About

Welcome to So The Theory Goes!

This is a film theory resource, de-mystifying traditional film theory for new audiences. We help film students, film lovers and new filmmakers deepen their understanding of the art form.

Film Theory

Our take on all things film theory, including Film Movements and Representation.

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Film Genres

Dissecting film genres for a better understanding of their tropes.

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Film Club - So The Theory Goes - Watch Party

Reviews

We help with analysing film, and recognising storytelling devices on screen.

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Directors

Profiling directors and film crew members who have unique points of view.

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Where to Start

Not sure where to begin? These articles should help…

The Evolution of Cinema – timeline of Film Eras + Movements from 1800s to today

Top 50 Must See Films for Newbies

The Ultimate Guide to Film Genres and Subgenres – explainer on films genres and common tropes

Auteur Theory: The Influence of the Director – explainer on the traditional idea of Auteurs, and how different departments influence the overall film

Documentary Mode: Film Theory Explained

MEET THE FOUNDER

SHAQUILLA ALEXANDER

FILM EDITOR / ASSISTANT EDITOR, BAFTA MEMBER

“The website started as a way to share my film research with others, then quickly became a go-to resource for film students all around the world. Now, it is an opportunity to reframe film education, and make film study more inclusive and engaging than it’s ever been!”

Free Resources

Click on the banners below to download our FREE eBooks:

Recommended Resources

We’ve put together this collection of resources, perfect for any introduction into film theory and filmmaking. The resources, podcasts and books below are all recommendations we’ve tried out ourselves (and can vouch for!)

Please note though – this section does contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links (at no cost to you, of course! 🙂)

MUBI – for Watching Films

A brilliant, curated collection of films for all audiences, and students get a major discount on the monthly subscription! MUBI makes it *much* easier to find and watch classics, plus you get a cinema ticket every week on MUBI GO. The film profile pages are filled with useful film stats too

NOW TV+ (UK) – for Watching Film + TV shows

Are you in the UK? We recommend the Entertainment + Cinema Passes for viewing new film titles/tv shows. They also offer generous discounts for existing subscribers, so its pretty good value for money!

SCRIBD – for *Unlimited* Audiobooks and Magazines

Described as the ‘Netflix for Books’ by Forbes, you pay one monthly Scribd subscription and have access to thousands of audiobooks at once! They also offer ebooks, magazines, documents and more unlimited under one umbrella – ideal for studying or citing sources.

AUDIBLE – for Film Audiobooks

Another great resource for audiobooks – if you prefer to take in audiobooks over books, then Audible is ideal! They have one of the biggest collections of audiobooks out there. Our favourites include Creativity Inc. (all about Pixar’s history), Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, and the Heist podcast with actor Sir Micheal Caine from the Italian Job.

WHSMITH – for Books (UK)

If you are in the UK, and prefer to take in books over audiobooks, then we recommend WHSmith. You can search their website for script books, film adaptations, textbooks and film memorabilia, including the books listed below.

MILANOTE – for Notes + Storyboarding

We are currently obsessed with Milanote for storing film notes, images, storyboards, and just generally planning our film related projects. If you are a visual person, preferring to see all of your files in one place, this is the perfect tool for you.

New filmmaker? Their storyboard template boards are *chef’s kiss*