A film is the successful combination of two distinct groups of elements: (1) the technical elements by which the film is made (camera, lighting, sound and editing) and (2) the esthetic elements that transform the craft into an art. This book attempts to combine the study of these elements by providing technical information about the process of filmmaking while isolating and exploring the esthetic elements that motivate and inspire this process. The early chapters follow the order in which a film is made--script, image (camera, lighting, composition), sound, and editing. Special attention is devoted to the roles of scriptwriters, cameramen, film editors, actors, and directors, and to their relationships to one another. A separate chapter is included on the work of the major contemporary directors. A final chapter defines the function of film criticism and analyzes the work of important film critics. Recent works from the modern cinema are used to illustrate important techniques. (Author/SH)