Movie

Making
Merit Badge
Troop 344 and 9344
Pemberville, OH
Requirements
1. Discuss and demonstrate the proper
elements of a good motion picture. In
your discussion, include visual
storytelling, rhythm, the 180-degree axis
rule, camera movement, framing and
composition of camera shots, and lens
selection.
2. Do the following:
a. In a three- or four-paragraph treatment, tell
the story you plan to produce, making sure
that the treatment conveys a visual picture.
b. Prepare a storyboard for your motion picture
(This can be done with rough sketches and
stick figures.)
Requirements
2. Do the following:
c. Demonstrate the following motion picture
shooting techniques.
1. Using a tripod
2. Panning a camera
3. Framing a shot
4. Selecting an angle
5. Selecting proper lighting
6. Handheld shooting
Requirements
2. Do the following:
d. Using motion picture techniques,, plan ONE
of the following programs. Start with a
treatment, and complete the requirement by
presenting this program to a pack or your
troop, patrol, or class.
1. Film or videotape a court of honor and show it
to an audience.
2. Create a short feature of your own design
using the techniques you learned.
3. Shoot a vignette that could be used to train a
new Scout in a Scouting skill.
Requirements
3. Do ONE of the following:
a. With your parent's permission and your
counselor's approval, visit a film set or a
television production studio and watch how
production work is done.
b. Explain to your counselor the elements of the
zoom lens and three important parts.
4. Find out about three career opportunities
in moviemaking. Pick one and find out
about the education, training, and
experience required for this profession.
Discuss this career with your counselor.
Explain why this profession might interest
you.
Requirement 1
1. Discuss and demonstrate the proper
elements of a good motion picture. In
your discussion, include visual
storytelling, rhythm, the 180-degree
axis rule, camera movement, framing
and composition of camera shots,
and lens selection.
Visual Story Telling

• It is said that a picture is worth a 1000 words.

• What separates a good movie from a great movie
is what the "picture" of the movie says on its own
without dialogue or sound.
• Take a look at the picture. What does it tell you?
What is their emotion? Where is their attention
focused?
• Even without sound or movement you can tell a lot
about the scene and what's going on.
• This is the power of Visual Storytelling.
Visual Story Telling
• Visual storytelling is about releasing the power of imagery
and telling your story as much as possible through the
visual elements
• The dialogue can then reveal even more of the story.
• Beginning movie makers often focus too much on
dialogue because they think it's the best or only way to
tell a story.
• The great movie makers understand that storytelling
begins with the images on the screen.
• Check out this video that demonstrates visual storytelling.
Rhythm
• No matter what the medium, effective storytelling is
rhythmic storytelling.
• Stories work best when they move through time in a way
that is logical, engaging and ultimately satisfying.
• To become a rhythmic storyteller, try to answer a number
of questions as you develop your story:
• Is there an overall groove? Is this a story that, broadly speaking,
moves quickly or at a more leisurely pace?
• Does the story have an overall shape? Is there a general sense of
tension and release? For example, the fortunes of the main
character could go up and down over the course of the narrative.
• Are events happening at the “right” time?
• Does a certain section last too long or is it too short? Do you feel a
need, at certain points, for “something else to happen”?
• Conversely, do you feel that a particular section deserves to be
lingered upon a bit longer?
• Does the story feel like it’s flowing, that it’s moving forward like one
of your favorite songs?
Rhythm

• A good story also has an internal

rhythm.
• You have been taught in school that
every story has a beginning, middle,
and end.
• Keeping these in order is also part of
the rhythm.
• If you are tying a knot and start with the
knot half tied, it will be hard for the
viewers to follow.
Rhythm
• Movies tell stories generally through:
• Exposition – meeting the characters, establishing the setting, setting the
tone – establishing the normal of the film world
• Rising Action – the central conflict is introduced and the tension between
the protagonist and the antagonist begins to mount
• Climax – The climax is the turning point, which marks a change, for the
better or the worse, in the protagonist’s future.
• Falling Action – The major action has happened. This is the aftermath;
the sorting out of the major conflict’s resolution.
• Dénouement/Resolution – the creation of the new normal. The conflict is
resolved.
Rhythm

