Film Studies: Cinema and So Much More

Cinema enthusiasts often look up to filmmakers the way others look up to athletes, artists, or leaders. These filmmakers inspire audiences with stories of hope, courage, and possibility, shaping how people see themselves and the world. For many directors, cinema is more than an art form; it is a way to explore human behaviour, relationships, and meaning. Their beliefs and lived experiences travel from their minds into the characters, conflicts, and choices on screen, giving each filmmaker a distinct voice.

Studying films helps a film student unravel the patterns and decisions that directors use—sometimes consciously, sometimes instinctively. Film Studies looks at both the technique of filmmaking and the art behind it. By watching films repeatedly from a filmmaker's perspective, students learn to decode shot choices, pacing, sound, performance, structure, and inspirations, tracing the philosophies that shaped them.

Over time, this practice builds a set of tools: you start to see not just what happens in a film, but why it was designed that way. Once you understand what truly went into creating a work, you can absorb its lessons and apply them in your own way, instead of simply copying the surface.

Many filmmakers maintain their own informal “film libraries.“ Anurag Kashyap, for instance, is known for collecting films from around the world and revisiting them for inspiration. Each retelling, remix, or reinterpretation becomes an opportunity to add new layers—fresh backdrops, more complex characters, and sharper conflicts—so that familiar themes still feel surprising and alive.

Combining practical filmmaking with Film Studies creates a strong foundation for aspiring directors and creators. Instead of being only technically skilled, you also grow as a thinker and observer with a wider vision. Every department in cinema—direction, production, cinematography, sound, editing, design, and more—comes with its own complexities in terms of medium, technology, and budget. Film Studies helps you understand how and when to use these tools, so you become a more versatile professional.

The impact of strong storytelling is visible far beyond traditional films. In gaming, for example, it is no longer just about point-and-shoot mechanics; many titles now centre on characters, relationships, and moral choices that stay with the player. Creative leads like Neil Druckmann on The Last of Us have shown how “simple stories, complex characters“ can power deeply emotional experiences. The same project can live as a game, a series, and a cultural reference point because an underlying narrative philosophy is combined with craft and technology.

A creator is rarely “born“ fully formed; they are shaped by years of watching, reading, listening, and making. Film Studies exposes students to a wide range of subjects and counter-opinions, from classic cinema to contemporary work across cultures. This broad exposure builds an appreciation of art that can flow into many mediums—games, documentaries, teaching, criticism, research, music, or writing.

Cinematographer Rajeev Ravi, for example, draws inspiration from paintings when composing his shots. Film Studies often sits within the larger world of fine arts, touching visuals, sound, philosophy, psychology, mythology, language, and emotion. The more you understand how these threads connect, the richer your cinematic choices become.

Learning the history of cinema—and how it intersects with other art forms—puts you on the path to becoming a world-class creator. When you recognise the movements, revolutions, and experiments that shaped film language, you can decide whether to extend those traditions or break them in purposeful ways.