What is a film? What makes a film great?

So, before we can talk about a film, we have to talk about what a film is. While we're on that note, what makes a film different from a movie? Well, I'm glad you asked!

Movie: a popular, entertaining film. Usually big, blockbuster action films or comedies. Think Independence Day or 21 Jump Street - popular movies that entertain the masses.

Film: An artistic movie using the elements of filmmaking, sometimes in a foreign language. Think Grand Budapest Hotel or Psycho- films that utilize cinematography, color, lighting, costuming and other techniques. These films are beautifully made, but not necessarily as popular.

So, now that we know what the difference is between a movie and a film, what makes a film so great? There are several elements that go into a great film. I shall list them below.

Color: This is a BIG one for me. I am a visual person and color is something that stands out to me. Have you ever been watching a film and a character was in distress? Thinking back on that specific scene, what color was the character in distress wearing? Also, what color was the room they were in? Color is a great way of setting the mood for a scene. Orange is usually a color that shows caution or danger, yellow shows happiness, red shows love, blue shows tranquility, etc.

Lighting: I'm going to give you a scenario; a character walks into a bar that has a reputation for being full of shady people. The filmmakers made a choice to have all of the lights on, bright as day. Now you have to wonder if anyone would be scared to go into this bar. Lighting can make or break a scene. It can change how the audience perceives a situation and can even throw a storyline off track if not used properly.

Cinematography: This is possibly one of the most crucial elements of a film. Every time I think of the power of good cinematography I think of the Fellowship of the Ring and the rest of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Peter Jackson utilized cinematography to shape the characters of Middle Earth and bring the world to life. Sir Ian McKellen was made larger than life as Gandalf and Elijah Wood along with the other actors in his band of Hobbits were scaled down. There are many other elements to cinematography, we'll get to those later.

These are just three of the many factors that make a film great. I tried to at least scrape the surface to give an idea of the posts to come. So with these things in mind, go out and see if you can notice any of these elements in some of your favorite films!