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. Optical illusions created during post-production






2. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






3. A technique of underdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in a chemical batch a shorter amount of time than usual) in order to achieve the visual effect of reducing contrast






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






5. A shot taken from a vantage point so close that only a part of the subject is visible. On an actor - it might show only an eye or a portion of the face






6. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






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






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 shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots






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






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






12. A technique of leaving empty space around the subject in the frame - in order to covey openness and continuity of visible space and to imply offscreen space






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






14. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






15. A platform on wheels - used for mobile camera shots






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






17. An early color process that replaced silver halide grains with colored salts






18. A system for recording images on magnetic tape using a digital signal - that is - an electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s






19. 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






20. An unstated meaning that underlies and is implied by spoken dialogue






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






22. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






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






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






25. A crew member whose job is to maintain consistency in visual details from one shot to the next






26. 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






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






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






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






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






31. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






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






33. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






34. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






35. A type of film stock that is sensitive to (in other words - registers) all tones in the color spectrum






36. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






37. An attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






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






39. 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






40. 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






41. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






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






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






44. A visual effect achieved through the use of photography and digital techniques that appears to stop time and allow the viewer to travel around the subject and view it from a multitude of vantage points






45. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






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






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






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






49. 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.






50. A fiction film (often a comedy) that uses documentary conventions on fictional rather than real-world subject matter