Film-Making

STUDENT OBJECTIVES
Students will
 Learn the basic terminology of filmmaking by creating their own films and by reviewing other students’
films

 Develop collaborative skills by working in small groups

 Learn how to use a variety of tools to create and edit digital video
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SESSION 1: VOCABULARY OF FILM

Note: You might wish to choose examples from the following websites for this Session:
 The “Grammar” of Television and Film

 Digital Video Editing Using Windows Movie Maker

 Tech-Ease: Video Tutorials

 Tips for Using Movie Maker

 Let’s Make Movies: Films

1. Distribute copies of the Filmmaking Vocabulary Words printout, Sample Script, and the Types of
Shots and Types of Angles example sheets to each student.

2. Review parts of the camera and tripod with students, modeling with a real camera and tripod. Have
students draw and label their own picture for their notes.

They should know at least the following terms: lens, lens cap, zoom button, record button, and viewfinder.
They should also know where to attach their upload cables: In Windows this will be called a capture cable,
and in Mac the cable is called a firewire.

Review with students the following tripod terminology: shoe, tripod head, leg locks, pan-handle (the handle
used to pan from side to side or up and down).

3. Display the Types of Angles sheet, using either an LCD projector or a document projector. Ask students if
they can provide examples of shots using these camera angles from movies or television shows they have
seen.

4. Display the Types of Shots sheet using the LCD projector or document projector. Display some examples
(chosen previously from the Let’s Make Movies: Films site or other sources) and ask students to identify
various shots and angles used in the films. After they identify each shot, ask them how that shot contributed
to the meaning.

5. Ask students to think about why they might use a particular shot or angle, and review each shot as it is
mentioned. The following questions can be used to guide the discussion:

o What would be the best shot to use if you wanted to show where the action was taking place?
(establishing shot)

o What shot would you use if someone was talking and you wanted to show expression? (close-up)
o What shot would you use if someone was scared and you wanted to show their wide eyes?
(extreme close-up)

o What shot would you use if you wanted to show people entering a scene, or to show some
action? (wide shot)

o What shot would you use if you wanted to show a person talking and gesturing? (medium close-
up)
6. Have students form small groups or assign students to groups. Each group should have 3–5 students,
depending on number of cameras. Instruct the groups to shoot practice footage using each of the above
shots, using the Sample Script. Remind students that since they are filming without expensive external
microphones they should always shoot dialogue as either close-ups (including extreme close-ups) or medium
shots.

o Film an establishing shot (also called wide shot) with Person A standing in a location (the
location in the Sample Script is a courtyard).

o Film a long shot of Person B entering the location.

o Film a medium close-up of Person A, saying “Do you want to buy a dog?”

o Film a close-up shot of Person B pondering the question, and then asking, “Does it bark?”

o Film an extreme close-up of Person A, rolling his eyes and saying, “Of course it barks!”

o Film another long shot of Person B walking away, looking confused.

Note: Remind students to save their sample shots to upload into computers for practice editing in Session 2.
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SESSIONS 2 & 3: LEARNING TO EDIT WITH MOVIE SOFTWARE

Note: This process may take from 60 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how much practice time you provide for
your students.
1. Using a projector and sample footage, use Windows Movie Maker or Mac iMovie to demonstrate the
following editing techniques to the class:

o Adding titles and credits

o Adding visual effects, using the Effects tool

o Adding music and sound effects

o Cutting and cropping clips

o Transitioning between clips.

2. Have students work in their small groups to upload the footage they shot during Session 1 and practice
these techniques using their own clips.

