FILMING EVERYDAY THINGS
WHAT CAN YOU MAKE INTERESTING?
WALKING UP STAIRS
The concept of this video is to teach students that even the most mundane things can be made interesting through video. Here is an example of two girls walking up a set of stairs. It has been filmed using a variety of shot, camera angles and takes. Why not try something like this with your students?
DRINKING FROM A TAP
Another video that shows a simple action like drinking from a tap. By adding variety in the shots this can become an entertaining video to watch.
Teacher Examples - Filming Everyday Things
These videos were created by language teachers who attended the film festival training days. Thank you Marg, Jacqui, Cath, Jess, Franco, Christian, Cosimo & Johnathan.
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Jump Cuts
Jump cuts are a fun special effect students will love creating. The idea is to cut clips using slick editing and jumping the action/actors to create magical special effects. There are lots of different ways to do jump cuts check out the video above and search others online. Why not try and create your own short video using a jump cut?How could a jump cut be used in your film festival video?
Jump Cuts
This video shows another way jump cuts can be used in film making.
5,4,3,2,1 Technique
The 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 technique is designed to give a really tight focus to the filmmaking process. The concept is that a short film (no longer than two minutes) can be planned, rehearsed and shot in less than one hour.
The numbers come from the structure:
5 shots, 4 people (in each group), 3 props (provided or improvised), 2 minutes maximum length, 1 area of focus (a theme).
The process begins with an introduction to the hour. First on the list is the notion of the 5 shots. To be clear, this means that the film can consist of no more than five scenes, shot in one frame. This is the biggest constraint on the whole process.
So, how do you even begin to tell a story in 5 scenes?
Story structure is key your students need to think about how the different types of shots you can use can help to tell a story. These can then be used during their short films”
Scene
1. Establishing Shot - Setting the scene
2. Mid-Shot - What is your character doing?
3. Long Shot - A moment of conflict
4. Close up or extreme close up - Highlight an emotion
5. Long Shot - Resolution.
Explore the "Types of Shot" page on this website for more inspiration.
Excerpt From: Simon Pile. “Short Film in Clips.” Simon Pile, 2017. Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/au/book/short-film-in-clips/id1237314256
FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS
Generally people watch a film as a form of entertainment that provokes a certain type of feeling or emotion. It is important for students to understand and practise this art form with the intention of making the audience feel a certain way. A challenging concept for most but it is certainly possible
5 Steps To The Cupboard
This video is all about taking five carefully sequenced steps towards an object or to open a cupboard door to reveal something or someone! This video should also make obvious an emotion such as fear, joy, sadness, surprise etc.
Feelings
Create a short 1 minute video that influences the viewers emotions/feelings . eg sad, happy, joy, controversy.
Language Focused Tasks
Knock Knock / Dad Jokes
Why not ask your students to translate their favourite knock knock joke into the chosen language adopted at your school? This is a great example of CLIL at work!! Students tell their joke while also practising how to film a conversation between two actors using a variety of shot choices. This is always a lot of fun.
Review
You Tube has really changed the way people consume content or decide what they might want to purchase. Every day there are thousands of new video reviews produced because there is a market for it!!!! Ask your students to create a review on something of interest to them using as much second language possible. it could be the unboxing of a new toy, technology or even a new flavour of chips.
Types Of Shot In TV
Watch part of this episode of The Block looking for all the different shot types and camera angles studied as part of the film festival. Screen shot these images as you watch it then use the Apple Pencil to Write/Markup the image with the name of the shot eg Big close up etc.