Movie+Making

The AFI curriculum:


= Remember to watch the Academy Awards on Feb. 27 (At least, part of them!) =

= Day 1: Visual Literacy= Learning the vocabulary to use with camera angles. Begin using storyboard sketches and learn camera controls.

media type="custom" key="8290754"A high school student's presentation of camera angles and shots.

media type="custom" key="8290780"Another student presentation: camra tips and tricks

= Day 2: = Introduction to Visual Storytelling Challenge: Form production teams of no more than five people. (Three is ideal.) Using your storyboard forms plan out the scene so clearly that anyone could film it by following your directions. =** A person is about to open a door. The person hears a sound and becomes mildly concerned. **= =** The person finds the door locked and searches for his or her keys. The person hears the sound **= =** again and becomes visibly apprehensive. As the filmmaker, your goal is to build tension and **= =** growing panic, using any visual element or device that you can think of. **= =** The film closes with the person finally opening the door and getting to the other side safely. **= =** Here, you want to communicate to the audience the character’s feeling of relief and safety. **= Parameters/Limitations: • Neither the character nor the audience ever sees the source of the sound. • The film can have only one actor. • The film may not exceed 90 seconds. • The entire film must take place within five feet of either side of the door. • You must assemble the shots “in camera,” as you go along, WITHOUT using editing equipment.
 * THE DOOR SCENE—STEP ONE: Writing/Storyboarding the Scene**

Everyone writes a storyboard. The team then goes into a meeting where all storyboards are presented and discussed. The group can choose the storyboard they like the best or they can combine storyboard ideas into a new storyboard plan.

= Day 3 = Using a video camera, interpret and shoot Door Scene #1. Choose your camera person, your director, your actor. Make sure you have at least 5 different camera shots in the scene. Build the suspense!

= Day 4 Evaluate = = (Instructors take the footage from each team and download it to jaycut.com. Then using the embed code put the Door Scene movies on the wiki. Don't edit anything--remember it is "in camera" editing.) =

Each team shows their Door Scene and then asks the entire class for feedback. Use the questions below to get the process started.

Exhibit: Each production team screens its finished film for the entire class for feedback. • Did the film communicate the script? • Did it communicate the rising tension and relief? • What could you shoot differently? • What would make your film more understandable? • What would give your film more emotional impact?

= Day 5 = = New Ending--Students will create a new ending for the Door Scene =

Using the changes and feedback suggested by your classmates, revise your storyboard. Then add a new ending to the Door Scene. Be creative--let's not have any slasher films! Give us an ending that we wouldn't expect. If you need to make changes to the orginal script, like making the sound effect different, you may. Once your team's new storyboard is approved, prepare to start reshooting it.

= Day 6 = = Shooting the Second Door Scene = Time to shoot your revised storyboard. Plan to bring any props you need.

= Day 7 = = Editing the Final Cut (Instructors will have to create jaycut accounts for each student. Each student will need to log in to his/her account and then upload the flip film segments to jaycut. Students can then explore editing.) =

Challenge: Explore adding transitions, music, titles and effects to enhance the film's overall impact, making the story clearer, more interesting, and more dramatic. Things to think about:
 * How does the use of transitions affect the mood, perception of time and dramatic intent of your film?
 * Does the music you are using enhance the overall story of your film?
 * Does the effect you are using distract from the mood or tone of your film?