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






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






3. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






4. 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






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






6. 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






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






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






9. A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the directions the character looks - simulating the character's field of vision






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 genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






12. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






13. A crew member responsible for logging the details of each take on the set so as to ensure continuity






14. A transparent sheet on which animation artists draw images.






15. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance






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






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






18. 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






19. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






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






21. Live action is filmed in front of a blue screen and a matte. It's then joined with the background footage






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






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






24. A shot taken fro a position directly above the action - also called a 'birds' eye shot'






25. 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






26. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






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






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






29. 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






30. A series of individual drawings that provides a blueprint for the shooting of a scene






31. 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






32. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






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






34. 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






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






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






37. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






38. A direct vocal address to the audience - Which may emanate from a character or from a narrative voice apparently unrelated to the diegesis






39. A technique of recording very few images over a long period of time - say - one frame per minute or per day






40. A musical in which some or all musical numbers are not motivated by the narrative; for example - characters sing and dance throughout the film but at least some performances are not staged for an onscreen audience. Examples include Oklahoma - The umb






41. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






42. The period after principal photography during which editing and looping take place - and special visual effects are added to the film






43. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






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






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






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






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






48. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






49. 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






50. 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