Over the last couple of weeks I have been working with Teacher Jackie Braidwood and Queneesh Elementary's grade 6-7 class to develop environmental movie trailers. The kids were inspired by the trailer I shot last year with Mark R. Isfeld Secondary's MITV called Disposable - The Billion Cup Blood Bath and wanted to make their own cool trailers.
In teams of the three the kids chose an environmental theme they wanted to base their movie on. They then chose a genre that would best suit their message. On a piece of paper with a storyline plot and climax chart, the teams proceeded to write a movie based on their theme. After they had figured out a movie plotline and the events that would happen they started storyboarding a movie trailer that would highlight the interesting tidbits in their plotline. As we created the cartoon storyboards we had discussions about composition and storytelling using a camera. Each team decided on camera angles, composition and sound effects that would work well with their finished pieces. Before we even held a camera the trailer was first "blocked" out on paper. The kids learned the planning process that is so critical to making a great film and some were overwhelmed by the effort.
The energy levels shot through the roof when the cameras came out. We are shot on a set of ipod touches. The kids had a blast trying to recreate their storyboards on camera. It wasn't easy to find perfect locations for all the shots so at one point I ended up hiking behind North Island College with a film crew looking for a stream. We found a swamp instead but that didn't work. It was definitely film-making - not glamorous but really fun.
The kids all learned by experience how much effort goes into creating a good visual story. We're still editing the pieces together and ironing out the kinks but I can't wait to see the finished products. I'll be sure to post them when they're done.
In teams of the three the kids chose an environmental theme they wanted to base their movie on. They then chose a genre that would best suit their message. On a piece of paper with a storyline plot and climax chart, the teams proceeded to write a movie based on their theme. After they had figured out a movie plotline and the events that would happen they started storyboarding a movie trailer that would highlight the interesting tidbits in their plotline. As we created the cartoon storyboards we had discussions about composition and storytelling using a camera. Each team decided on camera angles, composition and sound effects that would work well with their finished pieces. Before we even held a camera the trailer was first "blocked" out on paper. The kids learned the planning process that is so critical to making a great film and some were overwhelmed by the effort.
The energy levels shot through the roof when the cameras came out. We are shot on a set of ipod touches. The kids had a blast trying to recreate their storyboards on camera. It wasn't easy to find perfect locations for all the shots so at one point I ended up hiking behind North Island College with a film crew looking for a stream. We found a swamp instead but that didn't work. It was definitely film-making - not glamorous but really fun.
The kids all learned by experience how much effort goes into creating a good visual story. We're still editing the pieces together and ironing out the kinks but I can't wait to see the finished products. I'll be sure to post them when they're done.
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