RLFF 2016: Training
Over the course of today's traing you and your team will create a short film. We will go through the film making process from storyboard to the BIG screen. Pay attention to lessons learned and note things that come up throughout the day so you will be prepared to help students create movie magic! Have fun! Be Creative!
Genre and Theme:
It is extremely important to be organized when telling a story through film. A foundation for the overal vision for your film is the genre and theme it will represent. Will it be an action film? Will it be a comedy, drama, sci-fi? A documentary? These are all classifications of genres. The film should stick elements consistant with this type of story. Within a genre a film can address a number of themes such as courage, dreams, trust, wisdom, overcoming adversity, growing up, etc.... The first decision a film crew must make is the type of film they will create. Use the document below and meet with your team to discuss the type of film you wish to make and briefly describe the preliminary plot.
Make a Plan:
When working with the students it will be important to point how how a story is told through the concept of "rising action" Typically we are introducted to a character during the events of their normal daily life...As we observe this character or grop events begin to happen that cause a reaction us us. These can be funny, scary or draama filled events. Nonetheless the events escalate the story (usually) to a culminating event or a peak in the action. This is followed by a fall/ decrease in the action and the return to normalcy for the character(s) or a new path as a result of the previous events. Use the document from your packet to create a visual representation of your story. Add events to the story line to show what will take place in the lives of your characters as we are peeking into their lives....
Develop Chatacters:
So much of what an audience learns about a character is non-verbal. The audience is able to make inferences about a character based on appearence, traits, attitudes, dialogue, values, etc.....Having students work to create rich characters will ultimately contribute to a deeper understanding of the film's intended message. Use this document to go through the process of mapping out how a character will look and behave.
What do we know about John?
A talk about how "color" can be used to get your message across
Traffic:(Not for Kids!!!)
Blackhawk Down....Something to think about
Storyboarding:
There are many tasks that go into telling a good story and many of these are related to organization. It is good practice to have students go through each step of the story development process. However, if you are going to focus your energy into a single element, it should be storyboarding. This will give students a chance to develop what their story will look like on the screen and the dialogue that will take place. This is where it shifts from simply telling a story to making a film. Encourage students to get creative with different shots, angles and perspectives while creating their storyboards. It will contribute to more organized shot sequences and a more polished film.
Scripting:
Having your students work on the script for you film in advance of shooting the scenes will also contribute to a more realistic story. Have them generate and practice the dialogue as well as the "blocking" for the scene so the final version of the film flows and does not seem disjointed or akward. You want the audience to identify with the characters, and your actors will need to practice interacting with eachother they way the individual in the story would. There is an actual format for scripting called a "screenplay." This is the norm for screenwriting profession.
Filming:
Your students will want to create a film that is as realistic as possible. While shooting the film they will want to vary the the types of shots they utilze to give the sense that the audience is part of the story. For example, when two characters are speaking to eachother we should seea shot that appears as though the viewer is listening to a response rather than being on the outside simply observing a conversation.....
Special Note: When filming with an iPad: SHOOT YOUR VIDEO IN LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION.
There is a convention in the video, film and television industries which assigns names and guidelines to common types of shots, framing and picture composition. The list below briefly describes the most common shot types (click the images for more details).
Notes:
The exact terminology varies between production environments but the basic principles are the same.
Shots are usually described in relation to a particular subject. In most of the examples below, the subject is the boy.
See below for more information and related tutorials.
The view is so far from the subject that he isn't even visible. Often used as an establishing shot.
The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing him in his environment.
The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible.
Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving an impression of the whole subject.
Half way between a MS and a CU.
A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.
Shows some (other) part of the subject in detail.
A shot of something other than the subject.
A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.
Usually refers to a shot of the interviewer listening and reacting to the subject.
Shows a view from the subject's perspective.
The subject is the weather. Can be used for other purposes, e.g. background for graphics.
Editing:
Editing your film will be the piece that allows your students to really get your story ready for the BIG SCREEN.... All of the planning for the shots, the scripting, and preparations are done, and you have begun shooting. You can work with students here to eliminate errors in the footage, add soundtracks or effects to give your story that extra degree of organization. Click the link below for support in editing your film on various platforms. For today we will shoot on iPads and edit in iMovie, Movie Maker or on the iPad itself with iMovioe Mobile. If none of these options are available at the school site consider using a cloud based editior like We Video.
Today's process: Once you have shot your scene(s) on the ipad.....Connect it to the the machine you will use to edit (Mac or PC). We will first need to export the raw video from the device onto the computer in order to edit it. If you plan to use iMove mobile on the iPad, simply open the app on the device. if you will be working from a computer follow these instructions:
Mac: The first step in getting your video edited on the mac is plugging the device in with the data cable and telling the compter and the iPad to "trust" eachother.
Next, open the iPhoto icon, located in the dock at the bottom of the screen. Then import all of your photos and videos or only selected clips...You can then choose to keep or delete your vidoes....It is a good idea to keep them in case you have an issue with editing and need your original raw video. This will complete the import stage of the editing process.
After you have imported the raw video, Open the iMovie icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen. In the top left of the screen choose the "+" and create and then choose movie. Once you open a new project you will be asked to choose a theme. These have predetermined defaults such as transitions. If you do not wish to use these templates, choose "No Theme" and title your film.
Select "iPhoto Library" from the libraires menu along the left hand side of the screen and choose the clip you would like to use.....Drag the Gold box around the portion of the clip you would like to use and click the "+."
PC: Plug in the iPad and allow the computer to install the device software. Establish trust between the iPad and the PC and allow access. Close iTunes. To access your videos, go to the start menu, and choose "computer." Under "devices" double-click on the iPad you were using and open the series of folders until you reach your videos.
On the desktop "right-click" and select "new" and then "folder." Title it video and your group name. Then drag the video clips from the iPad folder into the newly created folder on the desktop. This will complete the import stage from the iPad to the computer.
Open Movie maker in the dock at the bottom of the screen. Click the space that says"Click here to browse for videos." navigate to the folder on the desktop containing your videos. Select the clips you want and choose Open. Once your videos are in Movie Maker you can edit the footage.
Click Here- For tips on editing
Sound:
A score, soundtrack or even sound effects can add just the right touch to a film to pull the audience in or elicit a reaction. Our films ultimately lad in a public venue and at that point we are not covered under "Fair Use" where copyright is concerned. For this resaon we can't use protected materials, such as songs or other videos in our films. To help the students with acquing audio they can use, there are a number of resources linked below to assist them with adding audio to their films.
