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 measure of intensity or purity of a color. Saturated color is purer than desaturated color - which has more white in it and thus offers a washed-out - less intense version of a color






2. A small - variable opening on a camera lens that regulates the amount of light entering the camera and striking the surface of the film






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






4. 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






5. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






6. 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






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






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






9. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






10. 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)






11. A system for combining two separately filmed images in the same frame that involves create a matte (a black mask that covers a portion of the image) for a live action sequence and using it to block out a portion of the frame when filming the backgrou






12. A shot that makes the human subject very small in relation to his or her environment. The entire figure from head to toe is onscreen and dwarfed by the surroundings






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






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






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






16. A pan executed so quickly that it produces a blurred image - indicated rapid activity or - sometimes - the passage of time






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






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






19. A long shot in which the film frame resembles the proscenium arch of the stage - distancing the audience






20. 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






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






22. A filter that creates points of light that streak outward from a light source






23. Smaller corporations that did not own distribution and/or exhibition companies in the studio era - including Universal - Columbia - and United Artists






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






25. A technique of running the motion picture camera at a speed slower than projection speed (24 frames per second) - in order to produce at a fast motion sequence when projected at normal speed. The term derives from early film cameras - which were cran






26. Squeezes the image at a ratio of 2:1 horizontally onto a standard film frame. On the projector - it unsqueezes the image - creating a widescreen aspect ratio during presentation






27. A shot taken when the camera is so close to a subject that it fills the frame. It is most commonly used for a shot that isolates and encompasses a single actor's face - to emphasize the expression of emotion






28. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






29. 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






30. An alternative to continuity editing - this style of editing was developed in silent Soviet cinema - based on the theory that editing should exploit the difference between shots to generate intellectual and emotional responses in the audience






31. 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






32. 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






33. 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






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






35. 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






36. 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






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






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






39. 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






40. 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






41. An optical effect whereby the human eye fills in gaps between closely spaced objects - so that two light bulbs flashing on and off are understood as one light moving back and forth






42. A black masking device used to black out a portion of the frame - usually for the insertion of other images






43. Dialogue that restates What is already obvious from images or action






44. 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






45. 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






46. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






47. 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






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






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






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