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






2. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






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






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






5. 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






6. 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






7. The classical model of narrative form. The first act introduces characters and conflicts; the second act offers complication leading to a climax; the third act contains the danouement and resolution






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






9. Natural light; The process of suing sunlight rather than artificial studio lights when filming






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






11. A similarity established between two characters or situations that invites the audience to compare the two. It may involve visual - narrative - and/or sound elements






12. A videotape system that records images onto magnetic tape - using electronic signals






13. 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






14. 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






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






16. 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






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






18. Light emitted from a relatively small source positioned close to the subject. It tends to be unflattering because it creates deep shadows and emphasizes surface imperfections






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






20. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






21. 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






22. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






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






24. Optical illusions created during post-production






25. 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






26. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






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






28. A process of blending the three elements of the sound track (dialogue - music - and effects) in post-production






29. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships






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






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






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






33. A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement






34. 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






35. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






36. A statement that asserts a judgment that a given film or group of films is good or bad - based on specific criteria - Which may or may not be stated






37. A story narrated by one of the characters within the story - using the 'I' voice






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






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






40. 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






41. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






42. The first print made from a film negative






43. 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






44. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






45. A shot filmed from an airplane or helicopter






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






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






48. 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






49. Cinema verite; a documentary style in which the filmmaker attempts to remain as unobtrusive as possible - recording without obvious editorial comment






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