8th Grade MEDIA Production CLASS MISSION STATEMENT
Our classroom environment is based on what is truly important to us as a community -- engaging students in rigorous, real-world inquiry and project-based education, that empowers learners. Respect, responsibility, perseverance, kindness and acceptance are the Core Values and guiding principles that dictate expectations, behavior and actions as students critically think, research, and learn 21st century skills and as they work towards becoming informational, visual and digitally literate.
Unit 1 - Network & Computer Basics
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
OBJECTIVES: Students will grow and demonstrate their creativity and ability to solve problems through the inquiry-based media-making process. Students will develop important life skills that reveal their emerging self-expression, collaboration, flexibility and persistence. In our global society, where information and technology are always expanding and changing, students will learn to ethically and safely locate, interpret, analyze and evaluate information and media critically from multiple print and digital resources as they work towards becoming informational, visual and digitally literate. Hour of Code Note: Dec. 3rd is National Computer Science Week
Classes will be trying their hands at computer programming using An Hour of Code by CODE.org and VidCode (https://www.vidcode.com/hour-of-code).
Unit 2 - Digital Storytelling & How to Make a PSa
Unit 3 - DevelopmentThe first stage of filmmaking is where the idea for the film is born. Concepts from a book, a play, true stories, other movies or original ideas are pondered upon and developed to create a viable theme, synopsis and eventually, a script. Once a clear picture of the movie is painted your movie is ready to be produced.
CREATIVITY MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER True learning is creative in nature—it involves questioning, seeking answers, and addressing problems by applying novel ideas. Increasingly, jobs and global issues require creative, original thinkers to craft solutions. Creative people are better able to navigate life’s challenges and imagine pathways to a better world. I support genuine inquiry by engaging student interest and ensuring that the questions and topics originate from them. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What topics in our world are you really passionate about? What stories in the news or your neighborhood make you angry or sad? What do you think is important for people around you to understand? We will use “webbing” to brainstorm elements related to the overall topic by placing the primary idea/ question at the center and then identifying three or more ways to explore the topic through media (a montage of images, interviews, poetry, sound or music, etc.). For each approach, explore what steps you might take in that direction (talk to experts on the topic, view similar formats, research online, etc.). Creating a movie is a 5 phase process, Development is the first phase.
Unit 4 - Pre-ProductionStudents collaborate with one another in the creation of script, props, and a possible set. The set can be just a white backdrop or can be elaborate. While one student is responsible for different parts of an assignment while working in groups, all students should take an active role in all areas. The pre-production stage includes the writing of the script. It should be creative, easy to understand, concise, and compact. Ideas for props should be considered during the writing process. Students can write a script by hand or use a Web 2.0 app such as Titan Pad, Write with Me, or Google Docs. Once all the script is written and all props and set are completed, a rehearsal will be needed. No camera is needed for the rehearsal, although you should be thinking about which camera angles and positions to use in order to help elicit the emotion you want from your audience. While reading from the script (use voice inflection) and manipulate the props on the set. The script does not have to be memorized since it can be used in final production.
Scripting & Storyboard – The pre-production phase of a project is where all the planning takes place before the camera rolls. Whether it’s measured in minutes, hours or days, this planning phase sets the overall vision of the project. Pre-production also includes working out the shoot location and casting. Script Development:
Visualization is a Process. The storyboard is a communication tool. Creating your storyboards requires careful consideration of your shots, the movement of actors and the relationship between objects. When designing your storyboards and shot list, knowledge of the location space is required to truly be prepared for production. Scheduling: Scheduling is one of the most challenging and time consuming aspects of pre-production and the domain of the Assistant Director.
Unit 5 - ProductionThe actual shooting of the movie happens in this stage. Shooting involves setting up props, lighting being rigged and actors being put in their respective costumes. All the clips shot in a day are processed roughly and it is then viewed by the director and select members of the crew. This is done regularly so the crew and the cast are kept motivated and aware of how the movie is progressing. The director declares “It's a wrap!" when the shooting is over and all scenes are done.
Students are now ready to shoot the final video. Lessons will be given on how to use a camera and tripod.
Light from different sources have different color qualities. The color quality of light can be measured in degrees on a scale called the Kelvin scale. The camera must be explicitly told what is white. It can guess with automatic settings but as with exposure and focus, you need an operator to verify and manipulate these settings. This is why it is crucial to adjust the white balance prior to filming. Aperture refers to the size of an opening in the lens which can be adjusted to allow more or less light to pass through the lens. More powerful and pleasing compositions can be had by aligning your subject(s) along vertical or horizontal thirds of the frame. With a shallow depth of field, the camera operator can choose which objects in the frame to focus the attention of the viewer. Unit 6 - Post ProductionVideo Editors prepare the final version of the product in the post production stage. At the post production stage they take raw footage, choose the best shots and put them in order, and add sound, graphics and special effects to bring your masterpiece to life using a non-linear editing tool call Adobe Premiere Pro CS 6. The goal of the editor is to take the raw materials created in production and deliver edited picture and dialogue. The editor must have a strong grasp of story-telling and the ability to get an emotional read on the material they are working with. Skilled Editors can have a big influence in the quality of the finished piece. As a Video Editor, you would normally use digital technology and computer software to edit sound and pictures. You could work on projects including feature films, TV programs, corporate videos and commercials.
Essential Question: How can we use media to influence others? How can we elicit emotion and make a call to action with different filming techniques? Students should...
Adobe Premier Pro 6:
Adobe is a cross-platform non-linear editing application built for file-base creative video production. It is resolution independent without trans coding and it has an extensive native media support no matter what devise your footage is coming from. Premiere Pro integrates easily with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects. Sound:
Unit 7 - Media Literacy & Digital CitizenshipInformation literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning. An information literate individual is able to:
********************************************************Digital FootprintThis lesson will help you articulate what personal information you choose to share digitally and with whom and reinforces that much of the information you choose to share digitally falls out of your control the moment it is released.
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Grading Policy
PSA (Public Service Announcement) Examples
Short Movie Example (10 min.)
Video Making Tutorials
Key Media Positions
How to Remove Blue Screen
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