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 conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






2. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






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






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






5. A property of older television monitors - where each frame was scanned as two fields: One consisting of all the odd numbered lines - the other all the even lines. If slowed down - the television image would appear to sweep down the screen one line at






6. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






7. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






8. A sound editing technique that links several scenes through parallel and overlapping sounds. Each sound is associated with one scene - unlike a sound bridge - where a sound from one scene bleeds into that of another






9. The plotline that surrounds an embedded tale. The frame narration may or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale






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






11. Smaller corporations that did not own distribution and/or exhibition companies in the studio era - including Universal - Columbia - and United Artists






12. 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.






13. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






14. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






15. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






16. Thin - flexible material comprised of base and emulsion layers - onto which light rays are focused and which is processed in chemicals to produce film images






17. 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






18. 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






19. A film process that uses 35mm film stock but changes the orientation of the film so that the film moves through the camera horizontally instead of vertically. The larger image is of higher quality than standard 35mm processes






20. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






21. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






22. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






23. An optical effect whereby the human eye fills in gaps between closely spaced objects - so that two light bulbs flashing on and off are understood as one light moving back and forth






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






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






26. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






27. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






28. A crew member who reports to the Director of Photography (DP) and is in charge of tasks involving lighting and electrical needs






29. A scene filmed and processed but not selected to appear in the final version of the film






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






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






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






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






34. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






35. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






36. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






37. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






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






39. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking






40. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






41. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






42. 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






43. 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






44. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






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






46. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






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






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






49. The term for a film's spoken dialogue - as opposed to the underlying meaning contained in the subtext






50. Color. The strength of a hue is measured by its saturation or desaturation