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






2. 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






3. 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






4. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






5. The plotline that surrounds an embedded tale. The frame narration may or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale






6. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






7. 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






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






9. A shot taken from a level camera located approximately 5' to 6' from the ground - simulating the perspective of a person standing before the action presented






10. A sound editing technique that links several scenes through parallel and overlapping sounds. Each sound is associated with one scene - unlike a sound bridge - where a sound from one scene bleeds into that of another






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






12. 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






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






14. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






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






16. The width of the film stock - measured across the frame. Typical sizes are 8mm - 16mm - 35mm - and 70mm






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






18. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






19. A technician responsible for splicing and assembling the film negative to the editor's specifications






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






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






22. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






23. 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)






24. A type of documentary film whose purpose is to present the way of life of a culture or subculture






25. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






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






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






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






29. 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






30. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera






31. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






32. A film process that uses 35mm film stock but changes the orientation of the film so that the film moves through the camera horizontally instead of vertically. The larger image is of higher quality than standard 35mm processes






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






34. A shot in a sequence that is taken from the reverse angle of the shot previous to it






35. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






36. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






37. 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






38. Individuals who were prevented from working in the film industry because of their suspected involvement with Communist interests






39. 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






40. A device that projects photographs or footage onto glass so that images can be traced by hand to create animated images






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






42. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city






43. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city






44. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






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






46. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






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






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






49. 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






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