Slavko Vorkapich was an artist, special effects artist, film theoretician, director, and montage specialist who is most noted for his montage work on many classic films, including Viva Villa, David Copperfield, San Francisco, The Good Earth, and Mr Smith. This engaging, well-written meditation on the essential expressive nature of movies is a profound yet practical guide to such basic filmmaking techniques as camera angle, image framing, camera and image motion and direction, editing styles, and image sequencing. Drawing on examples from both classic and contemporary films, the author shows how certain film techniques can shape an audience's perception and empathy. This unique guide presents filmmaking principles that transcend periods, genres, and styles and address makers of all types of films -- dramas, documentaries, experimental films and music videos.