Short Films 8th Grade Materials: Camera, Computer, Editing Program (Pinnacle Studio), Microsoft Word ( o !

rite screenpla"s), Google #ocs ( o share screen pla"s !ith instructor) $%&ecti'es: he students !ill learn ho! to !rite and format a screenpla" properl"( he students !ill learn the different components to !riting a screenpla"( he students !ill learn ho! to film a short film( he students !ill learn ho! to edit a short film( he students !ill learn a%out composition for film( he students !ill learn a%out the process of ma)ing a film( (Pre*production, Editing, Post*Production) he students !ill learn ho! to correctl" format their screenpla"s( he students !ill )no! ho! to criti+ue each other,s !or)( Day 1 $'er'ie!: $n the first da" the students !ill loo) at different e-amples of screen pla"s noting the the proper format of them( .fter the" loo) at different e-amples of screenpla"s the" !ill loo) at one last one and then !atch the 'ideo that came out of them( he students after!ard !ill %e gi'en a demo on ho! to !rite and format a screenpla" ma)ing sure to include the title, setting, characters, slug lines, dialogue, shot times and %ac)ground information( .fter the students learn ho! to format the" !ill !rite their screenpla"s ma)ing sure to use the proper formatting( Warm*up .cti'it": $pen up files and read the screenpla"( Write do!n the differences %et!een "our screenpla" and the one pro'ided( .cti'it": he students !ill loo) at different e-amples of screen pla"s and pla" scripts( he" !ill discuss the differences of traditional !riting 's screenpla" !riting( .fter!ard the students !ill read the pro'ided screenpla" for /0e! Creation1 and then !atch the music 'ideo for it( he" !ill discuss !hat the" see on the screen pla" and ho! it correlates to the music 'ideo and 'ice*'ersa( .fter the discussion there !ill %e a demo using Microsoft $ffice on ho! to ma)e a properl" formatted screen pla"( he"2ll %e sho!n ho! to ad&ust the margins, !hich font to use, !hat si3e to use and also !hat to use in terms of capitali3ation( .fter the students go o'er the demo then the" !ill start to !rite their o!n screenpla"s in the proper format and !ith all the proper information( Closure: ell the students !h" !e ha'e to ta)e so much time to !or) on our screenpla"s %efore !e film( (4isual narrati'es need to %e understood easil"( 5f !e,re &umping all o'er the place !ith our films then no one !ill understand and no one !ill !ant to !atch( 5f "ou,re going to do something "ou should %e doing it correctl"(

Day 2 Warm*up .cti'it": $pen up "our screenpla"s and continue !riting them in the correct format( 5f "ou are finished discuss !ith "our group the roles that each mem%er !ill ta)e( .cti'it": he students !ill ha'e a +uic) recap of !hat the" did last !ee)( (6eformat their screenpla"s() he" should %e as)ed if the" remem%er !h" the" ha'e to do it (7ecause the" ha'e a client and the client needs to %e a%le to understand !hat is %eing filmed in order for the films to %e appro'ed( he" need to %e done correctl"() he groups !ill continue to format their screenpla"s ma)ing sure that the" are using the right font, si3e and alignments( Closure: ell the students !h" !e ha'e to ta)e so much time to !or) on our screenpla"s %efore !e film( (4isual narrati'es need to %e understood easil"( 5f !e,re &umping all o'er the place !ith our films then no one !ill understand and no one !ill !ant to !atch( Getting feed%ac) from others helps us to see pro%lems or confusing areas that !e didn2t notice %efore %ecause !e !ere so engrossed in the pro&ect( Criti+uing helps us to see other people,s perspecti'es and to respect them as !ell() Day 3: Warm*up .cti'it": 7ring up "our screenpla"s( 5f "ou ha'e not finished !riting them then continue to do so( if "ou ha'e finished ma)e sure to add character descriptions and a s"nopsis( .cti'it" he students !ill put up their screenpla"s on the computers and the each group !ill go around the classroom reading the different screenpla"s their classmates ha'e !ritten( 7efore the" actuall" go around the" !ill ha'e a +uic) discussion a%out ho! to criti+ue each other,s !or)( (Criti+ues are supposed to %e constructi'e( r" to gi'e feed%ac) on good things and things that can %e impro'ed upon( 0ot necessaril" sa"ing something is %ad %ut re!ording it to ma)e it a positi'e() .fter reading the other group,s screenpla"s the" !ill gi'e feed%ac) to one another( Some topics to discuss !hile gi'ing feed%ac) are /5s there information a%out the characters8 #oes the stor" ma)e sense8 #oes the dialog ma)e sense (if there is an")8 #oes the stor" flo! !ell8 5s there a concrete conclusion to the stor"8 5s the setting esta%lished8 General feed%ac) is also encouraged( he students !ill !rite these comments on a separate of paper( ( he paper sta"s at the computer) he" must ma)e sure that the" !rite legi%l"( Each student must !rite at least one positi'e and one change for each