• In action movies, the camera angle changes

faster during action scenes and slower during
the dialogue scenes.
• This fast and slow is called rhythm.
• The rhythm of the movie helps to tell the story.
• Check out this video that demonstrates
cinematography rhythm.
180-Degree Axis Rule

• In a scene between two characters, a straight line can be imagined running between the two characters,
and extending to infinity.
• If the camera remains on one side of this line, the spatial relationship between the two characters will be
consistent from shot to shot, even if one of the characters is not on screen.
• Shifting to the other side of the characters will reverse the order of the characters from left to right and may
disorient the audience.
• Check out this video demonstrating the 180-degree axis rule.
Camera Movement

• Most beginning movie makers put their camera on a

tripod turn it on and have the actors move in front of it.
• Home movies are often wild movement as the camera
operator tries to follow the action often making the
viewer dizzy.
• In both cases the camera person loses the power of
camera movement.
• Camera movement in feature films is always well
planned and helps to tell the story.
Camera Movement

• If you are going to move your camera what are the

options?
• Pan: The framing moves left and right, with no vertical
movement.
• Tilt: The framing moves up and down, with no horizontal
movement.
• Dolly: Moving the whole camera towards or away from the
action.
• Zoom: In and out, appearing as if the camera is moving closer
to or further away from the subject.
• Follow: Any sort of shot when you are holding the camera,
and you follow the action while walking.
• Note: Most camera moves are a combination of these
basic moves. For example, when you're zooming in,
unless your subject is in the exact center of frame,
you'll have to pan and/or tilt at the same time to end
up where you want to be.
Camera Movement

• Watch your favorite TV show.

• TV shows generally leave the camera still and simply pan left and right.
• Now watch an action movie.
• Most of the time a movie will dolly (move the whole camera) as they follow a
scene.
• This will become apparent if the movie is following one or more people
walking, running, or driving.
• Explaining the power of camera movement is not as effective as
seeing it in action.
• Check out this video showing the power of camera movement.

• Make sure to use camera movement in your videos.

Framing and Composition of Camera Shots

• Framing and Composition are about what is and is not

in the frame of the camera.
• In the picture you can see that there are lots of lights
and wires and the back of the wall NOT in the movie.
• The audience will only see what the camera sees.
• This can be a good thing when you are trying to set a
movie in the forest, but are really in your backyard.
• The audience can believe the actors are in the forest
by having only the bushes and trees in the
background.
• They won't know that just out of the frame is the corner
of the house.
Framing and Composition of Camera Shots

• Composition is specifically about how the people or things

are arranged on the screen.
• The most important rule to follow is called the rule of thirds
which divides the frame into nine sections.
• Points (or lines) of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up
(or across) the frame, rather than in the center.
• This gives you four spots on your screen where you can place the
person.
• If you have two people/objects, you should try to place both of them
onto intersections.
• This is the number one rule of good photography and
applies to movie making as well.
• Check out this video. It does a great job of demonstrating
Rule of thirds. (LEGO)
Framing and Composition of Camera Shots

• "Headroom", "looking room", and "leading room". These terms

refer to the amount of room in the frame which is strategically left
empty.
• Headroom is the amount of space between the top of the
subject's head and the top of the frame.
• A common mistake in amateur video is to have far too much headroom,
which doesn't look good and wastes frame space.
• The shot of the baby crawling has some leading room for him to
crawl into, and the shot of his mother has some looking room for
her to look into.
• Without this empty space, the framing will look uncomfortable.
Framing and Composition of Camera Shots

• Everything in your frame is important, not just the subject.

• What does the background look like? What's the lighting like? Is
there anything in the frame which is going to be distracting, or
disrupt the continuity of the video?
• Pay attention to the edges of your frame.
• Avoid having half objects in frame, especially people (showing
half of someone's face is very unflattering).
• Also try not to cut people of at the joints — the bottom of the
frame can cut across a person's stomach, but not their knees. It
just doesn't look right.
Framing and Composition of Camera Shots

• Once you're comfortable with the do's and don'ts, you can
become more creative.
• Think about the best way to convey the meaning of the shot.
• If it's a baby crawling, get down on the floor and see it from
a baby's point-of-view (POV).
• If it's a football game, maybe you need to get up high to see
all the action.
Framing and Composition of Camera Shots

• Basic Camera Shot types:

