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 device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






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






3. The length in minutes for a film to play in its entirety (for example - 120 minutes). Also referred to as 'screen time.'






4. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






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






6. The practice or repeatedly casting actors in similar roles across different films






7. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






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






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






10. Materials intentionally released by studios to attract public attention to films and their stars. Promotion differs from publicity - which is information that is not (or does not appear to be) intentionally disseminated by studios






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






12. 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






13. 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






14. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






15. A scene transition in which the first frame of the incoming scene appears to push the last frame of the previous scene off the screen horizontally






16. An effect created when too little light strikes the film during shooting. As a result the image will contain dark areas that appear very dense and dark (including shadows) and the overall contrast will be less than with a properly exposed image






17. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






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






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






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






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






22. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






23. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time






24. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






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






26. 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






27. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






28. 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






29. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






30. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






31. 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






32. Also called 'd-cinema.' Not to be confused with digital cinematography (shooting movies on digital video) - this term refers to using digital technologies for exhibition






33. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






34. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






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






36. 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






37. 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






38. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






39. Also called 'full screen -' the technique of re-shooting a widescreen film in order to convert it to the original television aspect ration of 1.33 to 1. Rather than reproduce the original aspect ratio - as a letterboxed version does - a panned and sc






40. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






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






42. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






43. A narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation






44. 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






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






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






47. Light emitted from a larger source that is scattered over a bigger area or reflected off a surface before it strikes the subject. Soft light minimizes facial details - including wrinkles






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






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






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