stor"( he" must !rite their names ne-t to their comments( 5f the" finish earl" the students can go %ac) and ma)e ad&ustments to their screenpla"s ma)ing sure to ta)e into consideration the comments that their classmates made( 7efore the students lea'e ma)e sure that the" sa'e their !or) onto the 9 dri'e as !ell as the dri'e( Closure: ell the students !h" !e ha'e to ta)e so much time to !or) on our screenpla"s %efore !e film( (4isual narrati'es need to %e understood easil"( 5f !e,re &umping all o'er the place !ith our films then no one !ill understand and no one !ill !ant to !atch( Getting feed%ac) from others helps us to see pro%lems or confusing areas that !e didn2t notice %efore %ecause !e !ere so engrossed in the pro&ect( Criti+uing helps us to see other people,s perspecti'es and to respect them as !ell() Day 4: Warm*up .cti'it": $pen up "our screenpla"s, if "ou ha'e not finished editing then do so( Continue to !or) on "our stor"%oards as !ell( .cti'it": he students !ill %e editing their screenpla"s, ta)ing into account the feed%ac) that the" recei'ed from their classmates from the class %efore( Ma)e sure to emphasi3e the point that the" ha'e %een !or)ing on their screenpla"s for a !hile no! and the" ha'e %een come attached to it so ma)ing changes ma" %e hard %ut if there are comments or things said %" their classmates that is coming up again and again the" ma" !ant to re'isit their screenpla"s( $nce the" ha'e finished the" should get appro'al from the teacher( he screenpla"s should %e !ritten in the correct format( he stories should %e eas" to understand or the" should ha'e a s"nopsis so that the" can %e understood( here !ill %e a +uic) discussion a%out stor"%oarding( We !ill tal) a%out !h" it is important to stor"%oard their films( 9o! it pro'ides an idea of !hat each shot should loo) li)e and ho! it helps to streamline the process of filming( he students !ill %e sho!n different e-amples of the 'arious )inds of shots( Some e-amples are close ups, e-treme close ups, medium, far, o'er the shoulder, follo!, doll", and slides( Closure: Sho! a 'ideo that sho!s a steadicam follo! shot from the mo'ie 9ugo( al) to the students a%out the 'ideo( What is loo)s li)e and ho! smooth it is( 6emind the students that the" !ill %e filming soon %ut the" need to ma)e sure that the" ha'e all the prep !or) done %efore the" can start shooting( Day 5: (10/30) Camera :ecture;Filming :ecture;Film Warm <p: Finish editing "our screenpla"s (if "ou ha'e not done so alread")( Wor) on "our stor"%oards(

.cti'it": he students !ill need to finish their screenpla"s( he" should %e 'er" close to if not completel" finished !ith these at the %eginning of the class( he students !ill also !or) on their stor"%oards( 5t is 'ital for them to ha'e these things done %efore the" film( he" should %e constantl" reminded of this throughout the class and throughout the unit( Day 6: Warm <p: Finish screenpla"s and stor"%oards( 5f "ou ha'e them as a Google #oc share it !ith me( 5f "ou ha'e it as a !ord file turn it into "our #igital #rop 7o-( .cti'it": he students at the %eginning of class !ill !atch a short 'ideo that sho!s them the different t"pes of shots the" can use for their films( .fter !atching it once through repla" the 'ideo %ut stopping at the different shots to e-plain to them !hat the" are, ho! the" loo) and !hat the" are used for( .fter the" !atch the 'ideo the students !ill start !or)ing once again on all of the things that the" need for their films( he" must ma)e sure all their screenpla"s, stor"%oards and shot lists are either shared 'ia Google #oc or on the dri'e( Closure: 6emind them that the" are 'er" close to filming and almost all the groups !ill start %ut the groups that ha'e not turned e'er"thing in !ill not %e a%le to shoot( 0ame the groups that ha'e turned e'er"thing in and then inform the remaining groups of !hat the" are missing( he" !ill then shut do!n their computers and %e released at the %ell( Day 7: Warm <p: Finish "our screenpla"s, stor"%oards and shot list and then share them !ith me( .cti'it": he students !ill continue to !or) on their re+uired documents( he" !ill %e filming ne-t class so the" need to ma)e sure that all those things are turned in %efore the" can start the ne-t step( E'er"thing should %e 'er" close to %eing finished at this point %ut if there are still some groups that are not close to finishing the" must !or) throughout the class and if the" still are not done the" should finish up their !or) for home!or)( he students !ill also go o'er +uic)l" some of the guidelines and rules of filming in the school( Closure: he students !ill film ne-t class so the" must %e read"( he" should turn in all the re+uired documents( 5f the" ha'en,t finished the" can do that for home!or) and share !hate'er needs to %e turned in to the email( Day 8-11 Filming Warm <p: Filming rules re'ie!;Guidelines

