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 shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented






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






3. 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






4. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






5. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






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






7. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






8. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






9. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






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






11. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






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






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






14. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






15. The width of the film stock - measured across the frame. Typical sizes are 8mm - 16mm - 35mm - and 70mm






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






17. Creating the appearance of movement by drawing a series of frames that are projected sequentially - rather than photographing a series of still images






18. The non-chronological insertion of events from the past into the present day of the story world






19. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






20. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography






21. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






22. The space between the camera and subject it is filming.






23. 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






24. 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






25. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






26. 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






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






28. 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






29. 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






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






31. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






32. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






33. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






34. 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






35. Light emitted from a relatively small source positioned close to the subject. It tends to be unflattering because it creates deep shadows and emphasizes surface imperfections






36. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






37. The first shot in a standard shot sequence. Its purpose is to provide a clear representation of the location of the action






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






39. A chemical embedded in the emulsion layer of film stock that - when developed after exposure - releases a particular color dye (red - green - or blue)






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






41. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






42. 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






43. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






44. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






45. 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






46. 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






47. A shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented






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






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. 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