Film Terminology Quiz

Film Terminology

• Abby Singer: A nickname for the second-to-last production shot of the day, named after Abby Singer, a famed American production manager and assistant film director.
• Adaptation: A film version of a pre- existing work, such as a stage play, short story, novel, or video game.
• Aerial shot: A camera shot taken from far overhead, typically from a helicopter, drone, or plane, often used as an establishing shot.
• Alan Smithee film: A pseudonym used by directors who want to distance themselves from a film they feel they lost control over.
• Ambient light: The natural light or surrounding light in a scene, often described as soft.
• Anamorphic: A technique used to create a wide screen image using standard film, often resulting in a horizontally "squished" image.
• Antagonist: The main character or entity in conflict with the protagonist or hero in a film.
• Anthology film: A film consisting of multiple short stories or tales, sometimes linked by a common theme.
• Ad lib: When an actor improvises dialogue or scenes not written in the script.
• Anthropomorphism: Giving human characteristics, abilities, and qualities to creatures or objects in animated films.
• Arc shot: A shot where the camera circles or moves around the subject, typically in a 180-degree motion.
• Art-house: A movie theatre that shows independent, foreign, or non-mainstream films, often considered highbrow or "art" films.
• Artificial light: Non-natural lighting created through various techniques to light subjects, mimic ambient light, or enhance the mood of a scene.
• Aside: A moment when a character in a film breaks the "fourth wall" and directly addresses the audience.
• Aspect ratio: The proportion between the width and height of a frame or screen.
• Assembly: The initial stage of editing where all the shots are organized in the script order.
• Audio bridge: A continuing sound from one scene that overlaps into the next, helping to connect the two visually separate shots or scenes.
• Available light: The natural light on location, often used to enhance a film's realism.
• Avant-garde: Experimental, abstract, or independent films that often push boundaries of artistic genres and forms.
• A.D.R. (Automated Dialog Recording): The technical term for "dubbing," where dialogue is added or replaced in post-production.
• Aperture: The opening in the camera lens that controls the amount of light that enters.
• Apple Box: A sturdy wooden box used to elevate equipment, actors, or surfaces for rigging and cinematography.
• Above-the-line costs: Expenditures related to individuals who guide the creative direction of a film, including the screenwriter, producer, director, and actors.
• "A" camera: The main camera when shooting with two or more cameras.
• Ace: A 1,000-watt light.
• Ambient noise: Also known as "Room Tone," a recording of sound in a room that is used as an underlying audio track in editing.
• Animatronics: Special effects involving remotely controlled puppetry of creatures or robots.
• ARRI: The largest manufacturer of professional motion picture equipment in the world.
• Art director: The individual responsible for the visual aesthetic of a film under the direction of the production designer.
• Assistant director (A.D.): The director's right-hand person, responsible for keeping the crew organized and the production moving smoothly.
• Associate producer: A contribution to the film's production that does not constitute full producer status, often involving specific aspects of the production.
• Auteur: A director who is considered the primary creative force behind their films, often associated with the "Auteur Theory."
• Actuality film: Non-fiction films that use real footage but lack the structure or argumentative aspect of documentaries.
• Axis of action: The invisible line that connects two main subjects in a scene, which the camera must maintain (left-right orientation) to establish continuity and avoid disorienting the viewer.

Test your knowledge of film terminology with this engaging quiz. From Abby Singer to aerial shots, explore key terms used in the filmmaking process. Perfect for cinema enthusiasts and aspiring filmmakers alike!