The evidence

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120 film scenes, each a clear example of one code or convention — with a worked reading and discussion questions. Browse the shelves, or search for what you need.

Recently added

20 The newest scenes in the library
NEW 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 0:34
2001: A Space Odyssey

The Match Cut

editingmatch cuttransitions
NEW A Ghost Story (2017) 4:01
A Ghost Story

The Pie

structuring of timelong takeduration
NEW Dr. Strangelove (1964) 0:26
Dr. Strangelove

The War Room

settingproduction designset design
NEW E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 1:32
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Across the Moon

cameraworksilhouettevisual composition
NEW Minority Report (2002) 4:35
Minority Report

The Spyders

cameraworkoverhead shotlong take
NEW Sunset Boulevard (1950) 2:08
Sunset Boulevard

Dead Man Talking

narrationvoiceoverfilm noir
NEW The Birds (1963) 2:09
The Birds

The Jungle Gym

editingsuspenseshot reverse shot
NEW The Graduate (1967) 5:05
The Graduate

Pool to Bed

editingtransitionsmatch cut
NEW The Zone of Interest (2023) 1:03
The Zone of Interest

The Garden Wall

audiooff-screen soundsound design
NEW Almost Famous (2000) 2:34
Almost Famous

Tiny Dancer

audiosounddiegetic sound
NEW Blue Velvet (1986) 2:10
Blue Velvet

Opening Sequence

mise en scenecolouropening sequence
NEW Brick (2005) 1:05
Brick

Jump Cuts

editingstructuring of timetension
NEW Citizen Kane (1941) 2:27
Citizen Kane

Opening Sequence

cameraworkmise en sceneopening sequence
NEW Fargo (1996) 2:29
Fargo

The Office

cameraworkcamera anglecharacter
NEW Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) 1:58
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Museum Montage

editingmontageaudio
NEW Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) 2:26
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Opening Sequence

cameraworkopening sequencecharacter
NEW Funny Games (2007) 3:47
Funny Games

Opening Sequence

audiosoundopening sequence
NEW Good Will Hunting (1997) 2:43
Good Will Hunting

Sean's Office

actingbody languagesubtext
NEW Panic Room (2002) 3:30
Panic Room

Sound Design

audiosound editingsound effects
NEW Psycho (1960) 0:41
Psycho

The Search

editingmontagestructuring of time

Under 95 seconds

17 Short enough for a Do Now
Scene The Usual Suspects (1995) 0:16
The Usual Suspects

Line Up

mise en scenecostumeacting
NEW Dr. Strangelove (1964) 0:26
Dr. Strangelove

The War Room

settingproduction designset design
NEW 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 0:34
2001: A Space Odyssey

The Match Cut

editingmatch cuttransitions
Scene WALL·E (2008) 0:35
WALL·E

Green Plant

mise en scenevisual compositioncolour
NEW Psycho (1960) 0:41
Psycho

The Search

editingmontagestructuring of time
NEW The Crow (1994) 0:51
The Crow

Graveyard Scene

lightinglow keymise en scene
Scene The Dry (2021) 0:53
The Dry

The Drive In

settingplaceopening sequence
Scene Election (1999) 0:56
Election

You Rang?

editingrhythmic editingcamerawork
NEW The Zone of Interest (2023) 1:03
The Zone of Interest

The Garden Wall

audiooff-screen soundsound design
NEW Two Hands (1999) 1:04
Two Hands

The Kitchen Table

actingspoken languageregister
NEW Brick (2005) 1:05
Brick

Jump Cuts

editingstructuring of timetension
Scene The Godfather (1972) 1:12
The Godfather

Restaurant Kill

audiodiegetic soundsound effects
Scene Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) 1:18
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Anyone? Anyone?

cameraworkshot size
Scene The Apartment (1960) 1:28
The Apartment

The Office

mise en sceneset designvisual composition
Scene Schindler's List (1993) 1:29
Schindler's List

The Girl in the Red Coat

mise en scenecolour
Scene The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) 1:31
The Royal Tenenbaums

