Film Year 1 – Silent Filmmaking
Unit 1 – The Frame
[Intro Unit] The “Composing the Frame” unit provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and techniques of framing in film and photography. This unit covers key elements such as the frame, subject placement, angles, and lines.
Modules
• The Frame – This module provides an in-depth focus on the ABCs of aspect ratio and shot size.
• Subject Placement – This module provides an in-depth look at the Rule of Thirds to explore the ratio of positive space to negative space that influences, supports, and defines the design of a film.
• Angles – This module provides an in-depth focus on camera angles and how they impact the meaning of a shot.
• Lines – This module provides an in-depth focus on dynamic lines and how they impact the viewer and/or emotionally charge a shot.
LAB
Students will gather all of their footage and produce an assembly of their work.
Key Assignments:
- Perform camera tests demonstrating execution of a balanced Composition with different Camera Angles while Balancing Space utilizing negative Space avoiding Dead Space.
- Perform camera tests to create Compositional Stress (Creating Tension) within the frame.
- Perform camera tests to execute Balance and Symmetry (Center Point Vanishing Point) and contrast with images that emphasize Diagonal Lines (Dynamic Compositions).
CTE Standards
2.1, 2.5, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 7.4, 10.1, 10.3, 11.5, A1.2, A1.4, A1.7, A1.9, A2.1, A2.2, A2.3, A2.4, A2.5, A2.6, A2.7, A2.8, A2.9, A3.2, A4.2, A.4.4, A4.6, A5.2, A5.3, A5.6, A8.2, C2.3, C4.4
Unit 2 – Intro to Coverage
[Intro Unit] The “Coverage Intro” unit introduces students to the foundational techniques and principles of coverage in film and video production. This unit covers the basics of single person coverage, two-person coverage, and the techniques for capturing moving subjects.
Modules
• Single Person Coverage – This module provides an introduction to the 180-degree and 30-degree rules in order to master sight lines when shooting coverage of a single subject.
• Two Person Coverage – This module provides an introduction to the 180-degree and matching eye lines when shooting coverage of two subjects.
• The Moving Camera – This module provides an introduction to techniques for covering moving subjects and how to cover multiple subjects within a shot.
LAB
Students will gather all of their footage and produce an assembly of their work.
Key Assignments:
- Perform camera tests executing coverage following the 180 Degree Rule.
- Perform camera tests executing coverage that maintains continuity with Camera Direction.
- Perform camera tests executing coverage that demonstrates techniques for Crossing the Line (Breaking the 180 Degree Rule).
- Perform camera tests executing coverage for Establishing Spatial Relationship in the wide shot (also known as the “master shot).
- Perform camera tests executing Clean vs. Dirty shots.
- Perform camera tests executing Over the Shoulder shots.
- Perform camera tests executing coverage that demonstrates proficient Mirroring of shots.
CTE Standards
2.1, 2.5, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 7.4, 10.1, 10.3, 11.5, A1.2, A1.4, A1.7, A1.9, A2.1, A2.2, A2.3, A2.4, A2.5, A2.6, A2.7, A2.8, A2.9, A3.2, A4.2, A.4.4, A4.6, A5.2, A5.3, A5.6, A8.2, C2.3, C4.4
Unit 3 – Silent Film
[Intro Unit] The “Silent Film” unit provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the unique art of silent filmmaking. This unit covers the concept of silent films, the application of the 3-act structure in silent narratives, and the practical aspects of producing a silent film. Students will learn how to create compelling stories without the use of spoken dialogue, relying instead on visual storytelling.
Modules
• The Silent Film Concept – This module provides essential techniques for developing an original silent film idea.
• 3-Act Structure – This module provides essential techniques for flushing out story ideas into a 3-Act Film Structure creating a photo storyboard to plan film production.
• Producing a Silent Film – This module provides essential techniques for the various elements of composition, coverage and sound design learned over the course to produce a final silent film project.
LAB
Produce a Photo Storyboard/ Capture the outline as a photographic Beat Board for the Silent Film.
Key Assignments:
- Produce an outline for a three-act story structure.
- Produce an outline of the major beats of a story to include a beginning, middle and end.
- Plot the major story points for each act.
- Capture each plot point in an image using composition and coverage techniques.
CTE Standards
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 10.1, 10.3, 11.5, A1.2, A2.3, A1.7, A2.1, A2.2, A2.4, A2.5, A2.6, A2.7, A2.8, A2.9, A5.5, A5.6, A5.7, A6.1, A7.1, A7.3, A8.1, A8.2, A8.4, C2.1, C2.3, C4.2, C4.3, C6.4
Unit 4 – Production
[Intro Unit] This unit covers the anatomy of a film shoot, creating shooting schedules and shot lists, and developing floor plans and shot lists. Students will gain the skills necessary to ensure a successful film shoot, with all elements thoroughly planned and coordinated.
Module
• Anatomy of a Film Shoot Students will deconstruct the components of a film to analyze how they function in relationship to each other to create meaning.
• Shooting Schedule and Shot Lists
Students will learn how to create shot lists and shooting schedules for their silent films.
• Floor Plans
Students will create floor plans from their storyboards for their silent films.
LAB
Students will be in production in order to produce a final silent film.
Key Assignments:
Shoot the Opening Sequence on a Mobile Device
- Review the trailer for Unsane a feature film shot entirely on an iPhone
- Create a shot list of images that exemplify their story’s world, characters and theme.
- Film the series of images from their shot list that are representative of their story’s world, characters and theme.
Film and edit the scenes as outlined.
CTE Standards
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4, 10.1, 10.3, 11.5, A1.2, A2.3, A1.7, A2.1, A2.2, A2.4, A2.5, A2.6, A2.7, A2.8, A2.9, A5.5, A5.6, A5.7, A6.1, A7.1, A7.3, A8.1, A8.2, A8.4, C2.1, C2.3, C4.2, C4.3, C6.4