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. 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






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






3. A person responsible for putting a film together from a mass of developed footage - making decisions regarding pace - shot transitions - and which scenes and shots will be used






4. Glass filters whose surface is etched with spots that refract light - so they create the appearance of water droplets in the air






5. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






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






7. Dutch angle; a shot resulting from a static camera that is tilted to the right or left - so that the subject in the frame appears at a diagonal






8. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






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






10. A contemporary modification of the standard three-act structure that identifies a critical turning point at the halfway mark of most narrative films






11. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






12. A shot transition that emphasizes the visual similarities between two consecutive shots






13. 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






14. A lens with a shorter focal length than a normal or telephoto lens (usually between 15-35mm). The subject appears smaller as a result - but the angle of vision is wider and an illusion is created of greater depth in the frame






15. A production term referring to coordinating actors' movements with lines of dialogue






16. (Automatic dialogue replacement) recording synchronized dialogue in post-production - cutting several identical lengths of developed film and having actors record the dialogue repeatedly






17. A statement that presents an argument about a film's meaning and significance






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






19. A short screen appearance by a celebrity - playing himself or herself






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






21. A class or type of film - such as the Western or the horror movie. They share narrative - visual - and/or sound conventions






22. Then Hollywood writers and directors cited for Contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities' attempts to root out Communists in the film industry






23. An effect created when more light is required to produce an image strakes the film stock - so that the resulting image exhibits high contrast - glaring light - and washed out shadows. This effect ma or may not be intentional on the filmmaker's part






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






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






26. The arrangement of images to depict a unified storyline






27. A crew member who reports to the Director of Photography (DP) and is in charge of tasks involving lighting and electrical needs






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






29. An alternative to classical and realist styles - formalism is a self-consciously interventionist approach that explores ideas - abstraction - and aesthetics rather than focusing on storytelling (as in classical films) or everyday life (as in realist






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






31. A crew member responsible for logging the details of each take on the set so as to ensure continuity






32. An abrupt - inexplicable shift in time and place of an action not signaled by an appropriate shot transition






33. The period of time before principal photography during which actors are signed - sets and costumes designed - and locations scouted






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






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






36. A technique of depicting two layered images simultaneously. Images from one frame or several frames of film are added to pre-existing images - using an optical printer - to produce the same effect as a double exposure






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






38. A digital technique developed by Industrial Light and Magic - which builds movement sequences from single frames of film






39. A large-budget film whose strategy is to swamp the competition through market saturation






40. A chemical embedded in the emulsion layer of film stock that - when developed after exposure - releases a particular color dye (red - green - or blue)






41. 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






42. Filters that increase color saturation and contrast in outdoor shots






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






44. A term for film stock used in early cinema that was insensitive to red hues






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






46. A shot taken from a camera position above the subject - looking down at it






47. 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






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






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






50. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested