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 computer-generated actor that some speculate will replace flesh and blood actors in the not so distant future






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






3. A system of constructing and arranging buildings and objects on the set so that they diminish in size dramatically from foreground to background - which creates the illusion of depth






4. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






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






6. A neutral account of the basic plot and style of a film - a part of a film - or a group of films






7. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






8. The annotated script - containing information about set-ups used during shooting






9. 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






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






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






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






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






14. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






15. The central cause(s) behind a character's actions






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






17. 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






18. 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






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






20. 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






21. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






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






23. 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






24. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






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






26. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






27. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






28. Images that originate from computer graphics technology - rather than photography






29. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






30. 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






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






32. A marketing strategy of screening a blockbuster prior to general release only in premier theaters






33. Literary narration from a viewpoint beyond that of any one individual character






34. 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






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






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






37. 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






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






39. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






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






41. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






42. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






43. A shot taken from a camera position below the subject






44. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






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






46. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






47. Non-diegetic; any element in the film that is not part of the imagined story world






48. A shot transition where shot A slowly disappears as the screen becomes black before shot B appears. A fade-in is the reverse of this process






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






50. 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