3. After students have finished editing, ask for volunteers to show their videos. Discuss the use of titles,
credits, effects, transitions, music, and sound effects in their movies.
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SESSION 4: IDEAS FOR YOUR OWN MOVIE

1. Explain that students will be making a movie whose theme is “How to Make a Movie.” The film
vocabulary they have learned “in action” will now become part of their movie. Invite students to choose from
the following general topics: types of shots, types of angles, the use of a camera, the use of a tripod, or
 aspects of digital editing. They can choose to focus on a specific aspect of their topic, such as, Why would
you use a high or low angle? When would you use a Dutch/canted angle? How do you upload your footage to a
computer? Each small group should choose a different topic. Make sure students understand that they will be
required to illustrate appropriate filmmaking vocabulary words in their movies.

2. In a large-group discussion, have students share their ideas about what needs to be included under each
topic. Write down their ideas on an idea web created on whiteboard or piece of chart paper. Then ask
student groups to choose one of the topics to use in their film. For example, one group may decide to make
their movie about why you would use different shots; another group might illustrate the reasons for using
different angles. Students may also choose to shoot a short scene—like the “Want to Buy a Dog” scene—and
then include a “director’s” discussion of why they chose particular shots.

3. Distribute copies of the Movie Project Planning Sheet to students. Display the planning sheet using a
projector and demonstrate how to fill it in.

4. Have students work in their small groups to plan their “how to” scripts using the planning sheet.
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SESSION 5: STORY PLANNING

Note: For this session, students will need their planning sheets from Session 3.
1. Have students access the interactive Plot Diagram tool and conduct a Shared Writing session to
demonstrate how to use the site. Use your example planning sheet from Session 3 to plan a beginning,
middle, and ending of your “how to” story.

2. Have students work in their small groups to create their movie plots using the Plot Diagram tool on their
own computers.

3. Instruct students to print out their completed plot diagrams. They can then begin to outline scenes for
their movies.
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SESSION 6: SCRIPTWRITING
1. If students will be writing their scripts with the aid of Celtx, begin the session with a demonstration of
the software, using appropriate clips from tutorial videos and explanations provided on the website.
Alternatively, you can distribute copies of the Sample Script to serve as a model, and have students write or
type their scripts.

2. Using your planning sheet and plot diagram from the previous sessions, participate in a shared writing
session with students, working together as a class to create one page of a script.

3. Discuss the script/page ratio: one page of script is approximately one minute of film. Explain that ideally
their films should be from 1 1/2–4 minutes, which means that their scripts should be a maximum of four
pages long: one page for beginning, two pages for middle, and one page for the end.

4. Have students work in their small groups to draft a script for their movie. Circulate among the groups to
offer assistance or suggestions where needed.

5. Have students decide who will play the parts in their movie, and practice reading their scripts as
Readers’ Theatre, applying fluency filters. Explain that critiquing with fluency filters means assessing how
well the reader portrays the intended meaning in the context of the film. With this goal in mind, they should
attend to gestures and facial expressions, tone of voice, and volume (Too loud for meaning? Or too soft to be
heard?).
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SESSION 7: STORYBOARD WRITING

Note: Prior to Session 7, decide whether students will be using Celtx or the Storyboards printout for
storyboarding, and choose the appropriate options from the supplies and instructions below. To demonstrate
storyboarding in Celtx, you will need to have sample image files of the locations and shots you plan to include.
1. Make sure students have their copies of the Types of Shots and Types of Angles handouts. Review the
contents of the handouts with students and remind them to refer to this information as they work on their
storyboards.

2. Introduce the storyboard option on Celtx and have students access the software to plan their shots.
Alternatively, you can print and distribute copies of the Storyboards form. Using their scripts, students should
now begin to plan their shots, referring back to structure of the film they created in the first two sessions.
Have students examine their new scripts and ask the following questions.

o Look at your very first scene. What is your establishing shot?

o Still looking at that scene, are there any other shots you could use? For example, are there any
actions you would want to zoom in on with a medium shot?

o Does the script have any dialogue? Remember that dialogue should be filmed in medium or
close-up shots.

o Is there any strong emotional content? Emotional scenes should be shot close-up. Are there any
extreme facial expressions? These should be extreme close-ups.
As students discuss these options, they should make notes regarding their shot decisions on their scripts.

