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 attribute of newer television monitors - where each frame is scanned by the electron beam as a single field. If slowed down - each frame would appear on the monitor in its entirety on the screen - rather than line by line - as is the case with int






2. A style of Japanese animation - distinguished primarily by the fact that it is not all geared for young audiences






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






4. A vertical - up-and-down - motion of an otherwise stationary camera






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






6. A chemical coating on film stock containing light-sensitive grains






7. The conclusion of the film wraps up - all loose ends in a form of resolution - though not necessarily with a happy ending.






8. The falling or unraveling action after the climax of a narrative that leads to resolution






9. 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






10. The technique of telling the story from an all-knowing character. Films that use restricted narration limit the audience's perception to what one particular character knows - but may insert moments of omniscience






11. A specialist who monitors the processing of color on the se and in the film lab






12. Creating an image by combining several elements created separately using computer graphics rather than photographic means






13. A narrative moment that signals an important shift of some kind in character or situation






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






15. 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






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






17. A short documentary on current events - show in movie theaters along with cartoons and feature films beginning in the 1930s






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






19. A fiction film (often a comedy) that uses documentary conventions on fictional rather than real-world subject matter






20. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






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






22. The length in minutes for a film to play in its entirety (for example - 120 minutes). Also referred to as 'screen time.'






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






24. 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






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






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






27. 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






28. The plotline that surrounds an embedded tale. The frame narration may or may not be as fully developed as the embedded tale






29. 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






30. A group of films within a given genre that share their own specific set of conventions that differentiate them from other films in the genre. For example - the slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre






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






32. A filter that simply reduces the amount of light entering the lens - without affecting the color characteristics






33. A flexible celluloid strip that - along with the emulsion layer - comprises 35mm film stock






34. Assists the gaffer in managing lighting crews






35. An optical technique that divides the screen into two or more frames






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






37. A documentary or occasionally - a narrative film that presents only one side of an argument or one approach to a subject






38. 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






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






41. 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






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






43. The shape of the image onscreen as determined by the width of the frame relative to its height






44. The practice of shooting during the day but using filters and underexposure to create the illusion of nighttime






45. The artful use of light and dark areas in the composition in black and white filmmaking






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






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






48. A character who in some way opposes the protagonist - leading to protracted conflict






49. 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






50. A non-standard narrative organization that assumes 'day in the life' quality rather than the highly structured three-act or four part narrative - and that features loose or indirect cause-effect relationships