Cinema Vocabulary
Instructions: Lights, camera, action! How well do you know filmmaking terminology?
- 1.
In filmmaking, what is a 'dolly shot'?
AA close-up of a character's faceBA shot featuring a doll or puppetCA shot where the camera moves on a wheeled platformDA shot taken from above - 2.
What does 'mise-en-scène' mean in cinema?
AA scene filmed on locationBA musical scene in a filmCThe final edited version of a filmDThe arrangement of everything that appears in the frame - 3.
In film, what is a 'MacGuffin'?
AA type of camera lensBA comedic character typeCA plot device that motivates characters but has little importance itselfDA special effects technique - 4.
What is a 'gaffer' in film production?
AThe chief electrician responsible for lightingBThe person who manages extrasCThe person who operates the boom microphoneDThe assistant director - 5.
In cinema, what does 'montage' refer to?
AA sequence of short shots edited together to condense time or informationBThe opening creditsCA single long take without cutsDA mountain scene in a film - 6.
What is a 'key grip' on a film set?
AThe lead actor's personal assistantBThe person who holds the clapperboardCThe head of the grip department responsible for camera support and riggingDThe person who locks the set doors - 7.
In film, what is a 'tracking shot'?
AA shot that follows animal tracksBA time-lapse recordingCA shot used to track continuity errorsDA shot where the camera moves alongside or follows a subject - 8.
What does 'foley' refer to in filmmaking?
AA special camera filterBA film shot in slow motionCThe reproduction of everyday sound effects added in post-productionDA type of film festival - 9.
In cinema, what is a 'jump cut'?
AEditing out action sequencesBA cut to a scene with jumpingCAn abrupt transition between two shots that breaks continuityDA cut from one camera angle to a drastically different one - 10.
What is 'aspect ratio' in cinema?
AThe proportional relationship between the width and height of the imageBThe ratio of actors to crew membersCThe ratio of dialogue to action in a filmDThe percentage of the budget spent on special effects - 11.
In filmmaking, what is 'ADR'?
AAdvanced Digital RecordingBAssistant Director's ReportCArtistic Design ReviewDAutomated Dialogue Replacement - 12.
What is a 'storyboard' in filmmaking?
AA bulletin board listing the castBA sequence of drawn panels illustrating planned shots and scenesCThe schedule for filmingDA board game based on a movie - 13.
In cinema, what does 'pan' mean?
AA panoramic landscape shotBA negative review of the filmCA horizontal rotation of the camera from a fixed positionDA cooking scene - 14.
What is a 'cliffhanger' in cinema?
AA scene filmed on a cliffBA dramatic camera angle from aboveCA stunt involving hanging from a heightDAn unresolved ending that leaves the audience in suspense - 15.
In filmmaking, what is a 'best boy'?
AThe lead animal trainerBThe youngest crew memberCThe chief assistant to either the gaffer or the key gripDThe director's favorite actor
Answer Key
A dolly shot involves the camera mounted on a wheeled platform (dolly) that rolls along tracks or a smooth surface, creating fluid forward, backward, or lateral movement.
Mise-en-scène (French for 'placing on stage') refers to everything visible in the frame: set design, lighting, costumes, props, and the arrangement of actors.
A MacGuffin is a plot device, often an object or goal, that drives the characters' actions but is ultimately unimportant to the story. Alfred Hitchcock popularized the term.
The gaffer is the chief electrician on a film set, responsible for the execution of the lighting plan in collaboration with the director of photography.
A montage is a filmmaking technique where a series of short shots are edited together to condense time, convey information, or create a specific emotional effect.
The key grip is the head of the grip department, overseeing all rigging, camera support equipment, dollies, cranes, and anything that shapes or blocks light on set.
A tracking shot is any shot where the camera physically moves through space to follow, lead, or move alongside a subject, creating dynamic and immersive visuals.
Foley is the art of creating and recording everyday sound effects (footsteps, clothing rustles, door creaks) in post-production to enhance the audio realism of a film.
A jump cut is an abrupt edit between two sequential shots of the same subject from slightly different positions, creating a jarring effect that breaks spatial or temporal continuity.
Aspect ratio describes the proportional relationship between the width and height of a film's image, such as 16:9 (widescreen) or 4:3 (standard).
ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement, also called 'looping') is the process of re-recording dialogue in a studio after filming, to replace unclear or unusable original audio.
A storyboard is a series of illustrated panels that pre-visualize the sequence of shots in a film, helping directors plan camera angles, framing, and scene progression.
A pan is a camera movement where the camera rotates horizontally (left or right) on its axis from a stationary position, used to follow action or reveal a scene.
A cliffhanger is a narrative device where a story ends at a moment of high suspense or unresolved conflict, compelling the audience to want to see the resolution.
The best boy is the chief assistant to either the gaffer (best boy electric) or the key grip (best boy grip), helping manage the electrical or grip department crew and equipment.