Test your basic knowledge |

Film Directing Basics

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. What is a table read?
1st read through of the script with talent and crew
biography
choices - subtext - and back-story
close up - medium - long shot

2. Chemistry is...
between males - females and enemies
observation
character biography
Line Read

3. Improvisation is a tool used to give information on
good if the director is careful with his approach and a good practice choice for directors if necessary
choices - subtext - and back-story
Who the character is - what the character wants - what's the obstacle and what the character is prepared to do to get it
1st read through of the script with talent and crew

4. 30 degree rule
has something to lose
Internal POV
geography
You must move the camera 30 degree to constitute a new shot

5. Low camera angle suggests
Collaborate with talent on character - manage camera shot composition and interpret the script
superiority
Means working from the outside in
not realistic

6. SUBTEXT is not...
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.
between males - females and enemies
the emotion of the scene
Director demonstrates the line for the talent

7. The 30 DEGREE RULE keeps films from having _______ cuts.
jump
make more than $7500 per year
Confusion - Insecurity and Distrust
creative - spontaneous and open

8. NOT one of the Elements of Character
improvisation
Touch - sound and taste - and recall
Overreacting
50mm

9. Line of action
is hard to attain
shot from the beginning to the end scene
has something to lose
Imaginary line that preserves sight line and screen direction

10. The _____ is where the action all takes place
make more than $7500 per year
frame
character biography
creative - spontaneous and open

11. NOT one of the Elements of Character
Smoothly going from one emotion to another
You must move the camera 30 degree to constitute a new shot
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.
Overreacting

12. ________ is good for character development
geography
observation
has something to lose
Internal POV

13. What is a TRANSITION in terms of acting?
good if the director is careful with his approach and a good practice choice for directors if necessary
blocking and business
Smoothly going from one emotion to another
180

14. Long shot shows...
superiority
geography
You must move the camera 30 degree to constitute a new shot
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.

15. The term conflict refers to two characters with...
opposing objectives
Director demonstrates the line for the talent
50mm
good if the director is careful with his approach and a good practice choice for directors if necessary

16. Extracting from the talents personal life experience for a character is...
Over the shoulder
business
opposing objectives
good if the director is careful with his approach and a good practice choice for directors if necessary

17. The majority of SAG actors do not...
is hard to attain
observation
Imaginary line that preserves sight line and screen direction
make more than $7500 per year

18. ________ is good for character development
the meat of the scene
compresses the foreground and the background
observation
relationship of the height and width of the frame

19. _________________ can 'physicalize' the inner life of the character
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.
blocking and business
opposing objectives
Collaborate with talent on character - manage camera shot composition and interpret the script

20. Coverage
opposing objectives
Confusion - Insecurity and Distrust
improvisation
is all shots except for the Master Shot

21. What is a TRANSITION in terms of acting?
the emotion of the scene
Smoothly going from one emotion to another
observation
geography

22. 30 degree rule
You must move the camera 30 degree to constitute a new shot
neutrality
business
Means working from the outside in

23. Improvisation can help the actor become more
Collaborate with talent on character - manage camera shot composition and interpret the script
make more than $7500 per year
creative - spontaneous and open
make more than $7500 per year

24. Is useful to fill in the gaps of the life of the character
relationship of the height and width of the frame
choices - subtext - and back-story
has something to lose
biography

25. ______________ in rehearsal can be used for paraphrasing the script
improvisation
Unscripted reactions.
Smoothly going from one emotion to another
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.

26. When looking for conflict in a scene - the director should look for
observation
Means working from the outside in
opposing objectives
Unscripted reactions.

27. The majority of SAG actors do not...
compresses the foreground and the background
make more than $7500 per year
relationship of the height and width of the frame
Unscripted reactions.

28. External POV
shot from the beginning to the end scene
choices - subtext - and back-story
Line Read
Over the shoulder

29. Directors are needed to
Means working from the outside in
Imaginary line that preserves sight line and screen direction
choices - subtext - and back-story
Collaborate with talent on character - manage camera shot composition and interpret the script

30. _______ is the characters relationship to objects
business
Line Read
is hard to attain
is all shots except for the Master Shot

31. What is a through line?
blocking and business
business
the meat of the scene
close up - medium - long shot

32. telephoto lense
compresses the foreground and the background
geography
relationship of the height and width of the frame
Overreacting

33. Improvisation can help the actor become more
creative - spontaneous and open
opposing objectives
blocking and business
camera move - talent move - insert or cut away

34. High camera angle suggests..
frame
shot from the beginning to the end scene
shot from the beginning to the end scene
Inferiority

35. 3 ways to break the 180 degree
observation
depth of field
compresses the foreground and the background
camera move - talent move - insert or cut away

36. 3 Basic shot sizes
actors like to live in the moment
opposing objectives
Internal POV
close up - medium - long shot

37. The term conflict refers to two characters with...
opposing objectives
superiority
blocking and business
Means working from the outside in

38. Explain the CIRCLE OF ACTION - Inside and Out.
business
improvisation
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.
relationship of the height and width of the frame

39. Coverage
neutrality
Over the shoulder
is all shots except for the Master Shot
the meat of the scene

40. Method acting
biography
Means working from the outside in
Overreacting
close up - medium - long shot

41. The moment before in film is important to the actor because
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.
the emotion of the scene
Line Read
actors like to live in the moment

42. Aspect Ratio
Overreacting
relationship of the height and width of the frame
make more than $7500 per year
opposing objectives

43. Explain the CIRCLE OF ACTION - Inside and Out.
Collaborate with talent on character - manage camera shot composition and interpret the script
180
Touch - sound and taste - and recall
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.

44. ______________ in rehearsal can be used for paraphrasing the script
Line Read
improvisation
Line Read
good if the director is careful with his approach and a good practice choice for directors if necessary

45. directing tools can include
Touch - sound and taste - and recall
1st read through of the script with talent and crew
character biography
biography

46. CLOSED FRAMING is...
the emotion of the scene
Inside the circle is intrusive - outside is voyeuristic.
not realistic
biography

47. telephoto lense
compresses the foreground and the background
neutrality
the emotion of the scene
Unscripted reactions.

48. _______ is the characters relationship to objects
business
creative - spontaneous and open
make more than $7500 per year
camera move - talent move - insert or cut away

49. Directors are needed to
not realistic
compresses the foreground and the background
choices - subtext - and back-story
Collaborate with talent on character - manage camera shot composition and interpret the script

50. Medium shot shows...
neutrality
make more than $7500 per year
close up - medium - long shot
observation