Preparing for Film Study

Active Viewing


Actors spend a fair amount of time in the public eye when it comes to promoting a film. They are the ones in the spotlight. However, have you ever watched the credits at the end of the movie? There are literally hundreds of people involved in bringing a film to the big screen.

Behind the spotlight, there are countless others who are responsible for building the sets, laying down the tracks for the camera to follow, designing and creating costumes, and building the props that you see in each and every moment of the film.

Producing a film is expensive and takes careful planning.

There are no accidents in film!



When you analyze a film,  you must view it actively. When you view a film actively, you consider the techniques the director uses to affect the audience. As you watch a film you are aware of your feelings (eg. joy, sadness, anger etc), but as an active viewer, you will also think about how the director's decisions stirred those feelings in you.


Watch this short video: Introduction to Film.  As you watch, pay close attention to when the speaker talks about active viewing.

  
Check your Understanding
Answer: False! While active viewers definitely take notes while they watch, active viewers also know that they need to pause, rewind, re-watch scenes, and even watch the entire film more than once to better understand the director's choices.