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 horizontal turning movement of an otherwise immobile camera across a scene from left to right or vice versa






2. The person in charge of planning the style and look of the film with the production designer and director of photography - working with actors during principal photography - and collaborating with the editor on the final version






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






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






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






6. A system of constructing and arranging buildings and objects on the set so that they diminish in size dramatically from foreground to background - which creates the illusion of depth






7. 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






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






9. 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






10. A technique of depicting two layered images simultaneously. Images from one frame or several frames of film are added to pre-existing images - using an optical printer - to produce the same effect as a double exposure






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






12. 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






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






14. 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






15. The space between the camera and subject it is filming.






16. 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.






17. A term applied to film stock that is relatively insensitive to light. This stock will not yield acceptable images unless the amount of light can be carefully controlled






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






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






20. A musical accompaniment written specifically for a film






21. 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






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






23. Reels of film that are shipped to movie theaters for exhibition. Digital cinema - which can be distributed via satellite - broadband - or on media such as DVDs - may soon replace film prints because the latter are expensive to create - copy - and dis






24. 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






25. A shot that depicts a human body from the feet up






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






27. The practice of Hollywood studios contracting out post-production work to individuals or firms outside the U.S.






28. A model of industrial organization in the film industry from about 1915 to 1946 - characterized by the development of major and minor studios that produced - distributed - and exhibited films - and held film actors - directors - art directors - and o






29. A short segment of film used to promote an upcoming release






30. A technique of recording very few images over a long period of time - say - one frame per minute or per day






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






32. A visual effect created when the subject in the frame is restricted by the objects or the physical properties of the set






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






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






35. 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






36. A device that projects photographs or footage onto glass so that images can be traced by hand to create animated images






37. The camera should move at least 30 degrees any time there is a cut within a scene






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






39. A device attached to the film camera that records videotape of what has been filmed - allowing the director immediate access to video footage






40. 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






41. An unstated meaning that underlies and is implied by spoken dialogue






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






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






44. The distance that appears in focus in front of and behind the subject. It is determined by the aperture - distance and focal length of lens






45. A device used to manipulate the amount and/or color of light entering the lens






46. A technique of manipulating focus to direct the viewer's attention






47. 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






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






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






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