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. 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






2. 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






3. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






4. 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






5. 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






6. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






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






8. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






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






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






11. 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






12. A post-studio era Hollywood film designed to appeal to the broadest possible audience by fusing a simple story line with major movie stars and mounting a lavish marketing campaign






13. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






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






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






16. A film's main characters - one whose conflicts and motives drive the story forward






17. A technique of cutting back and forth between action occurring in two different locations - which often creates the illusion that they are happening simultaneously. Also called 'cross cutting.'






18. A style of stage acting developed from the teachings of Constantin Stanislavsky - which trains actors to get into character through the use of emotional memory






19. 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






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






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






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






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






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






25. 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






26. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






27. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






28. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






29. A term describing a conclusion that does not answer all the questions raised regarding characters or storylines - nor tie up all loose ends






30. A painting used on the set as a portion of the background






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






32. 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






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






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






35. 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






36. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






37. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






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






39. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






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






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






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






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






44. 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






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






46. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






47. A shot combining two kinds of movement: the camera tracks in toward the subject wile the lens zooms out






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






49. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






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