• Extreme Wide Shots (EWS) act to establish the area.
• Wide Shots (WS) show the entire person or area. They’re
great for establishing the scene and allow for good action
of the characters. Sometimes this is known as the long
shot.
• Medium Shots (MS) frame the subject from the waist
up. This is the most common shot and allows for hand
gestures and motion.
• Medium Close Ups (MCU) shots show the subject in more
detail and are often framed from just below the shoulders
to the top of the head.
• Close Ups (CU) show a particular part of your subject. For
people this usually means the shot frames just the head!
• Extreme Close Ups (ECU) are much tighter close-up shots
in which you get detail greater than the human eye might
be able to normally perceive. An example of this shot might
be of the mouth and eyes together
Framing and Composition of Camera Shots

• Framing and composition are important in telling a

story.
• Each of the six choices tell us what is important in
the scene.
• Wide - the desert is the main object, the person is lost
within it.
• As you move closer the man himself becomes more
important.
• A close-up tells the audience that what he is saying is
important.
• An extreme close-up says that what he is thinking is most
important.
• Check out this video demonstrating
Framing and Composition of Camera Shots
Lens Selection
• Cameras capable of using different lenses are
very expensive and beyond the price range of
most beginning movie makers.
• Lens selection becomes a matter of selecting
different devices to make your video such as
phones or iPads which have what is called a
Prime Lens.
• Prime lenses are fixed and can only use digital
zoom, not optical zoom.
• A digital zoom actually distorts the image when
you enlarge it more and more grainy.
• You can't see this effect on the small screen on
your device, but if you watch your video on a
large TV, a digital zoom will make the picture
blurry.
• This is a major disadvantage to using phones
and iPads.
Lens Selection

• Using a camera with an optical zoom lens is preferable.

• Optical zoom does NOT distort the picture, so the picture
will look good even on a large TV.
• If you decide to buy a video camera you should look for
it's optical zoom range.
• The general range is 10x or 20x.
• This means the optical zoom can make the image 10 times or 20
times larger than the normal setting.
• You should only use the digital zoom when there is no
other choice.
• Remember, enlarging a photo or video on your computer
later is using a digital zoom.
Requirement 2
2. Do the following:
a. In a three- or four-paragraph
treatment, tell the story you plan
to produce, making sure that the
treatment conveys a visual
picture.
Write a Treatment

• A good movie tells a story; the better the story the

better the movie.
• The first step in making a movie is a Writing a
Treatment.
• A Treatment is a written document which reads like
a short story of your movie with emphasis on what
the audience will see.
• On the left is the treatment that George Lucas wrote
before he made the movie Star Wars.
• Notice that there are differences from the actual
movie.
• It's OK to vary from the Treatment along the way,
but you have to start with a story if you are going to
end with a story.
Write a Treatment

• The Treatment for “The Star Wars” was 34 pages

long.
• This requirement asks for 3 to 4 paragraphs.
• List the key characters with necessary information
that influences the story.
• Your story needs a beginning, middle, and end.
• In a Treatment, what the audience will see is the
most important part.
• Developing a detailed Treatment before you start will
save a lot of time during filming.
• A Treatment will help you remember to get the shots
you want.
• It is common, after filming, to think, "I wish I had
filmed ______."
Requirement 2
2. Do the following:
b. Prepare a storyboard for your
motion picture (This can be
done with rough sketches and
stick figures.)
Prepare a Storyboard

• Just like a treatment, professionals will often make

a storyboard as part of the preparation for their
movie.
• A storyboard is a scene by scene or camera angle
by camera angle visual representation of the
movie.
• The storyboard is often a series of individual
pictures on separate pieces of paper.
• Having them on separate pieces of paper can help
a director decide to rearrange them to help tell the
story better.
Prepare a Storyboard

• The storyboard helps in 2 ways.

