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 compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






2. A compositing method that allows cinematographers to combine live action and settings that are filmed or created separately. Actors are filmed against a green or blue background. During post-production - this background is filled in with an image thr






3. The visual arrangement of objects - actors - and space within the frame






4. 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






5. 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






6. Invisible editing; a system devised to minimize the audience's awareness of shot transitions - especially cuts - in order to improve the flow of the story and avoid interrupting the viewer's immersion it in






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






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






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






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






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






13. A machine that converts film prints to videotape format






14. These filters bend the light coming into lens - softening and blurring the image






15. 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






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






17. 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






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






19. 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






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






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. Standard shot pattern: A sequence of shots designed to maintain spatial continuity. Scene begin with an establishing shot - then move to a series of individual shots depicting characters and action - before reestablishing shots re-orient viewers to t






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






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






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






26. The chip in a video camera that converts the incoming light to an electronic signal






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






28. 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






29. A brief chronological description of the basic events and characters in a film. It does not include interpretive or evaluative claims






30. A shot that appears during or near the end of a scene and reorients viewers to the setting






31. Devices that attach to actors' faces and/or bodies to change their appearance






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






33. 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






34. The five vertically integrated corporations that exerted the greatest control over film production in the studio era: MGM - Warner Brothers - RKO - Twentieth Century Fox - and Paramount






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






36. Cinema verite; a documentary style in which the filmmaker attempts to remain as unobtrusive as possible - recording without obvious editorial comment






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






38. 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






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






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






41. 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






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






43. Optical illusions created during post-production






44. Prefogging; a cinematographic technique that exposes raw film stock to light before - during - or after shooting - resulting in an image with reduced contrast. This effect can also be created using digital post-production techniques






45. 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






46. 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






47. A process of transferring film to video tapes or DVDs so that the original aspect ratio of the film is preserved






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






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






50. Fish-eye lens; With a focal length of 15mm or less - this lens presents an extremely distorted image - where objects in the center of the frame appear to bulge toward the camera