Movie Project:
Modern Aesop's Fables

Learning Target:

• I can create a movie (write, plan, direct, film, and digitally edit)
  in order to clearly communicate a story.

Most of us have a love for watching movies. Whether or not we are aware of it, a great deal of thought, time, and effort goes into making a movie. Movies are considered by many to be the greatest storytelling medium of our time.

We will become filmmakers! We will write and create our own movies over the 12-week Computer Studies course. Ready on the set...Action!

Part 1: Introduction of Project & Guidelines.

Guidelines:

• Length: 1-3 minutes
• Topic: Modern version of one of Aesop's fables
• Sound: Silent (No dialogue. Music, sound effects, and narration may be allowed.)
• Music: No copyrighted music may be used. Use GarageBand or copyright-free music.
• Credits: All participants and music must be given proper credit.

Introduce Rubric: Read over rubric and evaluate a movie, focusing on the "...Clearly Communicates Story" category. Movie Rubric

Practice Movie: Each crew (4 people) will film a scene. Pairs from each crew will import and edit the scene using iMovie. We will compare, discuss, and learn from one another's filmmaking choices. Practice Task 1

Part 2: Write Story.

Writer's Workshop:

1. Read several Aesop's Fables with your group and identify similarities.
   What are the similarities?
   
2. What are the 5 elements of a story?
3. Make a hand map of the 5 elements of a story & add theme to the middle.
4. Identify the 5 + 1 elements in one of the Aesop's Fables that you read.
   
5. Read through several Aesop's Fables and select one that you would like to use for your movie. You will write your movie story based on the Aesop's Fable you have selected. Choose wisely! Be sure you like the theme, because it will be the theme of your movie.
   
   
6. Plan for your story. (Planning tools: hand map, story web, more to come...
   
   
7. Write DRAFT 1 of your story. Draft Writing Guidelines
8. Peer Edit > Revisions and Editing
9. Write DRAFT 2 of your story.
   

   While waiting for peer editing partner or your teacher conference, do the following activities: Explore the Composing Basic Camera Shots webpage (text & videos) and complete the Guide - Shots (Word document). Explore the Video Composition Rules webpage (text & videos) and complete the Guide - Composition (Word document).

10. Teacher Conference > Revisions and Editing
11. Check Status of Class
12. Final Draft

Part 3: Plan Movie.

Treatment: Story written chronologically in descriptive format.
Samples: E.T., Batman, Terminator, Spiderman, X-Men

Shot Plans: Organized, Thorough, Shot Composition, Coverage
Shot Planning Sheet (.doc)

Film Crew & Actor Plans: Who is doing what? When? All plans approved?
Location/Actor Permit Application (.doc)

Part 4: Direct & Film Movie.

Directing Actors:

Directing Film Crew:

Film Crew Responsibilities:

• Director
• Director of Photography
• Camera Assistant
• Gaffer/Grip

Equipment Check-out/Check-in Procedure:

Camera Technique & Care:

Part 5: Edit Movie.

iMovie Tutorial, Overview