Film Streams’ Simple Path to Better Movie Watching

November 26th, 2025

Analyzing a film can feel intimidating, especially if you’re not familiar with filmmaking or the visual arts. But looking deeper into a movie isn’t just for experts—it’s a natural part of the viewing experience, and it can make a story resonate long after the credits roll.

That’s the message from Paul Sanchez, General Manager of Education at Film Streams, who believes film analysis can be accessible to everyone. Film Streams is committed to presenting film as an art form and helping audiences engage with movies in meaningful and thoughtful ways.

At the heart of their approach is a simple framework: Connect, Think, Reflect.

Before the film even begins, Connect invites you to explore the world surrounding the movie. Understanding the historical or cultural context of a film can enrich the entire experience. This step can be as easy as reading a review while waiting for the previews or listening to a short podcast about the director’s style.

Once the lights go down, it’s time to Think. This is the core of film analysis—paying attention to the filmmaker’s artistic choices and how they shape the narrative. Maybe a color palette sets the emotional tone. Maybe a character’s words don’t quite match their actions. Perhaps a sound cue subtly shifts the mood. Filmmaking is built on thousands of decisions, and thinking about them reveals how stories are constructed.

After the movie ends, Reflect encourages viewers to turn inward. Each of us brings our own experiences to a film, which shape how we respond to its themes. What stayed with you after the credits? What challenged you, moved you, or surprised you? Reflection helps movies continue living in our thoughts long after we leave the theater.

Sanchez emphasizes that Connect–Think–Reflect is not a rigid formula, but a flexible starting point—something to experiment with and adapt. And for those wanting to go deeper, Film Streams offers Deep Dive, a series of single-week and multi-week seminars designed to help audiences explore film analysis in a collaborative, discussion-based environment. After all, we often watch movies together; talking about them together is a natural next step.

Sanchez leaves viewers with an open invitation: try Connect–Think–Reflect the next time you watch a film. It works with any movie, in any setting—and Omaha has two outstanding arthouse cinemas ready to welcome anyone looking for a richer movie-watching experience.

This piece is adapted from Paul Sanchez’s commentary for “Pass the Popcorn” on KVNO’s Arts Today.