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. A class or type of film - such as the Western or the horror movie. They share narrative - visual - and/or sound conventions






2. A technique of running the motion picture camera at a speed slower than projection speed (24 frames per second) - in order to produce at a fast motion sequence when projected at normal speed. The term derives from early film cameras - which were cran






3. A computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






4. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






5. A shot taken from a camera mounted on a crane that moves three-dimensionally in a space






6. Materials intentionally released by studios to attract public attention to films and their stars. Promotion differs from publicity - which is information that is not (or does not appear to be) intentionally disseminated by studios






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






8. A small - variable opening on a camera lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera and striking the surface of the film






9. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






10. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






11. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






12. A neutral account of the basic plot and style of a film - a part of a film - or a group of films






13. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






14. 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






15. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






16. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






17. The horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






18. A narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation






19. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






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






21. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






22. A computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






23. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






24. A technique of recording very few images over a long period of time - say - one frame per minute or per day






25. A crew member who works in post-production in a specially equipped studio to create the sounds of the story world - such as the shuffling of shoes on various surfaces for footsteps






26. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






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






28. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






29. Public identity created by marketing a film actor's performances - press coverage - and 'personal' information to fans as the star's personality






30. A form of shot transition - generally concluding a scene - where a circular mask constricts around the image until the entire frame is black






31. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut






32. A system of constructing and arranging buildings and objects on the set so that they diminish in size dramatically from foreground to background - which creates the illusion of depth






33. A videotape system that records images onto magnetic tape - using electronic signals






34. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






35. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






36. Any lens with a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame. For 35mm filmmaking - a 35-50 mm lens does not distort the angle of vision or depth






37. A long shot in which the film frame resembles the proscenium arch of the stage - distancing the audience






38. Wheeled platform with wheels that rotate - so the dolly can change direction






39. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






40. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






41. The first print made from a film negative






42. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






43. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






44. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






45. Then Hollywood writers and directors cited for Contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities' attempts to root out Communists in the film industry






46. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






47. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera






48. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






49. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






50. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images