Silent Film Project & Camera Work Tips

This morning, please complete the following:

1. Create a film "company" (group) of 1-5 (for this project).
2. Come up with an idea for an arranged (edited) silent film. Use the concept sheet as a starter, if you need to.
3. Create a treatment for the film. You treatment should include up to 10 scenes--please no more than that. (You may use your previous story board for this!)
4. Write a short description for your scenes. You will turn in your scene and title breakdown to me for credit.
5. Plan and decide who you might need as an actor (use your group members if possible), where you are going to shoot, when you are going to shoot, etc. Talk with your partner to make choices.

Give your partners a job:
--Have someone take on the job of the cinematographer
--Have someone take on the job of editor
--Have someone take on the job of director
--Have someone take on the job of actors, crew, and/or casting director (if needed)
--All members of the group should write, offer suggestions, assist, help out where needed! 

6. Print out a copy of the arranged script by the end of class today. You should print out a second or third copy for yourself and/or your actors, etc. Use the script when making a film.

You will have some time in class in the next few classes devoted to editing and preparing the film. If you have already started, please use a class period today to begin uploading, editing and arranging your film.

HEY: While you're waiting (sometimes you'll have to wait for your group) check out these important videos and complete these notes!:

Now that you've had a chance to play around behind a camera, here are a few instructional videos to give you some pointers and hints about your camera work.

Identify and define the following terms from the videos below. Write these in your notebook, as we will refer to them throughout the course:

Extreme long shot, long shot, medium shot, medium-close up, close up, extreme close up; Firehosing, jogging, backlighting, lead/nose room, headroom; pan and tilt, dolly movement, truck or tracking shots, sled and vest system, boom; 180 degree rule; line of action, dynamic shots versus static shots.  

• Basic Shot Types
• The 5 Deadly Sins of Amateur Video
• Basic Camera Movement
• 180 Degree Rule explanation
• 180 Degree and Other Sequence Shots

Videos will take about 20-25 minutes.

Important Film Jobs, defined

Take note of these important film jobs:

Cinematographer/Director of Photography (DP): The chief of the camera and lighting crew of a film. The DP makes decisions on lighting and framing of scenes in conjunction with the film's director. Typically, the director tells the DP how they want a shot to look, and the DP chooses the correct aperture, filter, and lighting to achieve the desired effect.

Camera Operator: The camera operator uses the camera at the direction of the cinematographer, director of photography, or the film director to capture the scenes on film. Generally, a cinematographer or director of photography does not operate the camera, but sometimes these jobs may be combined. Various assistants are also named.

Film Editor: The film editor (with help from the director usually) is the person who assembles the various shots into a coherent film. There are often several assistant editors. Various technical responsibilities are referred to as editors such as dialogue editors (who work with dialogue), sound editing, etc.

HOMEWORK: Please read the handout on Hollywood & the Academy Awards. In a written paragraph or two (to turn in for credit), using the information from the articles, how did Hollywood and the Academy Awards (2 different things) positively and negatively affect film making in America?