Test your basic knowledge |

Film Vocab

Subjects : performing-arts, film
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






2. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






3. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






4. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






5. A technique of depicting two layered images simultaneously. Images from one frame or several frames of film are added to pre-existing images - using an optical printer - to produce the same effect as a double exposure






6. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






7. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






8. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time






9. An outlawed studio era practice - where studios forced exhibitors to book groups of films at once - thus ensuring a market for their failures along with their successes






10. The imagined world of the story






11. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






12. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






13. Reels of film that are shipped to movie theaters for exhibition. Digital cinema - which can be distributed via satellite - broadband - or on media such as DVDs - may soon replace film prints because the latter are expensive to create - copy - and dis






14. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






15. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






16. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






17. A term that refers to the organization of an industry wherein one type of corporation also owns corporations in allied industries - for example - film production and video games






18. A lens with a focal length greater than 50 mm (usually between 80mm and 20mm) - which provides a larger image of the subject than a normal or wide-angle lens but which narrows the angle of vision and flattens the depth of the image relative to normal






19. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






20. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






21. Light emitted from a larger source that is scattered over a bigger area or reflected off a surface before it strikes the subject. Soft light minimizes facial details - including wrinkles






22. A direct vocal address to the audience - Which may emanate from a character or from a narrative voice apparently unrelated to the diegesis






23. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






24. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






25. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






26. Everything audiences hear when they watch a sound film. The soundtrack is the composite of all three elements of film sound: dialogue - music - and sound effects






27. A technique of moving the camera - on a specially built track. Such shots often trace character movement laterally across the frame or in and out of the depth of the frame






28. Optical illusions created during post-production






29. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






30. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






31. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






32. The measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






33. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






34. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






35. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






36. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






37. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






38. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






39. Exposed and developed film stock from which the master positive is struck. If projected - the negative would produce a reverse of the image - with dark areas appearing white and vice versa or - if color film - areas of color appearing as their comple






40. An action film cycle of the late 1960s and early 1970s that featured bold - rebellious African American characters






41. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






42. A digital technique developed by Industrial Light and Magic - which builds movement sequences from single frames of film






43. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






44. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






45. The imagined world of the story






46. The individual arrangement of lighting and camera placement used for each shot






47. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






48. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






49. A picture element - a measure of image density. There are approximately 18 million pixels in a frame of 35mm film and 300000-400000 in a video image






50. A shot that includes a human figure from the shoulders up






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



Let me suggest you:

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests



Major Subjects

Tests & Exams


AP
CLEP
DSST
GRE
SAT
GMAT

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests