In recent years, we've seen a huge influx in video essays about film, which is not only giving students of film access to the kind of film analysis you tend to only get in film school, but it's also changing the way film analyses are produced and exhibited altogether. In fact, this surge of content is giving "amateur" film analysts a way to share their thoughts on different aspects of cinema, like how filmmakers use color as a psychological tool or the cultural, social, and political impact of different film movements.

For those who have always wanted to get into the video essay scene, film analyst Rob Ager offers a ton of helpful advice on how to do it in the video below.


Before I ever made a film, I analyzed a film. I broke down every minute, every camera move, every cinematic element in hopes of finding clues, patterns, and messages about the true meaning of a film. They're all up there—hidden in plain site on the big screen. Film analysis is about discovery. It's about reading between the lines (or looking between the frames) to find the grander message a filmmaker is trying to convey with their work. It's about revealing a new way of watching films to those who love to watch them, a way that can offer more enjoyment, more understanding, and more appreciation for the art form. 

Source: Collative Learning