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






2. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






3. 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






4. An agreement made between filmmakers and those who license the use of commercial products to feature those products in films - generally as props used by characters






5. A type of short film that blends elements of documentary and avant-garde film to document and often to celebrate the wonder of the modern city






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






7. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






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






9. A shot transition that involves the gradual disappearance of the image at the same time that a new image gradually comes into view






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






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






12. Also called 'rushes.' Footage exposed and developed quickly so that the director can assess the day's work






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






14. A visual effect achieved through the use of photography and digital techniques that appears to stop time and allow the viewer to travel around the subject and view it from a multitude of vantage points






15. 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






16. A system initially developed for marketing films by creating and promoting stars as objects of admiration. The promotion of stars has now become an end in itself






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






18. The camera does not move across an imagined line drawn between two characters






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






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






22. A narrative approach that limits the audience's view of events to that of the main character(s) in the film. Occasional moments of omniscient narration may give viewers more information than the character shave at specific points in the narrative






23. A relatively long - uninterrupted sot - generally of a minute or more






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






25. A crew member whose job is to maintain consistency in visual details from one shot to the next






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






27. 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






28. 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






29. Recording images at a slower speed than the speed of projection (24 frames per second). Before cameras were motorized - this was called undercranking. Fewer frames are exposed in one minute - so - when projected at 24 f.p.s. - that action takes less






30. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






31. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






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






33. 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






34. 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.






35. A device worn by a camera operator that holds the motion picture camera - allowing it glide smoothly through spaces unreachable by camera mounted on a crane or other apparatus






36. The written blueprint for a film - composed of three elements: dialogue - sluglines (setting the place and time of each scene) - and description. Feature-length screenplays typically run 90-130 pages






37. A narrative - visual - or sound element that refers viewers to other films or works of art






38. A mental phenomenon by which viewers derive more meaning from the interaction of two sequential shots than from a single shot in isolation






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






40. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






41. A shot taken by a camera that is held manually rather than supported by a tripod - crane or Steadicam. Generally - such shots are shaky - owing to the motion of the camera operator






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






43. 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






44. A scene transition wherein sound from one scene bleeds over into the ext scene - often resulting in a contrast between sound image






45. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






46. 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






47. A musical in which some or all musical numbers are not motivated by the narrative; for example - characters sing and dance throughout the film but at least some performances are not staged for an onscreen audience. Examples include Oklahoma - The umb






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






49. 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






50. A style associated with Hollywood filmmaking of the studio and post-studio era - in which efficient storytelling - rather than gritty realism or aesthetic innovation - is of paramount importance