Bus Scene

cameraworkcamera movementdolly zoom
NEW E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 1:32
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Across the Moon

cameraworksilhouettevisual composition

Opening sequences

16 How films introduce a world
Scene Back to the Future (1985) 4:08
Back to the Future

The Opening

mise en sceneset designopening sequence
NEW Blue Velvet (1986) 2:10
Blue Velvet

Opening Sequence

mise en scenecolouropening sequence
NEW Citizen Kane (1941) 2:27
Citizen Kane

Opening Sequence

cameraworkmise en sceneopening sequence
NEW Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) 2:26
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Opening Sequence

cameraworkopening sequencecharacter
NEW Funny Games (2007) 3:47
Funny Games

Opening Sequence

audiosoundopening sequence
Scene Jaws (1975) 2:39
Jaws

First Attack

audiocameraworkopening sequence
Scene Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) 2:38
Mad Max: Fury Road

Furious Intro

opening sequencestory conventionssetting
NEW Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 3:32
Raiders of the Lost Ark

Opening Sequence

story conventionsgenre conventionsopening sequence
Scene Rear Window (1954) 2:24
Rear Window

Opening Sequence

cameraworkcamera movementopening sequence
Scene Scream (1996)
Scream

Want to Play a Game?

genre conventionsstory conventionsopening sequence
Scene Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Slumdog Millionaire

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

story conventionsnarrative structureopening sequence
Scene Star Wars (1977) 2:04
Star Wars

Opening Crawl

printed languagetitlesopening sequence
Scene The Brutalist (2024) 3:28
The Brutalist

Arrival

cameraworkcamera movementvisual composition
Scene The Dry (2021) 0:53
The Dry

The Drive In

settingplaceopening sequence
Scene The Matrix (1999) 5:17
The Matrix

Opening Sequence

opening sequencestory conventionsnarrative structure
Scene Watchmen (2009)
Watchmen

Titles Sequence

story conventionsstructuring of timeopening sequence

Camerawork

21 Scenes that teach this code
Scene Arrival (2016) 3:38
Arrival

The Helmet

cameraworkvisual compositionshot size
NEW Citizen Kane (1941) 2:27
Citizen Kane

Opening Sequence

cameraworkmise en sceneopening sequence
Scene Citizen Kane (1941) 2:18
Citizen Kane

The Boarding House

cameraworkdeep focusmise en scene
Scene Donnie Darko (2001) 2:39
Donnie Darko

School Intro

cameraworkediting
NEW E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) 1:32
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Across the Moon

cameraworksilhouettevisual composition
NEW Fargo (1996) 2:29
Fargo

The Office

cameraworkcamera anglecharacter
NEW Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) 2:26
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Opening Sequence

cameraworkopening sequencecharacter
Scene Jaws (1975) 1:47
Jaws

Second Shark Attack

cameraworkdolly zoomediting
Scene Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Doomed Friendship

cameraworklens choicefisheye lens
NEW Minority Report (2002) 4:35
Minority Report

The Spyders

cameraworkoverhead shotlong take
Scene Rebecca (1940)
Rebecca

Why She Was Still Smiling

cameraworkcamera movementstory conventions
Scene Se7en (1995) 9:40
Se7en

What's in the Box?

cameraworkshot size
NEW Star Trek (2009) 2:34
Star Trek

Young Kirk

cameraworkcharacteraudio
Scene The Breakfast Club (1985)
The Breakfast Club

Crackin' Skulls

cameraworkcamera angle
Scene The Brutalist (2024) 3:28
The Brutalist

Arrival

cameraworkcamera movementvisual composition
Scene The Elephant Man (1980)
The Elephant Man

I Am Not an Animal

cameraworkpoint of viewacting
Scene The Godfather (1972) 1:38
The Godfather

Horse Head

cameraworkcamera movement
Scene The Hurt Locker (2008) 1:57
The Hurt Locker

Bomb Sequence

cameraworkcamera movement
Scene The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) 1:31
The Royal Tenenbaums