• First, it will help you think about 'blocking.'
• Blocking is a theater term of where the actors will
stand and where the camera will be placed.
• These will help save time setting everything up
when you actually make your movie.
• Second, it will allow you to see visually how the movie
will go.
Prepare a Storyboard

• Stick figures will work just fine to accomplish

what you need in a Storyboard.
• In this example some of the dialogue is
included.
• Having dialogue, or snippets of dialogue, will
help you keep track of what is going on in
each scene.
• Storyboards are a tool for your use.
• Feel free to design it in a way that works best
for you.
Requirement 2
2. Do the following:
c. Demonstrate the following motion
picture shooting techniques.
1. Using a tripod
2. Panning a camera
3. Framing a shot
4. Selecting an angle
5. Selecting proper lighting
6. Handheld shooting
Using a Tripod

• When people hold their camera by hand to make a

movie, it's hard to hold them steady resulting in shaky
shots.
• Sometimes a shaky shot can add tension to the story.
• Generally, you want the camera to remain still so that the audience
can focus on the action of the actors instead of being distracted.
• A tripod will reduce camera movement and improve
picture quality
• When using a tripod, make sure you understand and do
the following:
• Set up your tripod correctly.
• The legs of the tripod should be on a solid ground so they won't
move accidentally.
• If the ground is slanted you may have to adjust one or two of the
legs to level the tripod.
• Make sure the camera is attached to tripod securely and properly.
Panning a Camera

• In cinematography panning means swiveling

a video camera horizontally from a fixed
position.
• This motion is similar to the motion of a
person when they turn their head on their
neck from left to right.
Panning a Camera
• The “rule of lead room” when panning the
camera is that when framing a subject, well
composed shots will include space in the
direction that a subject is facing, or in the case
of moving objects, in front of the direction that
an object is moving.
• In the portrait, lead room has been given in the
direction the model's body is facing and as a
result the portrait feels open and relaxed.
• If we take the same exact picture and shift the
model to the other side of the frame, all of a
sudden it feels as though the model is
cramped within the frame.
• The effects of lead room can be even more
pronounced when the subject of a photograph
is in motion. In the image of the airplane there
is a sense of moving through the frame from
left to right because it appears that it has room
to move.
Framing a Shot

• You must be able to demonstrate that you know how to

frame a shot.
• As you make your movie, it is easy to forget what you
learned about framing and composition.
• If you want people to concentrate on the story – not the
filmmaking – you should frame your shot to look natural.
• Study the section on Framing and Composition and then
practice, so that it becomes second nature.
Selecting an Angle

• A variety of camera angles can add power to your

movie.
• The best way to learn about camera angles is to
watch major motion pictures with the sound off.
• Pay attention to the height and tilt of the camera
in each scene.
Selecting an Angle
• An eye level shot can result in a neutral perspective (not superior or
inferior).
• Low angle shots are for signaling superiority or to elicit feelings of fear and
dread.
• High angle shots usually creates a feeling of inferiority, or “looking down”
on your subject.
• Hip level shots are often useful when one subject is seated while the other
stands.
• Knee level shots can emphasize a character’s superiority if paired with a
low angle.
• A ground level shot is used to feature a character walking without
revealing their face.
• Shoulder level shots can make your actor seem shorter than reality.
• For a Dutch angle shot the camera is slanted to one side creating a sense
of disorientation.
• Overhead or Bird’s Eye shots is used for isolating subjects.
• Aerial Shots establish a large expanse of scenery.
Selecting Proper Lighting
• Use front lighting which means that the lighting should be
in the face of the actors.
• If you are outside place the sun behind the camera so that the
sunlight reflect off of the actors faces and into the camera.
• If inside, place the actors so the light in the room is above and in
front of them.
• Lighting straight down or off to the side will create shadows on their
faces.
• The camera is not as good as your eye when looking at shadows
and they will appear much darker.
• The camera will often adjust to a bright light or window behind an
actor resulting in the actor being very dark or even completely black
in silhouette.
• 3-point lighting is the standard; two lights in front and
above and one light above and behind the actor will give a
professional look to your video.
Handheld Shooting

• Sometimes you need to take the camera off the tripod and
hold it in your hands.
• The picture shows both correct and incorrect ways to hold
your camera steady.
• Correct:
• Notice that his elbows are in tight to his body.
• This will allow you to hold the camera steady for a much long time.
• You can also try leaning against a wall or resting your elbows on a
knee or other object.
• Before you press the record button make sure you are ready to hold
your camera for the whole shot.
• Incorrect:
• If standing with your feet in line you need to move, you will either
have to lean or step forward, causing shake in the camera.
• If you are bent over, as the right stance shows, you will be
unbalanced making it difficult to keep steady.
Handheld Shooting

• Another option is to obtain a support for your camera.