3. Demonstrate storyboard planning as a whole-class activity. Project the Sample Storyboard on a projector
and review. Then project the image of the blank storyboard so you can fill it in.

o If students are using the printed Storyboards forms, participate in a shared writing session to
plan the first few scenes and illustrate the shots using stick figures. (See Sample Storyboard).

o If you are using Celtx, click on the Storyboard link under Project Templates. For each segment
of the storyboard, type in the details about the shots and actions and then upload photos of the chosen
locations and shots.
4. Have students work in their groups to create storyboards for their movies. Students using Celtx will need
to take their scripts (with the shot decisions written on them) to their locations and take still photos
illustrating the chosen shots. They should then import the appropriate still photos into Celtx and print out
their storyboards.
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SESSION 8: FILMING
Note: Prior to Session 8, students should gather any props and costumes they wish to use in their movies. Remind
them also to bring their scripts and storyboards to guide their filming. Each group will need a digital video
camera. Tripods are recommended.
1. Review the parts of the camera and tripod (if using).

2. Have students work in their small groups to film their scripts. While students are filming in small groups,
facilitate their work. Reinforce the usage of filmmaking vocabulary when you hear it, and suggest proper
terminology where appropriate. For example, if a student wants to film a Dutch Angle but says “Let’s do a
sideways shot,” ask what this shot is called.
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SESSIONS 9 & 10: DIGITAL EDITING

Note: Editing could take place over either one or two sessions. If you choose to have the students critique each
other’s rough-cut films, you should plan on at least two sessions. Otherwise, students may be able to finish
editing in one session, providing they have less than two minutes of footage.
 1. Using the materials and instructions from Session 2, review techniques for editing a film.

2. Have students work in their small groups to edit their films. Encourage them to use their scripts and
storyboards to guide their work.

3. Circulate among the groups to help students with technical and organizational questions. Once again,
reinforce the use of appropriate filmmaking vocabulary.

4. As an optional step, when students are finished with a rough cut, have each group watch one other
group’s movie (on that group’s computer). As they watch each other’s rough cuts, they should make note of
any continuity errors or other places where meaning needs to be clarified.

5. Have students return to their own computers and continue editing their movies to create the final cut of
their movie, making changes to reflect their classmates’ critique.
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SESSION 11: PREMIERING THE MASTERPIECES

1. Show each group’s completed video to the class.

2. After each film, review the filmmaking vocabulary terms and how they were applied within the films.

3. After each film, review all of the terms on the Filmmaking Vocabulary Words handout and discuss how
they were applied within the film.

4. Have students work in small groups and use the interactive Crossword Puzzles tool to elaborate on
vocabulary definitions. Students should create clues (definitions) for the filmmaking terms they’ve seen
displayed in the final films.
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EXTENSIONS
 Have students burn their movies onto DVDs and use the interactive CD/DVD Cover Creator tool to design
a cover for their movie.

 Use the filmmaking techniques learned in this unit to teach vocabulary in any content area (e.g.,
science, social students, mathematics, language arts). For example, students could create videos illustrating
specific concepts in economics (supply and demand, opportunity cost, ethical business practices).

 Have students use digital video to create original stories, documentaries, commercials, or public service
announcements (see MyTube: Changing the World With Public Service Announcements)
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STUDENT ASSESSMENT/REFLECTIONS
1. Observe students’ interactions in whole-group settings and while working in small groups to evaluate
understanding of filmmaking vocabulary.

2. Evaluate students’ comprehension of filmmaking terms and small-group work through completed versions
of the interactive Crossword Puzzles tool. Assess their definitions for accuracy by using the Filmmaking
Vocabulary Words With Definitions.

3. Use the Rubric for Filmmaking to evaluate students’ use of the language of filmmaking both during the
process and in the actual films.
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