While following several characters throughout a film can seem like a daunting experience, if it is carried out correctly, we are given a spectrum of talent and intersecting stories that make for a good story. Filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson and Quentin Tarantino frequently utilize ensemble casts filled with talented actors. In Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, we are given a nearly three hour epic tale with close to a dozen characters’ lives intersecting. Depending on the story, using an ensemble cast can give a filmmaker several paths to tell their story and express their themes.