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 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






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






3. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






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






5. A shot that interrupts a scene's master shot and may include character reactions






6. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






7. 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






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






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






10. 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






11. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






12. 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






13. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






14. 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






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






16. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






17. 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






18. 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






19. 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






20. The first print made from a film negative






21. 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






22. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






23. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






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






25. Creating images during post-production by joining together photographic or CGI material shot or created at different times and places






26. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






27. 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






28. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






29. 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






30. A type of matte shot - created by positioning a pane of optically flawless glass with a painting on it between the camera and the scene to be photographed. This combines the painting on the glass with the set or location - seen through the glass - be






31. 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






32. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up






33. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






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






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






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






37. 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






38. A format that uses a larger film stock than standard 35mm. IMAX - Omnimax - and Showscan are shot on 70mm film






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






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






41. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






42. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






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






44. 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






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






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






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






48. The imagined world of the story






49. 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






50. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters