How to Watch and Talk about Films_v2
                     Choosing
Watching and
Talking about 
Film
Pavel Bednarik ~ Czech Republic
Budapest Seminar ~ Oct 15th, 2020
Social dimension
Social dimension
● Regular cinema ● Festival
● Multiplex ● Cinema Royal
● Arthouse cinema ● After-School Film 
● Film club Club
● Outdoor cinema ● Special Event(s)
● Drive-in cinema
● Cine-cafée
Modes of Watching
● Collective ~ Individual
● Online ~ Offline
● Focused ~ Multitasking
● Enjoyment ~ Exploration
● Analytical ~ Amusing
● Experienced ~ Random
Prefered chain of choosing film
● Cinema > festival > TV/VOD/home video
● Legal > illegal
● High Quality > any quality > random
● Short > Feature (depending on age)
● Following authorities (teachers, film critics, 
programmers) > anarchy
● Focused watching > binge watching
Good film for education (DFI)
● from educational (school) film towards obserative 
documentaries
● good film = engaging film experience
● includes themes and story that could students relate to
● relevance is more important than topic(ality)
● short films (time wise, students concentration)
● diversity (cultural, geographical) ~ shared experience and 
space for reflection
Choosing the film for educational 
purposes
● National cinema or world cinema heritage is not always 
the best option (start with target group flow)
● Short films work better for time management reasons 
and better focus
● You can always explain many issues on bad 
(blockbuster) movies rather than masterpieces
● Film as a shared (but highly individual) experience
Analytical and focused watching
● School (elementary, high school, university, college)
● Festivals, seminars, conferences
● Film clubs
● Home
Important criteria for full enjoyment
● dark ~cinema-like~ space (courtains at least)
● good technical quality (sound, aspect ratio, frame-rate, 
HD, balanced colours and tone,...)
● no or limited conversation (with exceptions)
● full attention
● original sound (if possible)
Peer Programming
● programming of young people (kids)
● democratic approach to film programming
● reversed poles of authority (democratic twist)
● learning skills as planning, team work, time 
management, resonsibility
● respecting formats, copyright issues, technical 
quality, cinema environment 
Talking About Film
Talking About Film
● Q&A
● masterclass
● schools (lectures, screenings)
● pub
● private conversations
● family conversations
Quality of discourse
● experienced watching
● focused discussion
● analytical approach
● interpretation ~ appreciation
● experimental ideas
● terminology
Effects of talking about film
● nurtures aesthetical qualities
● stimulates argumentation
● helps appreciation of film as cultural phenomenon
● rises ethical and philosofical questions
● helps to reflect the world & self-reflection
● brings new knowledge and attitudes
What to talk about?
● good starting point: natural habit of asking (curiosity)
● specific to general questions
● open and closed (hot and cold) questions
● special questions
● adapted to the audience (target group, age)
● art of questioning and dialogue leading (deduction)
Pedagogy
● Alain Bergala approach ~ using clips for education
● contemporary way of moving image consumption
● Alternative: using of short films as complex work
● Goal 1: fascination with cinematic experience (any)
● Goal 2: appreciation of film culture in complexity
● Goal 3: creating a lighthouse to show pathways
Pavel Bednařík
Association for Film and Audiovisual Education NGO
Chairman of the Board
[email protected]
www.flmvychova.cz