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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Mamet says in Chapter 3 that it is the nature of human perception to go to what?
(a) The most interesting thing.
(b) The MacGuffin.
(c) The protagonist.
(d) The back-story.

2. According to Mamet, you always want to tell a story in what?
(a) Narration.
(b) Shots.
(c) Character.
(d) Cuts.

3. In Chapter 2, Mamet says that it's impossible to make a character what?
(a) Narrate a story.
(b) Carry a scene.
(c) Interesting in general.
(d) Relatable to everyone.

4. According to Mamet, storytellers need to be warned against falling into what?
(a) Elaboration.
(b) Narration.
(c) Circularity.
(d) Characterization.

5. According to Mamet in Chapter 3, "You tax the audience every time you don't move on to _______ of the progression as quickly as possible."
(a) The MacGuffin.
(b) The next essential step.
(c) The essential truth.
(d) The action.

6. All the audience cares about is the what, according to Mamet?
(a) Thrust of the scene.
(b) Protagonist.
(c) Narration.
(d) Objective.

7. Mamet says in Chapter 1 that it is the __________ that makes the movie. What was he talking about?
(a) Shot.
(b) Plan.
(c) Actor.
(d) Director.

8. What is the first way suggested by students in the class for shooting a scene of a bunch of people coming to class?
(a) From below.
(b) From above.
(c) As a closeup.
(d) At head level.

9. What does Mamet say happens when the problem posited by the scene is over?
(a) The next scene begins.
(b) The film is over.
(c) The scene is over.
(d) The objective is attained.

10. According to Mamet in Chapter 3, the only thing the dramatic form is good for is what?
(a) Political gain.
(b) Character creation.
(c) Telling a story.
(d) Artistic expression.

11. What is the rule which Mamet says means "Keep it simple, stupid"?
(a) Film rule.
(b) Idiot rule.
(c) Shooting rule.
(d) KISS rule.

12. In what area did Mamet have greater experience in when writing the book?
(a) Film criticism.
(b) Screenwriting.
(c) Stage directing.
(d) Acting.

13. Whose method relies on a succession of images juxtaposed so that the contrast moves the story forward?
(a) Eisenstein.
(b) Einstein.
(c) Morrison.
(d) Capra.

14. The purpose of technique is to free the what?
(a) Unconscious.
(b) Creativity.
(c) Conscious mind.
(d) Dream life.

15. Who did Mamet cite in saying that we needn't avoid things just because they're cliche?
(a) Eisenstein.
(b) Stanislavsky.
(c) Aristotle.
(d) Hemingway.

Short Answer Questions

1. The first beat in the hypothetical scene of Chapter 2 was to what?

2. Where did Mamet go to college?

3. According to Mamet, when the film is correctly ____, the subconscious and the conscious are in alignment.

4. According to Mamet in Chapter 3, the film business is caught in a spiral of degeneracy because it is run by people who have no what?

5. In the scene generated for the class in Chapter 2, what did the protagonist want?

(see the answer keys)

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