Term 4 Week 5: Script and Start Filming

Assigned: 29 May 2012

Chao Cac Ban!

This week we will start filming. Most groups selected a topic that can be filmed here at school. A few groups did not. If you can't film here at school, your group will have to film on your own time outside of school hours. Organize when you are doing that today!

Before we start filming, each group needs to finish their google doc outline of the "scenes" you plan to film. This way you know what you need to accomplish when you are trying to shoot video.

When you are filming, be sure to keep in mind the tips from last week: Tripod, Different kinds of shots, and Rule of Thirds.

A quick note about behaviour. If you are disturbing any other classes or not following school rules while you are outside the classroom filming, you will not be allowed to leave the classroom. This will make for a very boring documentary. So please be on your best behaviour.

Today's assignment:

• In your group, decide together what scenes you need and add them to your google doc
• Decide which scenes you can film today during class time
• Film them! 

Good Luck!

-k

Term 4 Week 4: Basic Filming Techniques and Storyboarding

Assigned: 22 May 2012

Chao Cac Ban!

Documentaries. We're moving quickly with this documentary making. Here are some tips for shooting video (which we will start doing next week):

While his tips are a bit funny, his tips are good. So what are we supposed to remember?

• Use a tripod - or other household objects - to get a steady shot
• 6 basic kinds of shots
• Extreme Long Shot
• Long Shot
• Medium Shot
• Medium Close Up
• Close Up
• Extreme Close Up

• Rule of thirds

Let's watch the movie trailer for a documentary on bullying and see what filming techniques we see.

What else did you notice about the documentary trailer?

Today in your groups, you are going to plan out what you need to film to make an AWESOME documentary. We are going to use a technique called a storyboard. A storyboard is a visual progression of what is happening in the film - like an outline but in pictures as well as words. Click here to see some examples.

I know you don't have a complete idea for what your documentary will be yet - but that's where this storyboarding helps.

Your assignment today:

• With your group, make a list of the "scenes" you want for your documentary. Make it on google docs and share it with each other (and share it with Ms. Kris too sis.kristin.romberg@gmail.com ).
• Pick one "scene" that you know you need for the documentary. Make a storyboard of that scene using the computer programs you know (paint for drawing the scenes, paste the drawings into a word document in the correct order, add text explaining what the camera and subject are doing in the scene.
• Save it and send it to everyone in your group and Ms. Kris (sis.kristin.romberg@gmail.com). 

Keep in mind, next week we are going to start filming. If you have a camera that takes high quality video, please bring it for your group to use. If you have a tripod, bring it for your group to use. EVERYONE should bring headphones after next week - you need to have headphones plugged into the computer in order to open the movie making program! 

Good Luck!
-k

Term 4 Week 3: Intro to Documentaries

Assigned: 15 May 2012

Chao Cac Ban!

Obviously, Ms. Kris is not here. She is at the Opera House asking questions and getting things set for our End of Year Concert. So please be on your best behavior for the Ms. Nhung.

Here are the results of your voting on photos last week (top three in each category):

Depth of Field:

Thang - Vision

Khang - Pentel Oil Pastel

Cindy - Show Don't Tell

Lighting or Flash: 

Kris - Sunset

Ms. Kris- Playing With The Sun

Chau - Thinking

Portrait:

Chau - Thinking

Thang - Needless Life

Nhu - "LOL"

Long Exposure:

Yen - Hellooooo!

Khoi - Keyboard Lights

Phuc - Worm

Aesthetic:

Yen - The Old Days

Thang - Green

Yen - Night House

Original:

Thang - Hopeless

Ms. Kris - Just Plane Fun

Thang - Bright Orange

Personal Favourite:

Yen - The Old Days

Ms. Kris - Tonka Trucks

Thang - You're Not Alone

And now for something completely different

For the rest of the year we will be learning about making and editing videos, with a focus on documentaries.

What is a documentary?

A documentary is a non-fiction film with the purpose to document or record some aspect of reality. It's facts. It's basically like a persuasive magazine article, but on film instead of written in a magazine. It has similar features.

What documentaries have you seen or do you know about?

This is week 3 of the term. In the remaining 8 weeks of the term you will be working to plan, write, film, edit, and produce a short documentary.

Today's assignment is the following:

• get into groups of 4 people (so there will be 4 groups)
• talk together to choose a topic for your documentary
• start an email to Ms. Kris with the names of the people in your group and your topic
• Answer the following questions about your topic in the email as well
• What have I not yet been told about this subject?
• Is everything I have been told the truth? How much do I need to verify/prove?
• What would I personally like to know about this subject?
• If I were a member of the audience, what would I want to learn about this
  subject?
• What can I find that is little known on this subject?
• What information can I gather that would aid the filming process?
• Send the email to Ms. Kris
• If there is still time left in class, start researching your topic and figuring out what you're going to say in your documentary - be sure to take notes so you're ready to get started next week!

I'll check in with you during English class later today to see how everything goes today. Please thank Ms. Nhung for filling in for Ms. Kris today!

Good luck!

-k

Term 4 Week 2- Powerpoint and feedback

Assigned: 8 May 2012

Chao Cac Ban!

Today's assignment is to share your PowerPoint presentations of your best photos with everyone in this class. So what you are going to do is:

• Open your PowerPoint presentation onto your computer
• Start your presentation in full screen mode
• Your presentation should run itself and repeat when it is finished
• Once your presentation is working, take the voting sheet and walk around to the other terminals and view your peer's presentations
• After you have seen everyone's presentation, fill out the voting sheet and submit it to Ms. Kristin

Enjoy!

-k