.cti'it": he students !ill start filming toda"( 7efore the" go out to film the" need to ma)e sure that the" )no! the rules of going out into the hall!a"s( ( he" need to al!a"s ha'e their %adges on, %e respectful of e'er"one in the hall!a"s, no running or "elling, share the computer la%)( $nce the students get all their e+uipment (camera, tripod, %atteries, memor" cards) the" !ill inform the teacher !here the" !ill %e filming and then the" can go start filming( While all the students are filming the teacher !ill go around ma)ing sure that the" students are !or)ing and assist them if the" need help !ith a certain shot( $nce there is a%out =>*=? minutes left in class the" should start heading %ac) to the la% so that the" can dump their transfer their footage into their dri'e( he student that is importing the footage on this da" should %e the one !ho transfers the footage e'er" class from no! on( Closure: Ma)e sure that the same person !ho is sa'ing toda" sa'es the footage ne-t class( We !ill continue to film ne-t class and for the ne-t fe! classes as !ell %ut !e,ll also start the post*production as !ell( here ma" %e some people !ho need to use the computer la% to film and some other people ma" need to la% to change %atteries or get something else( 9ere,s !hat !ill happen in that situation( 5f its a +uic) %atter" change !hen !e can designate a time !here !e can s!itch %atteries %ut !e also need to %e fair to the people !ho need to film in the la%( 5f !e need to !e can put the %atteries in another location so that !e can get those !ithout distur%ing the other groups( #a" =@ $%&ecti'es he students !ill learn a%out the post production process Students !ill learn to import, mo'e, cut and edit clips into a short film( he students !ill learn shortcuts( $'er'ie! he students at this point ha'e learned a%out the preproduction portion and filming portion of ma)ing a short film( he" ha'e learned ho! to !rite screenpla"s, ma)e stor"%oards and !rite up a shot list( he" ha'e also seen first hand !hat it is li)e to go out and film( he" learned a%out the organi3ation that it ta)es and the importance of planning out each part of the film( .t this point of the unit the students are going to start learning a%out editing( he" !ill %e gi'en a demo;tutorial on ho! to use the program (Pinnacle Studio =A)( he" !ill learn the %asics of editing and then start !or)ing on creating their short films( Warm <p: :og onto "our computers( Mo'e all footage from "our #ri'e to the Computer( (Go to :i%raries, 4ideos, then ma)e a ne! folder) .cti'it": he students !ill %e introduced to Pinnacle Studio( he" learn a%out !hat the" capa%ilities of the program are( .fter a +uic) tal) a%out the program the" !ill %e gi'en a demo;tutorial on ho! to use it( he" !ill first

