-conscious and comic manner. 
C)  stares off camera with no expression. 
D)  breaks the fourth wall. 
E)  exaggerates his emotions.

Question 17

Who are Marion Morrison, Issur Danielovitch Demsky, and Archibald Leach?

Accepted Answer

A)  movie stars of the silent era 
B)  the original names of movie stars from the studio system era 
C)  the names of the three leads in the 1946 Best Picture winner, The Best Years of Our Lives 
D)  the heads of MGM, Paramount, and Columbia in the studio system era 
E)  the three individuals who devised the method style of acting 
A)  movie stars of the silent era 
B)  the original names of movie stars from the studio system era 
C)  the names of the three leads in the 1946 Best Picture winner, The Best Years of Our Lives 
D)  the heads of MGM, Paramount, and Columbia in the studio system era 
E)  the three individuals who devised the method style of acting

Question 18

Why did the first screen actors use exaggerated gestures, emphatic expressions, and the mouthing of words to bring their characters to life?

Accepted Answer

A)  This was the standard visual language of cinematic expression. 
B)  Film directors told them to act this way. 
C)  This was the accepted comic style of the time. 
D)  They were adapting the acting style of nineteenth-century theater. 
E)  They were following the Italian national film style. 
A)  This was the standard visual language of cinematic expression. 
B)  Film directors told them to act this way. 
C)  This was the accepted comic style of the time. 
D)  They were adapting the acting style of nineteenth-century theater. 
E)  They were following the Italian national film style.

Question 19

Why might a director choose to have actors improvise a scene?

Accepted Answer

Improvisation can be an effective tool w

Question 20

Which of the following describes a typical contract arrangement between a studio and its stable of actors?

Accepted Answer

A)  A studio could choose to fire or rehire an actor under contract every six months. 
B)  Studios locked actors into ten-year option contracts. 
C)  A studio could never change an actor's name. 
D)  Studios had contracts that allowed actors to move to another studio if they did not like the roles being offered to them. 
E)  Studios would allow actors to control their image and likeness in advertising and publicity. 
A)  A studio could choose to fire or rehire an actor under contract every six months. 
B)  Studios locked actors into ten-year option contracts. 
C)  A studio could never change an actor's name. 
D)  Studios had contracts that allowed actors to move to another studio if they did not like the roles being offered to them. 
E)  Studios would allow actors to control their image and likeness in advertising and publicity.

Using the film Blue Valentine (2010), explain how its unique production schedule helped to shape performances.

Johnny Depp's acting career is unusual because he has attained star status

What does transparency mean when used to describe an actor's performance?

Because a screen actor delivers slightly different performances on each take, the ________ has considerable power of shaping it in postproduction.

Unlike actors performing in the golden age of Hollywood, today's superstars

In which of the following films did the directors insist the actors not stray from the script?

Acting roles with little or no dialogue, reserved for highly recognizable actors or personalities, are known as

Moviegoers are most accepting of digital characters

Explain the fundamental differences between acting for the stage and the screen.

How do actors best reveal themselves to the camera during a close-up?

Carl Theodor Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) illustrates the power of

What is often the most important factor in determining a film's financial success?

Describe some good ways to assess an actor's performance.

Which director is correctly paired with his preferred style?

What is the biggest difference between the careers of Bette Davis, a major star during the studio era, and Nicole Kidman, a top star of today?

In Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003), actor Paul Bettany frequently

Who are Marion Morrison, Issur Danielovitch Demsky, and Archibald Leach?

Why did the first screen actors use exaggerated gestures, emphatic expressions, and the mouthing of words to bring their characters to life?

Why might a director choose to have actors improvise a scene?

Which of the following describes a typical contract arrangement between a studio and its stable of actors?

Looking at Movies

Principles of Film Form

Types of Movies

Elements of Narrative

Mise-En-Scène

Cinematography

Editing

Sound

Film History

How the Movies Are Made

Filters

Exam 7: Acting

Using the film Blue Valentine (2010), explain how its unique production schedule helped to shape performances.

Johnny Depp's acting career is unusual because he has attained star status

What does transparency mean when used to describe an actor's performance?

Because a screen actor delivers slightly different performances on each take, the ________ has considerable power of shaping it in postproduction.

Unlike actors performing in the golden age of Hollywood, today's superstars

In which of the following films did the directors insist the actors not stray from the script?

Acting roles with little or no dialogue, reserved for highly recognizable actors or personalities, are known as

Moviegoers are most accepting of digital characters

Explain the fundamental differences between acting for the stage and the screen.

How do actors best reveal themselves to the camera during a close-up?

Carl Theodor Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) illustrates the power of

What is often the most important factor in determining a film's financial success?

Describe some good ways to assess an actor's performance.

Which director is correctly paired with his preferred style?

What is the biggest difference between the careers of Bette Davis, a major star during the studio era, and Nicole Kidman, a top star of today?

In Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003), actor Paul Bettany frequently

Who are Marion Morrison, Issur Danielovitch Demsky, and Archibald Leach?

Why did the first screen actors use exaggerated gestures, emphatic expressions, and the mouthing of words to bring their characters to life?

Why might a director choose to have actors improvise a scene?

Which of the following describes a typical contract arrangement between a studio and its stable of actors?

Looking at Movies

Principles of Film Form

Types of Movies

Elements of Narrative

Mise-En-Scène

Cinematography

Editing

Sound

Film History

How the Movies Are Made

Filters