Many people like to study a particular director. This is a great idea as you can become familiar with a director's style. Many times you'll find that a particular director doesn't fit your fancy. That's perfectly acceptable. It's a good idea to give something a try and learn from it. But, don't suffer through a who collection if it does not stimulate your artistic interests.

Luckily for you, we've created a list of 10 films we think are ideal for the aspiring filmmaker. This is in no way a comprehensive list. Nor is it required reading for being a successful director. This list is just a good sampling of what's out there. We always recommend, since film genres spread far and wide, that personal recommendations from friends are best. Nonetheless, here's our list:

This is a film school 101 class in the form of a 124-minute thriller. There are many lessons a filmmaker can learn about pacing and building suspense. Also important, this was considered a rather low budget film (at least, by Hollywood standards). Yet, Spielberg was able to build a movie with considerable "bang for its buck" with some creative directing decisions.

This is a classic. And, the genesis of a very impressive series. If you like the first, you'll love the rest of The Godfather movies and they are each impressive in their own right. Keep your eyes focused on the lighting and how that adds to character. There are also some pretty good time manipulations at work in this film.

This is another classic. There are a lot a great qualities to look for in this film. Keep an eye out for camera angles, specifically on the protagonists and antagonists of this film. This film also features some time manipulation techniques. And, it has one of the most famous movie lines of all times.

Dialog can dictate pacing and so many other editing decisions. This film is a great example of how to edit dialog. We nearly recommend watching this with your eyes closed, just to see (hear, rather) what we mean.

Star Wars is a classic example of all the decisions a filmmaker can make to enhance the antagonist's character in the film. Count the techniques that George Lucas uses to make Darth Vader more and more sinister. And, then creatively apply them to your next film.