learn create a ne! 'ideo and then the" !ill learn ho! to import their footage, 'ie! it, mo'e and cut it( he students !ill %e !al)ed through the program step %" step at first( he" !ill ha'e a tutorial the" can loo) %ac) on;follo! along !ith !hile the demo is going on( .fter going o'er the demo the students !ill ha'e a chance to start !or)ing on their films( he" !ill all %e ma)ing different edits of their films so that the" are all !or)ing instead of ha'ing &ust one student do all the !or)( While the" are !or)ing the teacher !ill go around assisting the students !ho need help( (Cuts; ransitions: What do the" do for the 'ideo8 Straight Cut: .%ruptl" ends( Fade: Gentle) (Wh" do "ou thin) !e,re using the fade in8 0ot other ones8 Professionalism) (6ough cuts: What are the" for8 Bind of li)e a thum%nail, get the %asic idea of !hat the 'ideo should loo) li)e( Ma)e ad&ustments and see if "ou need more shots or something else) (Cuic) Cuts: What does it do for the mo'ie8 Gi'es the illusion of speed() (Music: E'entuall" !e !ill tal) a%out music %ut !hat can music do to a 'ideo8) Closure: https:;;'imeo(com;D>8DA@@> (#etour) he students !ill !atch a 'ideo( he",ll %e loo)ing at different e-amples of short films( 7ecause their stories had to ha'e some sort of moral to it the !ill !atch e-amples that deal !ith a sort of moral decision( .fter !atching the 'ideo the" !ill re'ie! the process of editing once again( here !ill %e an informal assessment (&ust as)ing ho! to do different things on Pinnacle)( he" !ill %e informed that the" ha'e onl" a fe! classes to !or) and that the" need to %e !or)ing 'er" +uic)l" to ma)e sure e'er"thing is done on time( #a" =E http:;;freemusicarchi'e(org; https:;;'imeo(com;musicstore https:;;'imeo(com;=?8FFE?G Warm <p: :og onto "our computers( Continue !or)ing on "our mo'ies( Ma)e sure to loo) at the tutorial on "our * #ri'e if "ou,'e forgotten the %asics of Pinnacle( .cti'it": he students !ill !or) for the %eginning of class( .fter =? minutes the students !ill %e gi'en a demo on the e-t ool and adding Music( (What is the ad'antage of music8 Wh" should "ou !orr" a%out it8 What sources do "ou thin) !ould %e good for finding music8 * Ma)e sure to use free music( Music that is cop"right free, in the creati'e commons() When using the e-t ool "ou can do a fe! things( (.dd title pages etc( Hou !ant to thin) a%out !hat )ind of te-t "ou are using( Iust li)e !ith transitions if "ou are using tac)" loo)ing te-t then the production 'alue of "our pro&ect can go do!n( Serif or San Serif fonts are usuall" the %est( For titles it ma" %e a little %it different %ut "ou still !ant to ta)e into consideration !hat "our film is a%out;the feel of !hat it should %e() .fter the students go o'er the demo the" !ill continue to !or) on their pro&ects( he" !ill %e informed that the" !ill ha'e one more class to !or) on these pro&ects %efore the" ha'e to turn them in for a grade( he" !ill also ha'e a screening on Frida" so that the" can all see the !or) that the" ha'e done(

Closure: https:;;'imeo(com;=?8FFE?G (E:>>) he students !ill !atch the 'ideo and see the differences %et!een the one the" !atched last !ee) (#etour)( 7ecause this 'ideo (7e )ind to "ou gar%age man() is a documentar" the feel of the o'erall 'ideo is different( he rough camera!or) is o) and sometimes enhances the e-perience !hereas in a short film "ou might not !ant that( he dialogue is not scripted in the same !a"( here ma" %e some things that !ant to %e co'ered %ut the" don,t follo! it entirel"( Hou can pla" music o'ertop of it a lot %ut if "ou did that in a short film then it !ould ta)e a!a" from the stor";script( Much more casual( 7*roll( (e-tra footage( Supplemental or alternate footage intercut !ith the main shot in an inter'ie! or documentar") Wh" !ould the" use this8 #a" =D: Warm <p: Continue to !or) on "our mo'ies( 5f "ou need help please refer to the tutorial( .cti'it": he students !ill ha'e a !or) da" for their pro&ects( Closure #a" =?: Warm <p: Continue to !or) on "our mo'ies( 5f "ou need help please refer to the tutorial( his is the last da" for "ou to !or) on them( .cti'it": he students !ill ha'e one last da" to !or) on their pro&ects( .t the last D> minutes of class the students !ill need to e-port their mo'ie pro&ects( he students !ill %e !al)ed through the process of e-porting their mo'ies( .fter the" ha'e e-ported them the" !ill need to ma)e sure that the" ha'e turned them in for a grade( #a" =A: .cti'it": he students !ill ha'e a time to !atch their mo'ies in class( he" !ill ha'e the opportunit" to criti+ue the mo'ies !hile the" !atch it( he class !ill %e an informal one(