Kristi McGauley, American Literature, US English Department
This project was an extension of the second trimester American Dream Theme in American Literature for the Independent Reading Project for Native American Literature. The project was an outgrowth from learning about The Globe Cinema while on her trip to SEGL with students.
Starting with a Theme:
“I want you to see the short films as an extension of the novels and stories that we’ve read in class. You should already be familiar with a basic narrative structure: a story needs characters and a setting. In the story, the main character faces a crisis that he or she must deal with. Along the way, the story builds until it reaches a climax and finally there is some form of resolution to the story. But to create an original story we needed somewhere to start. ”
Student Brainstorm! A Padlet (so easy to use and powerful)-
The Importance of Shot Composition & Basic Filmmaking Techniques:
“Distinguishing between shooting some video and making an actual film that an audience would actually want to watch is paramount. In making a film, you need to carefully consider the composition of each shot, the type of camera shot and camera angle.” Students analyzed composition by viewing photographs and still shots from movies. They looked for symmetry, focus, foreground, background and the rule of thirds.
Storyboarding:
Students storyboarded their focus/story using StoryboardThat. Example storyboard by Brent S.
Shooting and Final Product:
As per the Globe Cinema Smartphone Film Festival, students shot their final works using their smartphones. Students used desktop and full-size tripods for video shooting. Editing was accomplished via a variety of software including iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Premiere, Movie Maker, etc.
Students shooting video with iPhones and Tripods:
Student Product by Brent S.
