Improving polyethylene film properties may be accomplished by measuring the specific energy input (SEI) to the extruder and then adjusting a process parameter in response to a change in the SEI and/or by introducing both a free radical initiator and an alkali earth metal stearate into the polymerization. Alternatively or in addition thereto, selecting the optimum free radical initiator for a particular polyethylene resin polymerized in the presence of a selected catalyst between two resin properties may be accomplished by examining the ratio of: % ⁢   ⁢ variation ⁢   ⁢ in ⁢   ⁢ a ⁢   ⁢ first ⁢   ⁢ property % ⁢   ⁢ variation ⁢   ⁢ in ⁢   ⁢ a ⁢   ⁢ second ⁢   ⁢ property of polyethylene resins individually made with each free radical initiator under consideration. The free radical initiator may be oxygen, peroxides, peroxyketals, peroxyesters, and/or dialkyl peroxides.