Syllabus

Let's Make A Movie!! - 2019 Fall Semester Syllabus

Later classes are still being revised.

In this class you will learn the process of making films, the same process Hollywood filmmakers use to make your favorite movies! Study materials will be articles and videos on the Internet, so every student will need access to a computer with Internet access. Links to assigned content will be posted on a class website. Most communication will be via email.

Write your assignments in a word processor like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or Apple Pages and email them to Mr. Scott by Monday night. Please email me questions about assignments or anything we are studying at any time. Weekly assignments will rarely take more than an hour per week.

We will meet from 11:15 to 1:05 on Wednesdays in the lunchroom at the Co-op. Specific dates are below.

Each class entry below starts with the reading and exercises due that week. Articles are linked to either a web site or PDF to download. Videos are linked to YouTube or Vimeo, usually. See the Class Details tab for other information.

Aug 14 - Why Make Films? (Assignment 1)

1. List your five favorite movies and why you like them. 
2. Why did you want to take this class?
3. What do cameral will you use for class assignments. (See Class Details.) 

Aug 21 - "Story is King!" (Assignment 2)

1. Read your textbook, Shooting Better Movies, pages 3-7, the sections on Story, Resolutions, and Structure.
2. Watch this video by Simon Cade, a young professional filmmaker, on the importance of focusing on telling a good story in film.
3. Watch this short film, Sign Language, write a sentence or two about what its story is.
4. Write one story idea that you might want to turn into a short film. It needs to be only one paragraph.

Aug 27 - The Three Act Story Structure (Assignment 3)

1. Read this article on the Three-Act Structure.
2. Watch this video about "The Heroes Journey", another model for telling great stories. This fills in more details within the 3-act structure.
3. Watch Listen to Me.
4. Summarize the three-act structure and describe how Listen to Me fits it.

Sep 4 - The Filmmaking Process & Screenwriting (Assignment 4)

1. Read pages 7-15 in your textbook, on screenplay formatting and writing.
2. Download and read the sample screenplay from the Oscars. Download
3. Write the cover page and first two pages of your story, formatting the pages as a script. If you don't have a story, get a toddler's book, like Runaway Bunny or Goodnight Moon, and write it out as a script with scenes, descriptions, locations, etc.; just the cover and first two pages.
4. Watch video on Storyboarding.

Sep 11 - Shot Types (Assignment 5)

1. Read your textbook, Shooting Better Movies, pages 61-72, the sections "Shot Sizes" and "Composition."  These are important techniques the filmmaker uses to tell his or her story. (Just for reference, here are two good videos on shot types: this video on types of shots and this shorter video.)
2. Watch this great, short comedy Validation, how the director used shot types and cuts to tell his story. 
3. Shoot a scene involving people: a conversation, telling a joke, doing anything. In your film, shoot individual shots five seconds or less. Include shots of these types: WS, MS, CU, OTS, Cut-in or Cutaway. The total film length should be no shorter than 30 seconds and no more than 60 seconds. Have fun!

Sep 18 - Cinematography and Composition (Assignment 6)

1. Watch this excellent tutorial by Simon Cade on beginning cinematography and composition.
2. Watch this short video on the 180 Rule.
3. Shoot a very short scene of two people talking and use the 180-degree Rule. Use cuts of 5 seconds or less and pay attention to your shot composition. If you plan it, you can do it sequentially rather than having to edit it after shooting. But if you want to do a little editing, as most of you have done already, then shoot all your lines for one actor, then all lines from the other and edit them in a video editing program so it flows naturally as you cut from person to person.

Sept 25 - Lighting (Assignment 7)

1. Read pages 75-82 in your textbook, on lighting.
2. Watch this quirky video on 3-point lighting.
3. Set up three-point lighting and shoot someone talking, like in an interview, or two people having a conversation. If you use two people, make sure they stand or sit close together.

Oct 2 - Set Direction (Assignment 8)

1. Calls are made on set before the director shouts “Action!” There is some variation in this, but this article is good for the basic calls: Leading up to “Rolling” on the Scene. Be ready to be tested on this.
2. Watch this quirky short film, Brain Twitches by Alba Lange, a young Swedish filmmaker and animator.

Oct 9 - FALL BREAK!

Oct 16 - Preparing for a Shoot (Assignment 9)

Use Class 8's super-short Funniest Joke script the edited film at this link.

Next, print a second copy of the script, read this article, and line the script with the shots we used today. I also include a link to the shot breakdown I showed you on the TV today.
211 Script Lining - YouTube
212 Script Breakdown - YouTube
Script Breakdown Template

 

Next, print a second copy of the script, read this article, and line the script with the shots we used today. I also include a link to the shot breakdown I showed you on the TV today.
How to Make a Lined Script and Save Your Shot List
Marking Script with Shots-Example 

 

*** Still Revising Below This Point ***

 

Oct 23 - Shoot Schedules (Assignment 10)

1.  Watch this video about taking your lined script and making a shoot schedule from it.
2. Develop a shoot schedule for our film.

Oct 30 - Editing (Assignment 11)

1. Watch video on editing.
2. Watch this funny, teen-made short film: God Bless Craig.

Nov 6 - Foley (Assignment 12)

1. Add your own sound effects to the 20 second clip from Buster Keaton's The Blacksmith. Do not use pre-recorded sounds, but make your own. Be creative and have fun!

Nov 13 - Documentary Filmmaking (Assignment 13)

1. Watch the two non-profit videos.
2. Which film is more effective and why?
3. Watch the short "mockumentary" film 5 People You Haven't Heard Of by Alba Lange.

Nov 20 - Instructional Filmmaking (Assignment 14)

1. Shoot and edit a very brief film to teach someone how to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
2. Watch the short stop-action film Guacamole by PES.

Nov 27 - THANKSGIVING

DEC 4 - Inspiration (Assignment 16)

1. Watch these interviews with directors about what inspires them to make films.

Dec 11 - Meet to watch our film (Assignment 16)

DEC 18 - CHRISTMAS BREAK!