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 musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






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






3. 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






4. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






5. A technique in which the audience temporarily shares the visual perspective of a character or a group of characters. The camera points in the directions the character looks - simulating the character's field of vision






6. Dense accumulation of detail conveyed in the opening moments of a film






7. Any narrative - visual - or sound element that is repeated and thereby acquires and reflects its significance to the story - characters - or themes of the film.






8. A technique of filming at a speed faster than projection - the projecting the footage at normal speed of 24 frames per second. Because fewer frames were recorded per second - the action appears to be speeded up






9. A complete narrative unit within a film - with its own beginning - middle - and end. Often scenes are unified - and distinguished from one another - by time and setting






10. An abrupt shot transition that occurs when Shot A is instantaneously replaced by Shot B.






11. 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






12. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






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






14. A scene transition in which the first frame of the incoming scene appears to push the last frame of the previous scene off the screen horizontally






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






16. An efficient system developed for film lighting. In a standard lighting set-up - the key light illuminates the subject - the fill light eliminates shadows cast by the key light - and the back light separates the subject from the background






17. A camera device that opens and closes to regulate the length of time the film is exposed to light






18. Lighting design that provides an even illumination of the subject - with many facial details washed out. High-key lighting tends to create a hopeful mood - in contrast to low-key lighting






19. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






20. A part of the story world implied by visual or sound techniques rather than being revealed by the camera






21. A rule in continuity editing - which dictates that if a cut occurs while a character is in the midst of an action - the subsequent shot must begin so that audiences see the completion of that action






22. An effect created when too little light strikes the film during shooting. As a result the image will contain dark areas that appear very dense and dark (including shadows) and the overall contrast will be less than with a properly exposed image






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






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






25. The details of a character's past that emerge as the film unfolds - and which often play a role in character motivation






26. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






27. Secondary footage that is interspersed with master shots - sometimes in the form of footage shot for another production or archival footage






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






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






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






31. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






32. The arrangement of actors on screen as a compositional element that suggests themes - character development - emotional content - and visual motifs






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






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






35. Projecting a series of frames of film with the same image - which appears to stop the action






36. The individual arrangement of lighting and camera placement used for each shot






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






38. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






39. 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






40. A technique of shooting a scene at a very high speed (96 frames per second) - then adding and subtracting frames in post-production - 'fanning out' the action through the overlapping images






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






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






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






44. A system for recording images on magnetic tape using a digital signal - that is - an electronic signal comprised of 0s and 1s






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






46. A technique of exposing film frames - then rewinding the film and exposing it again - which results in an image that combines two shots in a single frame






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






48. The space between the camera and subject it is filming.






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






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