The experience of viewing a film has changed over the years. Whether you rent a movie to watch with friends, download it to your iPod, or experience it with 3D and surround sound in a large theatre, many of the basic cinematic techniques have remained. Seeing a film for entertainment can sometimes be a passive experience; studying a film as a text involves more critical thinking. Exploring a film in more depth is worthwhile because your view of the world may change.

Film creators undertake a complex job, perhaps even more than the tasks of many writers. In this section, you will view and study a film as closely as you would a novel. Knowing what film techniques to look for is crucial, so a tutorial and a handy note-taking chart will assist you with this process.

Appreciating the artistry of film and exploring how film creators work their magic is the essence of your task in this workbook. You may find that some online research will help you learn more about the film. Using your notes, DVD bonus features, and online research, you will have the opportunity to critique the film. The characters in these films all grapple with who they are and how they will fit into their world, just like you do. Connecting personally to the film adds to your understanding of the film. It also encourages you to apply lessons from the film to your own life.