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. Muted - washed out color that contains more white than a saturated color






2. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






3. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






4. An animation technique that uses a computer program to interpolate frames to produce the effect of an object or creature changing gradually into something different. The program calculates the way the image must change in order for the first image to






5. 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






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






7. 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






8. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






9. 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






10. 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






11. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






12. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






13. The first print made from a film negative






14. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






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






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






17. Processes such as Cinemascope and Cinerama - developed during the 1950s to enhance film's size advantage over the smaller television image






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






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






20. 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






21. 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






22. 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






23. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






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






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






26. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






27. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






28. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






29. A camera shot taken at a large distance from the subject. Using the human body as the subject - a long shot captures the entire human form






30. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






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






32. Optical illusions created during production - including the use of matte paintings - glass shots - models - and prosthesis






33. 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






34. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






35. A technique of moving the camera - on a specially built track. Such shots often trace character movement laterally across the frame or in and out of the depth of the frame






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






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






38. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






39. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






40. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






41. 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






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. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






44. 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






45. Film productions shot outside the U.S. for economic reasons






46. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera






47. 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






48. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






49. A production crew responsible not for shooting the primary footage but - instead - for remote location shooting and B-roll. See also B-roll






50. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source