Movie Project:
Video Yearbook

Learning Target:

• I can create a video (write/plan, direct, film, and digitally edit)
  in order to clearly communicate an idea.

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

We will write and create a video yearbook during the 8th grade Computer Studies course.
Ready on the set...Action!

Amendment: Due to logistical issues, we have decided to produce a print yearbook using ComicLife. We will utilize the student page layouts that we have already created and work in pairs to complete the yearbook pages.

Part 1: Introduction of Project & Guidelines.

Guidelines:

• Length: 3-5 minutes per chapter (Each group will produce one chapter of the yearbook.)
• Topic: Crossroads Video Yearbook
• Sound: Interviews, music, sound effects, and narration are allowed
• Visual: Video, photos, text, graphics, artwork
• Music: No copyrighted music may be used. Use GarageBand or copyright-free music.
• Credits: All participants and music must be given proper credit. Whenever anyone helps, write down his/her name with a description of what they did.
• Supervision: Students must be supervised by a Crossroads staff member at all times.

Introduce Rubric:
Movie Rubric - The rubric will need to be rewritten by the class to match each project.

Part 2: Build Film/Photo Skills.

Lighting:
Light (Photography is from the Greek...photo=light and graph=write...so photography is light writing.)

Shot Types (film & photo):
Shot Type Guide (7.4MB pdf file)

Shot Composition:
Composition (simplicity, rule of thirds, line, and framing)
Subject (Person or object of interest in a photo.)

Coverage:
Purposefully shoot from multiple angles and with multiple shot types to ensure that you "cover" everything you may need. For example, for a shot that shows a person giving another person a briefcase, you might shoot a Wide Shot, a Medium Shot and a Close-up of the briefcase hand-off. The multiple shots can then be edited together to show the setting, the action between the characters, and the details of the object being passed between the characters -- the briefcase. SETTING, ACTION, CHARACTERS, & DETAIL!

Camera/Equipment:
*Care & Safety:
*Operation:
*Tripod vs. Handheld:
*Technique: Framing, Panning, Zooming, etc.
*Equipment Check-out/Check-in Procedure:

Directing:
Simplified Explanation - To be an effective director, you must take on the leadership role with confidence and you must give clear instructions to the subject/actors and the film crew.
LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, COMMUNICATE CLEARLY

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
• Practice Task 2 (TBD) - Trail of the Yearbook?

Part 3: Plan Video.

Complete the Video Yearbook Chapter Grouping Application
(To download: right-click > save link as...)

Chapters:

1. Determine yearbook chapter assignments for each group.
   
   -Chapters:
   
   • 8th Grade - Year in review, Outward Bound, Learning Expeditions, Destination H.S., Enrichment (Showcase artwork, yoga pose, computer project), Community Service, Advisory, Fieldwork, etc. + GarageBand soundtrack
     
     
   • 7th Grade - Year in review, Learning Expeditions, Enrichment (Showcase artwork, yoga pose, computer project), Community Service, Advisory, Fieldwork, etc. + GarageBand soundtrack
     
     
   • 6th Grade - Year in review, Enrichment (Showcase artwork, yoga pose, computer project), Community Service, Advisory, Fieldwork, etc. + GarageBand soundtrack
     
     
   • Faces - Individual students/staff interviews: Name, Common interview question (Favorite moment at Crossroads? What do you want to be when you grow up? Wisdom to share? other questions?), PhotoBooth + GarageBand soundtrack
     
     
   • A Typical day at Crossroads (2006-7) A day in the life mini-movie + GarageBand soundtrack
     
     
   • Fashion Trends (Crossroads uniform & dress down day) + GarageBand soundtrack
     
     
   • In the News (2006-7) - newscast style + GarageBand soundtrack
     
     
   • other?
     
     
   -DVD Cover Art: Drawing or Digital Art
   
2. Write Chapter Plan Proposal: Briefly explain what you plan to include in your chapter. You should include a numbered list of subtopics with a description of what each subtopic will LOOK LIKE and what you will need to do in order for it to be filmed or photographed. Include each group member's name in the heading and follow the Writing Guidelines.
   
3. Peer Edit > Revisions and Editing
   
4. Submit Chapter Plan Proposal for Teacher Conference > Revisions and Editing > Final Draft
   
   

   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).

Part 4: Film & Create Yearbook

Yearbook Photo Template for import into iMovie, widescreen.
(To download: right-click > save link as...)

Convert PPT file to JPG format for use in iMovie.

Convert ComicLife Yearbook page to JPG for printing.

Part 5: Edit Movie.

iMovie Tutorial, Overview

Part 6: Produce DVD