This book examines how films communicate. It discusses the stories they tell, the sign-systems they deploy, the interpretive contexts we are invited to place them in, and the range of aesthetic elements which contribute to the cinematic image. Each chapter concludes with a case study, in which key ideas are seen in context within a particular film, or a specific scene. Basics Film-Making: The Language of Film presents complex ideas in a clear and straightforward style, enabling students to apply these ideas to their own analysis or film-making.