CINEMATIC TECHNIQUES EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
low angle - Answers camera films subject from below; usually has the effect of making the subject
look larger than normal, and therefore strong, powerful, and threatening
low key - Answers lighting in which the scene is flooded with shadows and darkness, creating
suspense or suspicion
shot - Answers a single piece of film uniterrupted by cuts
shot-reverse-shot - Answers a shot of one subject, then another, then back to the first; often used for
conversation or reaction shots
storyboard - Answers a series of sketches that are used as a planning tool to visually show how the
action of a story unfolds
tilt - Answers a stationary camera moves up or down along a vertical axis
two shot - Answers a scene between two people shot exclusively from an angle that includes both
characters more or less equally. It is used in love scenes where interaction between the two
characters is important.
wipe - Answers an editing device, usually a line that travels across the screen, "pushing off" one image
and revealing another
zoom - Answers a stationary camera where the lens moves to make an object seem to move closer to
or further away from the camera
dolly/tracking - Answers camera is on a track that allows it to move with the action; any camera
mounted on a car, truck, or helicopter.
diagetic - Answers sound that could logically be heard by the characters in the film
cross cutting - Answers cut into action that is happening simultaneously; also called parallel editing;
can create tension or suspense and can form a connection between scenes
close up - Answers the image takes up at least 80% of the frame
cinematic techniques - Answers methods a director uses to communicate meaning and to evoke
particular emotional responses in veiwers
bottom or side lighting - Answers direct lighting from below or to the side, which often makes the
subject appear dangerous or evil
boom/crane - Answers camera is mounted so as to create overhead shots
establishing shot - Answers often a long shot or a series of shots that sets the scene
extreme close up - Answers the image being shot is part of a whole, such as an eye or a hand
eye level - Answers a shot taken from a normal height; most natural angle
eye-line match - Answers cut to an object; then to a person; technique shows what a person seems to
be looking at and can reveal a character's thoughts
fade - Answers begins in darkness and gradually assumes full brightness or the reverse; often implies
that time has passed
flashback - Answers cut or dissolve to action that happened in the past
front or back lighting - Answers soft lighting on the actors face or from behind gives the appearance of
innocence or goodness, or a halo effect
high angle - Answers camera is above the subject; usually has the effect of making the subject look
smaller than normal, giving him or her the appearance of being weak, powerless, and trapped
high key - Answers lighting in which the scene is flooded with light, creating a bright and open-looking
scene
long shot - Answers a shot from some distance. If filming a person, the full body is shown. It may show
the isolation or vulnerability of the character.
Zoetrope - Answers a circular wheel or drum with vertical slits in the sides through which to view a
sequence of images lining the inside. When the wheel spins, the images appear to move.
Kinetoscope - Answers an invention by Thomas Edison that gives an impression of movement by using
an endless loop of film moved continuously over a light source. It was a precursor of the modern
motion-picture projector.
Visual symbol - Answers visual information used by a filmmaker to represent something else, e.g., a
close-up of a clock representing time passing
Sound symbol - Answers a sound effect or passage of music that suggests meaning or represents
something or someone else
low angle - Answers camera films subject from below; usually has the effect of making the subject
look larger than normal, and therefore strong, powerful, and threatening
low key - Answers lighting in which the scene is flooded with shadows and darkness, creating
suspense or suspicion
shot - Answers a single piece of film uniterrupted by cuts
shot-reverse-shot - Answers a shot of one subject, then another, then back to the first; often used for
conversation or reaction shots
storyboard - Answers a series of sketches that are used as a planning tool to visually show how the
action of a story unfolds
tilt - Answers a stationary camera moves up or down along a vertical axis
two shot - Answers a scene between two people shot exclusively from an angle that includes both
characters more or less equally. It is used in love scenes where interaction between the two
characters is important.
wipe - Answers an editing device, usually a line that travels across the screen, "pushing off" one image
and revealing another
zoom - Answers a stationary camera where the lens moves to make an object seem to move closer to
or further away from the camera
dolly/tracking - Answers camera is on a track that allows it to move with the action; any camera
mounted on a car, truck, or helicopter.
diagetic - Answers sound that could logically be heard by the characters in the film
cross cutting - Answers cut into action that is happening simultaneously; also called parallel editing;
can create tension or suspense and can form a connection between scenes
close up - Answers the image takes up at least 80% of the frame
cinematic techniques - Answers methods a director uses to communicate meaning and to evoke
particular emotional responses in veiwers
bottom or side lighting - Answers direct lighting from below or to the side, which often makes the
subject appear dangerous or evil
boom/crane - Answers camera is mounted so as to create overhead shots
establishing shot - Answers often a long shot or a series of shots that sets the scene
extreme close up - Answers the image being shot is part of a whole, such as an eye or a hand
eye level - Answers a shot taken from a normal height; most natural angle
eye-line match - Answers cut to an object; then to a person; technique shows what a person seems to
be looking at and can reveal a character's thoughts
fade - Answers begins in darkness and gradually assumes full brightness or the reverse; often implies
that time has passed
flashback - Answers cut or dissolve to action that happened in the past
front or back lighting - Answers soft lighting on the actors face or from behind gives the appearance of
innocence or goodness, or a halo effect
high angle - Answers camera is above the subject; usually has the effect of making the subject look
smaller than normal, giving him or her the appearance of being weak, powerless, and trapped
high key - Answers lighting in which the scene is flooded with light, creating a bright and open-looking
scene
long shot - Answers a shot from some distance. If filming a person, the full body is shown. It may show
the isolation or vulnerability of the character.
Zoetrope - Answers a circular wheel or drum with vertical slits in the sides through which to view a
sequence of images lining the inside. When the wheel spins, the images appear to move.
Kinetoscope - Answers an invention by Thomas Edison that gives an impression of movement by using
an endless loop of film moved continuously over a light source. It was a precursor of the modern
motion-picture projector.
Visual symbol - Answers visual information used by a filmmaker to represent something else, e.g., a
close-up of a clock representing time passing
Sound symbol - Answers a sound effect or passage of music that suggests meaning or represents
something or someone else
