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 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






2. Dense accumulation of detail conveyed in the opening moments of a film






3. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






4. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






5. 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






6. The aspect ratio of 1.33:1 - standardized by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences until the development of widescreen formats in the 1950s






7. 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






8. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






9. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






10. The average length in seconds of a series of shots - covering a portion of a film or an entire film; a measure of pace within a scene or in the film as a whole.






11. A widescreen process that uses three cameras - three projectors - and a wide - curved screen






12. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






13. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






14. Also called 'rushes.' Footage exposed and developed quickly so that the director can assess the day's work






15. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






16. A style of stage acting developed from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavsky - which trains actors to get into character through the use of emotional memory






17. 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






18. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






19. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






20. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






21. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






22. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






23. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






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






25. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






26. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






27. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






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






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






30. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






31. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






32. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






33. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






34. A camera shot taken at a large distance from the subject. Using the human body as the subject - a long shot captures the entire human form






35. A lens with a variable focal length that allows changes of focal length while keeping the subject in focus






36. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






37. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






38. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






39. 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






40. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






41. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






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






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






44. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






45. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






46. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






47. A musical film in which each song and dance number is narratively motivated by a plot that situates characters in performance contexts






48. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






49. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






50. The distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object