There are many links to be explored between film and literacy, some of which are about the things they share in common: the making of meaning, story structure, sequencing and chronology, characterisation and setting; and some of which are found in their differences. The differences between the moving image and written text can be usefully explored and used as teaching tools for literacy. For example, sound has an important role in the moving image text, how could you express this soundtrack in words? Editing controls the pace of a film, how can you introduce a similar pace to your writing? How is the character feeling here? What visual cues could you use in your writing and what extra details are you able to add as the author of a written text?

Many films can offer a rich resource for discussion and for the teaching of literacy objectives to extend children’s understanding of text and their production of text. Films may not be able to teach children the literacy skills necessary to write the ‘words’ themselves, but they can contribute to how children interpret meaning, express it and construct it in their writing. It is within these ‘higher’ level skills that the link between literacy and film is most fertile.