| Description
This unit combines the movie making process (storyboarding, acting
in, filming, and editing a movie) with a variety of related
writing activities.
Movie making process
Pre-filming
1. Each group of
students selects a play from the School Journal. Students
read through the play, and allocate roles.
2. Students practise
their play, focusing on speech variation, actions, facial expression,
etc.
3. Teacher demonstrates
the use and care of the digital video camera. Students also
learn about camera care from the camera
use sheet (Word doc, 24k). Students explore the different
parts of the camera while sketching and labeling it.
4. Students learn
about camera shots – mid shot, long shot and close up
– and reasons for using these shots. Show students examples
of these types of shots on video clips.
5. Each group puts
together a storyboard based on their play, to prepare for filming
of the movie. Include a picture of each shot, accompanied by
information such as, camera angle, speech, who is in the shot,
who is filming, etc.
Filming
Using the storyboard as a guide, students perform and film the
movie. Students take turns to operate the camera when they are
not acting in a scene.
Post-filming
1. Using iMovie software,
students:
- import the movie
from the camera to the computer,
- edit the movie
(cutting and arranging shots),
- add either a special
effect sound or music to their movie,
- decide on and
create a title and credits for the movie. Credit is given
to the author of the play, themselves as actors, and credit
for any music used,
- view the final
product to make sure they are happy with everything, then
export the movie to camera and transfer it to ordinary VHS
video tape.
2. With parental
permission, students can also email the movie home.
How to email a movie:
- Save the movie as a QuickTime file by selecting "File",
"Export movie". Then select "QuickTime"
from the "Export to:" dropdown menu. For more information
see "Exporting"
from an iMovie tutorial.
- Open up a new email message, and then attach the file.
- If the file is being sent to a PC, save it so that there
is a fullstop in the file name, for instance, longford.mov.
- To view the movie at home download QuickTime
player from the Internet (this is free).
3. View the movies
as a class, and then invite parents and show them at an assembly.
Display the advertising posters from the writing activities
(see below) at least a week prior to the screening.
Related
writing activities
The following activities
are writing experiences which link to the making of the movie.
Share and discuss the various genre with students before they
begin writing. Encourage students to recognise and explore features
such as layout, language, style, etc.
- Advertisement
Use AppleWorks
or any desktop publishing software to make an A4 poster to promote
your group's movie. Include the title, the names of the actors
and director, and some information on the movie to attract people's
attention. You could include a still photo from your video footage.
Look at advertisements for the latest movies for layout and
design ideas.
- Diary
Keep a diary of your experiences filming and producing the movie.
Write on the following topics:
a) Problems when working with your group.
b) Feelings experienced.
c) Actual events (funny and serious) during filming and editing.
- Review
Write a newspaper review about your movie. Discuss the major
events of the movie, the characters, and the actors. Look at
the movie review section of your local newspaper and write your
review in a similar style.
- Interview
Interview one of the characters from your play. You may choose
to interview the person as an actor or in role from the play.
Phrase your questions so that the person being interviewed has
to think beyond the actual play. Present the interview as it
would be seen in one of your favourite magazines.
- Letter
Write a letter to a famous actor explaining a part in the play
that you think would suit them, and ask them to come and act
in your play. Remember to write in business format.
- Curriculum vitae
Write your own CV to apply for a job in a movie. Include the
following details: full name, birth date, schools attended,
interests, acting experience, personality, etc.
- Report
Research one of the following elements of movie making: the
development of cameras, televisions, videos, or movies. Use
more than one resource, take notes, and then write a report
based on your research.
- Comic strip
Draw your play into a comic strip. Use detailed pictures, colour,
sound words, action words, thought and speech bubbles.
- Extra activities
Make a radio commercial for your movie.
Design an item that could be sold in the shops to promote your
movie.
Design an object that could be used in your movie as a prop.
Draw a map of the filming studio or the setting of your play.
|
| Evaluation
Students benefited from the opportunity to use a digital video
camera. All students had an input into the production of the movie
they performed in. Throughout the entire process students were
constantly teaching each other. Their confidence and technical
ability developed over time.
When viewing their
work they were able to critically evaluate the final product and
offer ways they would change things.
All students felt a
sense of achievement, as they had successfully acted in a movie,
made decisions in editing the movie, and received many positive
comments from their audience. |