Bus Scene

cameraworkcamera movementdolly zoom
NEW The Sixth Sense (1999) 3:56
The Sixth Sense

Birthday Party

cameraworktensionnarrative structure
Scene Tokyo Story (1953) 3:28
Tokyo Story

The Tatami Camera

cameraworkcamera anglevisual composition

Editing

18 Scenes that teach this code
NEW 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 0:34
2001: A Space Odyssey

The Match Cut

editingmatch cuttransitions
Scene 500 Days of Summer (2009) 3:21
500 Days of Summer

Expectations / Reality

editingvisual compositionsubtext
NEW Brick (2005) 1:05
Brick

Jump Cuts

editingstructuring of timetension
Scene Donnie Darko (2001)
Donnie Darko

Sparkle Motion

editingmontagemusic
Scene Election (1999) 0:56
Election

You Rang?

editingrhythmic editingcamerawork
NEW Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) 1:58
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Museum Montage

editingmontageaudio
Scene Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) 6:22
Mission: Impossible – Fallout

The Bathroom Fight

editingcamerawork
Scene Mulholland Drive (2001)
Mulholland Drive

Winkie's

editingaudiotension
Scene Psycho (1960) 2:57
Psycho

Shower Scene

editingcameraworkaudio
NEW Psycho (1960) 0:41
Psycho

The Search

editingmontagestructuring of time
Scene Rocky (1976) 2:37
Rocky

Training Montage

editingmontagestructuring of time
Scene Sherlock (2010) 3:30
Sherlock

A Study in Pink

editingparallel editingstructuring of time
Scene Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Slumdog Millionaire

Dead Mum

editingpoint of viewnarrative conventions
Scene Strangers on a Train (1951) 3:22
Strangers on a Train

Tennis Match Cross-Cut

editingparallel editing
NEW The Birds (1963) 2:09
The Birds

The Jungle Gym

editingsuspenseshot reverse shot
NEW The Graduate (1967) 5:05
The Graduate

Pool to Bed

editingtransitionsmatch cut
Scene The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Breakdown

editingpoint of viewnon-diegetic sound
Scene The Silence of the Lambs (1991) 2:56
The Silence of the Lambs

Flower Delivery

editingparallel editing

Story Conventions

16 Scenes that teach this code
NEW A Ghost Story (2017) 4:01
A Ghost Story

The Pie

structuring of timelong takeduration
Scene Argo (2012) 4:55
Argo

The Tarmac

story conventionsnarrative structuretension
Scene Ashes to Ashes (2008)
Ashes to Ashes

Gene Hunt

story conventionscharactercharacter introduction
Scene Killing Eve (2018)
Killing Eve

Ice-Cream Shop

story conventionscharactercharacter introduction
Scene Matilda (1996)
Matilda

Trunchbull

story conventionscharactercharacter introduction
Scene Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Captain Jack Sparrow

story conventionscharactercharacter introduction
NEW Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 3:32
Raiders of the Lost Ark

Opening Sequence

story conventionsgenre conventionsopening sequence
Scene Rear Window (1954) 2:24
Rear Window

Opening Sequence

cameraworkcamera movementopening sequence
Scene Slumdog Millionaire (2008) 2:55
Slumdog Millionaire

Closing Sequence

closing sequencestructuring of timeediting
Scene Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Slumdog Millionaire

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

story conventionsnarrative structureopening sequence
NEW Sunset Boulevard (1950) 2:08
Sunset Boulevard

Dead Man Talking

narrationvoiceoverfilm noir
Scene Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Get Down

story conventionsstructuring of timeslow motion
Scene The Green Knight (2021)
The Green Knight

Bones

story conventionsstructuring of timecamerawork
Scene The Matrix (1999) 5:17
The Matrix

Opening Sequence

opening sequencestory conventionsnarrative structure
NEW The Sixth Sense (1999) 7:28
The Sixth Sense

The Wake

story conventionsnarrative structureacting
Scene Watchmen (2009)
Watchmen

Titles Sequence

story conventionsstructuring of timeopening sequence