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. Using computer graphics to 'build' structures connected to the actual architecture on set or location






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






3. 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






4. A type of matte shot - created by positioning a pane of optically flawless glass with a painting on it between the camera and the scene to be photographed. This combines the painting on the glass with the set or location - seen through the glass - be






5. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic






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






7. The film medium's technological apparatus is inherently ideological






8. A lens with a variable focal length that allows changes of focal length while keeping the subject in focus






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






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






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






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






13. A genre film that radically modifies accepted genre conventions for dramatic effect






14. A musical film in which each song and dance number is narratively motivated by a plot that situates characters in performance contexts






15. 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






16. A shot that contains two characters within the frame






17. Assists the editor with various tasks - including taking footage to the lab - checking the condition of the negative - cataloguing footage - and supervising optical effects - often produced by an outside company






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






19. A platform on wheels - used for mobile camera shots






20. Lighting design where the key light is somewhat more intense than the fill light - so the fill does not eliminate every shadow. The effect is generally less cheerful than high-key lighting - but not as gloomy as low-key lighting






21. Experimental film; Underground cinema;






22. 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






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






24. Drawing attention to the process of representation (including narrative and characterization) to break the theatrical illusion and elicit a distanced - intellectual response in the audience






25. A description of film stock that is highly sensitive to light






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






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






28. A shot that focuses audience attention on precise details that may or may not be the focus of characters






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






30. A technique of intentionally adding scratches in a film's emulsion layer for aesthetic purposes - such as to simulate home movie footage






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






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






33. Sound design that blends the speech of several characters talking simultaneously - used to create spontaneity - although it may also confuse the audience






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






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






36. The way an actor delivers a line of dialogue - including pauses - inflection - and emotion






37. The use of editing techniques - such as a fade or dissolve - to indicate the end of one scene and the beginning of another






38. A method for producing a widescreen image without special lenses or equipment - using standard film stock and blocking out the top and bottom of the frame to achieve an aspect ration of 1.85:1






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






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






41. An outlawed studio era practice - where studios forced exhibitors to book groups of films at once - thus ensuring a market for their failures along with their successes






42. A change of focus from one plane of depth to another. As the in-focus subject goes out of focus - another object - which has been blurry - comes into focus in either the background or the foreground






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






44. 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






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






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






47. The imagined world of the story






48. 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






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






50. A story; a chain of events linked by cause-and-effect logic