This session covers a diverse range of topics, from the natural history of the European polecat to the creative mechanics of modern cinema.
You will see questions about the real-world engineering behind the war rigs in Mad Max: Fury Road, the origins of Cirque du Soleil, and the importance of storyboarding in planning complex film scenes.
Take a look at other sets on stunt staging, see features on visual effects, or visit our page on classic directors.
What is the scientific name for the European polecat?
Felis catus
Felis catus
Vulpes vulpes
Vulpes vulpes
Neovison vison
Neovison vison
Mustela putorius
Mustela putorius
Which animal is considered the domesticated descendant of the European polecat?
The domestic ferret
The domestic ferret
The badger
The badger
The pine marten
The pine marten
The American mink
The American mink
Which of the following best describes the natural behavior of a wild polecat?
They live primarily in ocean environments
They live primarily in ocean environments
They are nocturnal carnivores
They are nocturnal carnivores
They are strictly herbivores
They are strictly herbivores
They hibernate for six months of the year
They hibernate for six months of the year
What is the primary diet of a wild European polecat?
Rodents and amphibians
Rodents and amphibians
Large mammals exclusively
Large mammals exclusively
Strictly berries and nuts
Strictly berries and nuts
Small fish only
Small fish only
What is the typical social structure of European polecats in the wild?
They form massive breeding colonies underwater
They form massive breeding colonies underwater
They live in large, complex hives
They live in large, complex hives
They are solitary animals
They are solitary animals
They are migratory birds
They are migratory birds
The term ‘war rig’ famously refers to the massive armored tanker vehicles featured in which 2015 action film?
Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down
Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down
George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road
George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road
Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan
Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan
Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk
How was the iconic ‘war rig’ sequence primarily executed during the filming of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’?
Computer-generated imagery only
Computer-generated imagery only
Static props filmed in a studio without movement
Static props filmed in a studio without movement
Practically built vehicles involving real stunts
Practically built vehicles involving real stunts
Miniature models exclusively
Miniature models exclusively
What type of chassis served as the foundation for the construction of the real war rigs for film production?
They were constructed from salvaged airplane parts
They were constructed from salvaged airplane parts
They were made of hardened foam
They were made of hardened foam
They were completely CGI assets with no physical base
They were completely CGI assets with no physical base
They were rebuilt from heavy-duty industrial truck chassis
They were rebuilt from heavy-duty industrial truck chassis
Why did the director insist on using physically functional war rigs rather than relying solely on CGI?
To minimize the need for safety equipment
To minimize the need for safety equipment
To save money compared to purely digital animation
To save money compared to purely digital animation
To provide authentic weight, suspension movement, and physics for the camera
To provide authentic weight, suspension movement, and physics for the camera
Because CGI software was unavailable at the time
Because CGI software was unavailable at the time
In which country’s desert were the complex ‘war rig’ stunt scenes primarily filmed?
The Namib Desert
The Namib Desert
The Australian Outback
The Australian Outback
The Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert
The Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert
In which city was the internationally renowned circus company ‘Cirque du Soleil’ founded?
Las Vegas, USA
Las Vegas, USA
Macau, China
Macau, China
Paris, France
Paris, France
Montreal, Canada
Montreal, Canada
From what origin did Cirque du Soleil emerge in the early 1980s?
A street performer troupe based in Baie-Saint-Paul
A street performer troupe based in Baie-Saint-Paul
A division of a traditional government-funded circus
A division of a traditional government-funded circus
A professional theater department from a university
A professional theater department from a university
A group of professional horse riders
A group of professional horse riders
What is a primary distinction between the Cirque du Soleil style and a traditional circus?
It uses animals like lions and elephants
It uses animals like lions and elephants
It focuses on human performance, live music, and storytelling
It focuses on human performance, live music, and storytelling
It is a silent pantomime show exclusively
It is a silent pantomime show exclusively
It is solely a musical concert series
It is solely a musical concert series
What types of performers make up the core of Cirque du Soleil’s typical cast?
Retired Olympic swimmers only
Retired Olympic swimmers only
Only trained actors from film sets
Only trained actors from film sets
Professional magicians without physical training
Professional magicians without physical training
Gymnasts, acrobats, and street performers
Gymnasts, acrobats, and street performers
How are Cirque du Soleil performers typically integrated into the company’s creative process?
They are all required to have experience in traditional big-top circus training
They are all required to have experience in traditional big-top circus training
They are hired only for individual shows and receive no training
They are hired only for individual shows and receive no training
They must be professional stunt drivers before applying
They must be professional stunt drivers before applying
They are trained in physical conditioning and theatrical arts simultaneously
They are trained in physical conditioning and theatrical arts simultaneously
Which blockbuster film is famously cited for utilizing a massive volume of approximately 10,000 storyboards to map out its complex action sequences?
Avatar
Avatar
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road
Why was such an abnormally high number of storyboards required for this specific production?
To serve as the final film edit without reshooting
To serve as the final film edit without reshooting
To design the costumes for the background extras
To design the costumes for the background extras
To determine the casting for the speaking roles
To determine the casting for the speaking roles
To track the intricate, non-linear action beats across the desert chase
To track the intricate, non-linear action beats across the desert chase
Who was the primary storyboard artist and conceptual designer known for the extensive visualization of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’?
Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan
Brendan McCarthy
Brendan McCarthy
James Cameron
James Cameron
George Lucas
George Lucas
What was the unusual production implication of storyboarding the entire film before drafting a full narrative screenplay?
It meant the storyboard replaced the need for light and sound design
It meant the storyboard replaced the need for light and sound design
It meant the actors were not allowed to improvise movements
It meant the actors were not allowed to improvise movements
It meant the film was storyboarded before a traditional script was fully written
It meant the film was storyboarded before a traditional script was fully written
It meant the movie was entirely animated instead of live-action
It meant the movie was entirely animated instead of live-action
In modern film production, what is the primary structural purpose of a detailed storyboard?
A marketing tool meant only for the film’s investors
A marketing tool meant only for the film’s investors
A substitute for the director of photography’s camera plans
A substitute for the director of photography’s camera plans
A visual blueprint for complex spatial choreography
A visual blueprint for complex spatial choreography
A legal contract for the actors’ salaries
A legal contract for the actors’ salaries
The ‘polecat’ gets its name from an old term related to which biological trait?
A bioluminescent patch of fur
A bioluminescent patch of fur
A specialized claw for digging
A specialized claw for digging
A high-pitched vocal signal for navigation
A high-pitched vocal signal for navigation
A smell-producing gland near the tail
A smell-producing gland near the tail
Which of the following is true regarding the logistics of the war rig vehicles in their movie environment?
The ‘War Rig’s’ massive size required custom road modifications in the desert
The ‘War Rig’s’ massive size required custom road modifications in the desert
The vehicles were all remote-controlled during high-speed scenes
The vehicles were all remote-controlled during high-speed scenes
The war rigs were the only parts of the movie set that weren’t real
The war rigs were the only parts of the movie set that weren’t real
The production stopped using storyboards after the first week of filming
The production stopped using storyboards after the first week of filming
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When you finish, check out more on war cinema, browse our collection of cult favorites, or read through our analysis of design and costumes.
