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. The reverse of Iris in: an iris expands outward until the next shot takes up the entire screen






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






3. The non-chronological insertion of scenes of events yet to happen into the present day of the story world






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. The selection and ordering of narrative events presented in a film






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






7. 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






8. A crew member whose job is to measure the distance between the subject and the camera lens - marking the ring on the camera lens - and ensuring the ring is turned precisely so that the image is in focus






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






10. The chronological accounting of all events presented and suggested






11. A type of filter that absorbs certain wavelength but leave others unaffected. On black and white film - color filters lighten or darken tones. On color film - they can produce a range of effects






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






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






14. A film composed entirely of footage from other films.






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






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






17. A glass element on a camera that focuses light rays so that the image of the object appears on the surface of the film






18. A business model adopted by the major studios during the Hollywood studio era - in which studios controlled all aspects of the film business - from production to distribution and exhibition






19. 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






20. Light striking the emulsion layer of the film - activating light-sensitive grains






21. 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






22. A film style that emerged in the 1910s in Germany. It was heavily indebted to the Expressionist art movement of the time and influenced subsequent horror films and film noir






23. The first step in the process of creating CGI. The wireframe is a three-dimensional computer model of an object - which is then rendered (producing the finished image) and animated (using simulated camera movement frame by frame)






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






25. Any lens with a focal length approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame. For 35mm filmmaking - a 35-50 mm lens does not distort the angle of vision or depth






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






27. The building block of a scene; an uninterrupted sequence of frames that viewers experience as they watch a film - ending with a cut - fade - dissolve - etc. See also Take






28. A technique of moving a zoom lens from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position - which results in a magnification of the subject within the frame - and keeps the subject in focus






29. A measure of the visual and sound quality of a film. Low-budget films tend to have lower production values because they lack the resources to devote to expensive pre- and post-production activities






30. A standard shot pattern that dictates that a shot of one character will be followed by a shot of another character - taken from the reverse angle of the first shot






31. 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






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






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






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






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






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






37. A screenplay written and submitted to a studio or production company without a prior contract or agreement






38. An early color process - involving bathing lengths of processed film in dye one scene at a time






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






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






41. 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






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






43. A neutral account of the basic plot and style of a film - a part of a film - or a group of films






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






45. 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






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






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






48. 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






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






50. A continuity editing technique that preserves spatial continuity by using a character's line of vision as motivation for a cut