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






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






3. Creating images during post-production by joining together photographic or CGI material shot or created at different times and places






4. A type of film stock that is sensitive to (in other words - registers) all tones in the color spectrum






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






6. 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






7. Individuals who were prevented from working in the film industry because of their suspected involvement with Communist interests






8. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






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. 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






11. 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






12. A technique used to join live action with a pre-recorded background image. A projector is placed behind a screen and projects an image onto it. Actors stand in front of the screen and the camera records them in front of the projected background






13. A process of blending the three elements of the sound track (dialogue - music - and effects) in post-production






14. 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






15. 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






16. 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






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






18. 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






19. 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






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






21. 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






22. Author; A term popularized by French film critics and refers to film directors with their own distinctive style






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






24. A technique of leaving empty space around the subject in the frame - in order to covey openness and continuity of visible space and to imply offscreen space






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






26. Any noticeable but unintended discrepancy from one shot to the next in costume - props - hairstyle - posture - etc.






27. The measurement of how forgiving a film stock is. It determines whether an acceptable image will be produced when the film stock is exposed to too little or too much light






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






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






30. Suspended particles of silver in the film's emulsion - Which may become visible in the final image as dots






31. A term used for any narrative sound - or visual element not contained in the story world. Also called 'extradiegetic'






32. An uncredited actor - usually hired for crowd scenes






33. The narrative path of the main or supporting characters - also called a plotline. Complex films may have several lines of action






34. A technique of moving from the telephoto position to the wide-angle position of a zoom lens - which results in the subject appearing to become smaller within the frame - while remaining in focus






35. A technique used to join live action with pre-recorded background images. A projector is aimed at a half-silvered mirror that reflects the background - which the camera records as being located behind the actors






36. Light emitted from a relatively small source positioned close to the subject. It tends to be unflattering because it creates deep shadows and emphasizes surface imperfections






37. Because film stock is sensitive to the color of light - directors work with film labs in post-production to monitor the color scheme of each scene in a film - making adjustments for consistency and aesthetic effect






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






39. An actor whose career rests on playing minor or secondary quirky characters rather than leading roles






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






41. 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






42. The average length in seconds of a series of shots - covering a portion of a film or an entire film; a measure of pace within a scene or in the film as a whole.






43. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






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






45. Wheeled platform with wheels that rotate - so the dolly can change direction






46. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






47. A production term denoting a single uninterrupted series of frames exposed by a motion picture or video camera between the time it is turned on and the time it is turned off. Filmmakers shoot several takes of any scene and the film editor selects the






48. Early films that documented everyday events - such as workers leaving a factory






49. A cinematography technique that produces an image with many planes of depth in focus. It can be accomplished by using a small aperture - a large distance between camera and subject - and/or a lens of short focal length






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