Podcast training and Final Exam Preview. Assigned 4/28, due 4/30 - Minor

Podcast

I will be taking every podcast team into the room for about 10 minutes so I can teach you how to use the machine and let you try it out for a few minutes. When you aren't in there, take a look at the Film in a minute. This will be your FINAL EXAM in this class.

Filminute - Final Exam planning

Today we are going to start the video unit. We will be looking at Filminute, the international film festival for 1-minute films. These will be the basis for the video you will use your phone and iMovie to make. You will create your own 1-minute film. This will be what you turn in for your final exam project.

First, let's take a look at the festival and some of the recent winners.

Go here: https://filminute.com/festival/filminute-winners-2021/

On your Google Site today, please pick TWO of the filminute movies featured on the website above and answer the following questions.

Use this information to help you with questions 2 through 5.

Theme - what is the central point the director is making sometimes evaluations are based on motifs, which are ideas or symbols that are repeated throughout the product, but are not the full theme.

Story - Analyzing the story is often easier than the theme. A story is presented in film through the plot (simple, complex, timeless, believable), the characters (appearance, dialogue or lack thereof, interplay between characters, actions, names), and symbolic elements.

Plot - is the easiest thing to describe, its the storyline. But critics often get more specific, things like how time is handled (linear, or non-linear) or how the climatic moments are handled (like the ending). Another concept is the believability of the plot; the idea of a universal truth, an internal truth about human nature, or a fantastic version of the truth.

Symbolism - how symbols are used, whether they reinforce the theme or add depth to the story. Are the symbols cliche is often a question one should ask when critiquing a piece.

Character - an essential element - appearance, dialogue, hair, clothing, mannerisms, accent and speech patterns are all used. "Good guys versus bad guys," underdogs,  sympathetic characters, etc are all examples. Relationships between characters are also important.

1. What is the name of the film?

2. What was the theme?

3. Summarize the story in two sentences (plot).

4. Are there any symbols in the film? How are they used?

5. Who characters are in the story and tell me a little about how they interact, if they do.

6. Use the technical evaluation information from below to analyze and evaluate the following technical aspects:   

Lighting - Is the lighting sufficient for the subject/plot?

Sound - Is the sound sufficient for viewers to hear and understand?

Editing - Is the editing done an appealing way to extend the story line and augment viewing?

Cut-aways and transitions - Are the transitions professional and smooth?  

Write a couple of sentences about each of these for both films you watched.

a. Lighting

b. Sound, 

c. Editing, 

d. Cut-aways 

e. Transitions

Next class we will start the planning process for making your own 1-minute film - you will storyboard and script. I want you to make these AT home using your cell phones. You can use any video editing software you want on your phones. I encourage you to find actors from your friends and family group. You MUST tell a story that has a beginning, a middle and an ending. You can choose to do this a number of ways, and I would love if you hit on some harder topics like the examples you watched today. I do realize that it's difficult, so do the best you can. I can help you brainstorm ideas and through the next few classes I will be talking with you more about what you could do. This IS your final exam and it will be due on the day of the final in this class. Wednesday, May 28 by 11:00 am.

I want these filmed and created AWAY from school. You may use class time to plan and prep, as well as to edit your video on your phones. You are also welcome to upload clips to Google Drive and use iMovie on my computers to edit the product. 

You MAY choose to shoot this at school, and for some of you, this is probably the only way it will get done. If you do not take care of this on your own at home, and you end up shooting at school, you will take an AUTOMATIC 20 point deduction on the final exam grade. That means the highest grade you can get if you shoot your film here at school is an 80!!!

There will be some extra credit opportunities on the day of the final that will ONLY apply to the final. I will offer some additional extra credit for the 9-week cycle before the end.