Crossroads Ring
Pass It On Movie Project

Learning Target:

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

The entire class will collaboratively produce a movie that combines a sequence of 1-minute movies produced by each student. The movie will be connected by the central idea of an invisible ring being passed along from scene to scene, effecting each group and student in a unique manner. Also, each group will be given a tone that they must use for their portion of the movie. Each group must create a story premise that revolves around the tone and the ring and must plan how to produce these scenes without the use of dialogue. In order to connect each group's scene, they must find the ring at a pre-determined location and get rid of the ring at another predetermined location. Each trimester, the saga will continue.

In editing, students will use music to reinforce the tone of the movie. Each student will edit his/her 1-minute portion of his/her group's movie. Ultimately, one flowing movie will be produced connecting each group and student.

Pre-Project Learning Activity
We will create a mini-movie to help us learn camera technique, lighting,
shot composition, plot clarity, editing technique and editing style.

Project Guidelines:
Mini-Movie Project

Resorces:
Shot Types (I will give you a copy of this)
iMovie 6 HD tutorial
GarageBand tutorial
Findsounds.com sound effects website

Part 1: Introduction of Project & Guidelines.

Guidelines for final movie:

• Length: 1 minute per team member with each team member producing a distinct segment to be edited by that team member (2-3 team members per group)
  
  
• Topic: An object (ring) will be passed along from character to character, scene to scene. (The object has been revealed - an invisible ring). Each team will create a unique story incorporating the 5 Elements of a Story (Character, Setting, Plot, Conflict, Resolution), one of the 5 Promises as the Theme and the secret object.
  
  
• Visual: Video (You may also choose to use photos or animation.)
  
  
• Shot Types: Use a variety of shot types to purposefully tell your story.
  *Use the Shot Types sheet when deciding which type of shot would be the best choice for each shot.
  *You must use at least 4 different shot types in the 1 minute movie segment.
  *Compose your shots purposefully. Try to apply the rules of composition throughout your movie.
  
  
• Audio: Silent film (You may choose to use narration, music and sound effects.)
  In other words, no dialogue will be allowed.
  
  
• Soundtrack: Music and Sound Effects
  *GarageBand
  *Findsounds.com
  *Wikimedia Commons: Sound
  *Opsound.org: Music Genres
  *ccMixter: Download, Sample, Cut, Share
  *MusOpen: public domain classical music
  *Public Domain 4U
  
  
• Music: Use GarageBand or copyright-free music. No copyrighted music may be used unless used in accordance with fair use policy. There are no clear guidelines for fair use, but basically, fair use allows you the right to use copywritten music if it meets all of these conditions:
  *Purpose: Used for specific educational purpose
  *Amount used: The amount should not be more than a small portion of the work. 10% or less is usually okay. If a song is 3 minutes in length, you can use up to 18 seconds.
  *Effect on value: Your use of the material cannot have any negative effect on the sales of the work.
  *Nature of work: Only certain types of works can be used. This is difficult to clearly define.
  
  
• Credits:
  -Opening: Each team will list their first names as subtitle over the start of their segment (1-2 secs.).
  -Closing: Each team will credit all involved and to all resources on a quick credit page (1-2 secs.).
  (Include on 1 credit page: Movie Title & Scene#, Director, Actors, Camera, Editor, Music, Sound Effects, Images, other credits, Thank you...)

Part 2: Plan Story.
We will keep track of each student's progress throughout this stage.
Planning is one of the most important stages of the movie!

1. Watch & learn from some movie scenes. ( Lord of the Rings...The ring changing hands.)
   *Discuss how an object can have character.
   *Discuss how voice-over/narration can be used to share character thoughts.
   *Discuss shot types & framing choices the director has made.
   *
   
2. Divide into groups (4 cameras = 4 groups). Group collaborates to plan movie.
   Include:
   *Group #:
   *Group Name:
   *Group Members:
   *Tone:
   *General Story Idea (Premise):
   * Detailed description for each student describing how you will SHOW each person's part and how they will CONNECT.
   * Filename & location: (Example - story_group2.doc saved on computer 14 in Documents folder)
   
3. Identify the 5 elements of one of the stories (chosen by teacher),
   make a hand map of the 5 elements of the story adding theme to the middle.
   
4. Write your story using the hand map planning tool.
   *Character: You (a Crossroads student)
   *Setting: Crossroads
   *Conflict: ?
   *Resolution: ?
   *Plot: Be sure to create a detailed plot point list that includes the secret object being moved from point A to point B, the conflict and resolution, and tone.
   +Tone:
   
5. Group learning experience: Film opening scene of movie with students (Mr. G leave mysterious object...) to help explain and model project and process.
   
6. Learn Composition/Filming Technique: Shot Types
   
   

   1) Explore the Composing Basic Camera Shots webpage (text & videos).	Complete the Guide1 - Shots (Word doc.)
   2) Explore the Video Composition Rules webpage (text & videos).	Complete the Guide2 - Composition (Word doc.)

   
   
7. Plan your shots. Shot_Planning_Sheet.doc (right-click > save link as).
   (You may type or hand write as many of these as necessary.)
   
8. Peer Conference > Revisions and Editing
   
9. Teacher Conference > Revisions and Editing
   
10. Final Draft of Story Plans

Part 3: Film & Edit Movie.

1. Equipment Check-out/Check-in Procedure & Care:
   *All equipment signed out by you is your responsibility. You break it or lose it, you pay for it.
   *Be careful and make mature, responsible and calm decisions when using equipment or when near the equipment.
   *Report problems with equipment when you sign it out, not when you return it. Take a minute or so to test the equipment!
   *All equipment must be returned, checked and signed in before the last 5 minutes of class.
   
   
2. Film your movie.
   *Have your plan ready and have it with you.
   *Direct the camera person and the actors with clear, but polite, instructions. Clearly explaining what you want will help people to follow you direction.
   *Shoot each shot more than once. This will give you more options when editing and will help ensure that you shot what you wanted to shoot.
   *Allow the camera to roll 3 seconds before and after each shot.
   *Use a tripod as much as possible. Steady shots are often higher quality than hand-held shots.
   *Keep the light behind the camera and hitting the subject to avoid underexposure.
   *Be careful not to record over footage. If you rewind to view the footage, be sure to cue the tape at the end of the footage before filming again.
   *Think about what you want your movie to look like and make it happen.
   *Have fun!
   
   
3. Create your movie file.
   *Save as:
   -File name: movie_yourname(s)
   -File format: DV Widescreen
   -File location: Movies folder
   *When saving, choose Save Project (not Save Project As)
   
   
4. Import & Edit Movie.
   Video Editing Tutorials:
   * iMovie '08
   * iMovie 6 HD
   * iMovie 5 Tutorial, Overview
   * Windows MovieMaker
   Sound Editing Tutorials:
   * GarageBand
   
   
5. Submit movie to create collaborative movie
   1) Export a copy of your final movie as a full quality Quicktime movie to the Movies folder.
   2) Watch the Quicktime file to be sure it is correct.
   3) Submit your completed credits template to the Shared folder (filename: credits_yourname.doc)
   4) Let me know that you are finished.