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 distance in millimeters from the optical center of a lens to the lane where the sharpest image is formed while focusing on a distant object






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






3. A machine used to create optical effects such as fades - dissolves - and superimpositions. Most are now created digitally






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






5. The rules of character - setting - and narrative that films that belong to a genre - such as Westerns - horror films - and screwball comedies - generally obey.






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






7. 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






8. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






9. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






10. 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






11. 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






12. A film style that - in contrast to the classical and formalist styles - focuses characters - place - and the spontaneity and digressiveness of life - rather than on highly structured stories or aesthetic abstraction






13. 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






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






15. 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






16. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






17. The building block of a scene; an uninterrupted sequence of frames that viewers experience as they watch a film - ending with a cut - fade - dissolve - etc. See also Take






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






19. A technique of shifting the camera angle - height - or distance to take into account the motion of actors or objects within the frame






20. The term for a film's spoken dialogue - as opposed to the underlying meaning contained in the subtext






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






22. 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






23. An optical effect whereby the eye continues to register a visual stimulus in the brain for a brief period after that stimulus has been removed






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






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






26. A technique of overdeveloping exposed film stock (leaving it in the chemical bath longer than indicated) in order to increase density and contrast in the image






27. Leaving the silver grains in the emulsion rather than bleaching them out - which produces desaturated color






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






29. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






30. Also called 'stop motion photography.' A technique of photographing a scene one frame at a time and moving the model between each shot






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






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






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






34. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






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






36. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






37. 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






38. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






39. Lighting design in which the greater intensity of the key light makes it impossible for the fill to eliminate shadows - producing a high-contrast image (with many grades of light and dark) - a number of shadows - and a somber mood






40. Louis Althusser's term for the way in which a society creates its subjects/citizens through ideological (as opposed to repressive) state apparatuses - which include education - media - religion - and the family






41. A term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






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






43. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






44. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






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






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






47. 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






48. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






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






50. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking







Sorry!:) No result found.

Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?


Let me suggest you:

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests



Major Subjects

Tests & Exams


AP
CLEP
DSST
GRE
SAT
GMAT

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests