The story, of course, is the ultimate point of study for any critical viewer. Does the story have a character you care about and who is in a situation that will be hard to get out of? Do the acting and direction work with the character and story, or do they seem at odds with each other, drawing attention to their craft instead of enhancing the story?
Soon, you will be able to do both at the same time, though it does tend to reduce your overall enjoyment of the film.
When you watch the film a second time to study it. Directors work to get the right pacing for different parts of the movie. Take notes on shot and scene lengths to see how pacing helps move the story along.
All good directors are students of film. They devour film, looking at the way their peers chose to present the script - their shot choice, transitions, music and form. To get the most out of watching films and glean new ways of shooting scenes and presenting ideas, you have to start with the basic elements that make up any film or video production. In this column, we will look at these various elements and provide a simple guide that you can use to begin your journey into the film classroom.