• These devices like the one in the photo will balance
your camera and help keep it steady while filming.
Requirement 2
2. Do the following:
d. Using motion picture techniques,,
plan ONE of the following
programs. Start with a treatment,
and complete the requirement by
presenting this program to a pack
or your troop, patrol, or class.
1. Film or videotape a court of
honor and show it to an
audience.
2. Create a short feature of your
own design using the techniques
you learned.
3. Shoot a vignette that could be
used to train a new Scout in a
Scouting skill.
Make a Movie

• It's time to make your movie.

• Take the design in your head and make it into a
movie for others to enjoy.
• Use your Treatment, but keep in mind that your
Treatment does not have to be exactly what your
final project turns out to be.
• Your Storyboard will help streamline the filming
process by establishing the scenes, framing and
composition, and camera angles before you start.
• You do not have to star in your movie; the reality is
that it will be easier to make a movie if you are not
in it.
• Use the techniques you have learned.
• Be creative and try new things.
• Plan extensively BEFORE you start.
Editing

• Using a video editor will allow you to put

together various shots in any order you
please to create your film.
• Desktop video editors typically have more
editing power than mobile apps.
• The following desktop video editing
software is free and relatively easy to
learn.
• OpenShot
• VSDC Free Video Editor
• Movie Maker 10 for Windows
• iMovie available for Mac
Requirement 3
3. Do ONE of the following:
a. With your parent's permission
and your counselor's approval,
visit a film set or a television
production studio and watch how
production work is done.
b. Explain to your counselor the
elements of the zoom lens and
three important parts.
Visit a Film or Television Studio

• Hollywood studios offer regular tours.

• Contact your local TV stations to see what
opportunities for a tour might be available to
you or your Scout troop.
The Zoom Lens

• A zoom lens is a type of camera lens

that offers a useful range of different
focal lengths in a single lens by
manipulating various lenses to change
the camera's focal length.
• A zoom lens allows for quick and easy
re-framing of a scene while staying in
the same physical position.
The Zoom Lens

Three parts of a zoom lens:

• The first part of a zoom lens is the moveable concave
element which regulate the amount of light rays that make it
into the camera. In the top picture a wide amount of the light
rays make it into the camera (zoomed out). In the lower
picture only the center rays make it into the camera (zoomed
in).
• The second part of the zoom lens is the focus element.
When you simply enlarge the center of a picture you expect it
to get fuzzy. The focus element brings the picture into focus
even when zoomed in. This gives the impression that the
objects are closer.
The Zoom Lens

Three Parts of a Zoom Lens:

• The third part of a zoom lens is the aperture. The aperture is an adjustable iris, which can
make a different size hole affecting the depth of field. Depth of field is the distance between the
closest and farthest objects in a photo that appears acceptably sharp. When you zoom way in,
the aperture opens up and the depth of field gets very small. In other words, the larger the
aperture the fewer things are in focus.
Requirement 4
4. Find out about three career
opportunities in moviemaking.
Pick one and find out about
the education, training, and
experience required for this
profession. Discuss this
career with your counselor.
Explain why this profession
might interest you.
Career Opportunities in Moviemaking

There are many careers in moviemaking. From Directing to

Craft Services (Catering), hundreds sometimes thousands of
people are involved in making a single film. A simple google
search will provide you with a number of careers. Below is just
a short list of all the many different career options.

• Producer
• This person is hired by a studio to help manage every
aspect of a television show or film. The executive
producer is the highest level of producer on a given
show.
• Director
• The director is the head of the production unit and is
responsible for directing the actors and for translating
the script into cinematic images in accordance with
their own vision.
• Art Director
• Designs and oversees set construction.
Career Opportunities in Moviemaking

There are many careers in movie making. From Directing to

Craft Services (Catering), hundreds sometimes thousands of
people are involved in making a single film. A simple google
search will provide you with a number of careers. Below is just
a short list of all the many different career options.

• Cinematographer / Director of Photography

• Carries out the director’s vision for the look of a film.
Plans and supervises others to achieve the right
camera shots, lighting and set design.
• Key Grip
• The head grip in charge of setting up equipment to
enable the camera crew to capture the right shots.
• Gaffer
• Sets up the lighting on set.