A Sample Program Plan for an 8 Day Session
Program Title/Details
Filmmaking: The Art of Silent Film
ages 11-15, 8 days
Description on the website:
Discover the art of film-making and take your acting to the next level as you study the creative genre of silent movies, and make a silent movie of your own! Begin by learning who does what on a film set, and try your hand at film production roles – everything from director to DOP. As filmmakers, you'll learn all about cinematography and – by relying solely on visuals – discover the art of telling a story through image. As actors, you'll explore melodrama and develop fresh ways to use gesture, facial expression and physical expression to convey meaning. Watch clips from silent movies and uncover the secrets of the genre, then collaborate with fellow filmmakers to storyboard a creative short film of your own. Moving into production, you get to choose whether to focus on filmmaking or acting, as we work together on set. You'll learn a little about post-production at the end of the week, before attending the premier of your movie on the last day of the session!
Instructor's Goals:
1. To explore the history of silent film and explore filmmaking skills that may be overlooked with the our modern day obsession with expositional dialogue.
2. To go back to filmmaking basics, focussing on the visuals of storytelling.
3. To explore techniques developed by the forefathers of film: Georges Melies, Fritz Lang, Max Linder etc.
4. To develop skills through several very short experimental projects.
5. To write and film a contemporary silent film to show on the final day, emulating some of the techniques campers have explored.
6. Keep the kids engaged – this is a young group!
Long Term Plan
Block 18.45am to 10am approx. / Block 2
10.10am-11.15 am approx. / Block 3
12.45pm-2.00pm approx.
Day 1 / Not applicable / Not applicable / Program overview
Name game
Form to complete: their interests, skills, personal goals
Interactive film quiz
go over expectations
Day 2 / Introduction to silent film genre: clips/discussion
Workshop on equipment use and safety
Game: who does what on a film set?
Screen Lumiere brothers clip and discuss / Capture documentary footage in the style of the Lumiere brothers
Screen The Great Train Robbery and discuss
Campers split into groups and create plans for a silent short entitled, The Lost Hat / Campers film their shorts, The Lost Hat.
Discuss and critique the resulting footage.
Day 3 / Screen Voyage dans La Lune and shorter Meliese shorts. Discuss simple in-camera effects.
Campers are set a short challenge using lighting to capture mood. / Campers review and discuss the footage for the lighting challenge.
Lesson on tripod set up.
Set the Meliese film project challenge. Groups discuss their intentions / Exploring challenges of locations: Groups shoot their Meliese footage in 45 mins, using a given location.
Groups swap locations and film again.
Discussion: what did they learn about working on location? What were the limitations of location?
Day 4 / Workshop on slapstick comedy with the theatre department / View scene from Seven Years Bad Luck. Campers pair up and recreate the mirror scene. Pairs join together to film each other's work. / Decide the premise of the final movie. Break agreed plot into segments.
Workshop on storyboarding.
Each group storyboards one segment.
Day 5 / Alfred Hitchcock workshop. Look at clips from Blackmail.
Discuss shot choice and building of suspense.
In groups, campers are given a 30 second project to film, creating suspense.
View and discuss. / Finish storyboarding.
Groups research possible locations.
Props and costumes assembled.
Rehearsal of key scenes. / Filming our final movie
(production jobs rotated)
Day 6 / Filming our final movie
(rotate production jobs) / Filming our final movie
rotate production jobs / Filming our final movie
rotate production jobs
Day 7 / Filming our final movie
rotate production jobs / Editing time!
Counsellors to run silent film challenge/spoof: A Day in the Life of a Centauri Camper / Editing time!
Counsellors finish their spoof with the campers.
Editing completed tonight.
Day 8 / Debrief workshop:
What have they learned?
View and critique final cut of our movie.
Discuss film festivals
Final words
Plan final presentation / Presentation:
Campers discuss what they have learned
Their goals for the final movie
Show the movie to parents
Question & Answer period / Home!
Lesson Plan Sample
- once your long term plan is complete, you have the shape of your program. Now, plan each block in detail. Each teaching block should have:
1. An Objective
2. A strong opening activity to grip the campers
3. At least 3 different 'shapes' (see below)
4. A strong final activity (may inspire something that begins in the next block)
What do we mean by 'shapes'?
Create variety by using different teaching styles and techniques, and varying them. Examples include: whole group discussion work, race against the clock activity, small group work, individual work, active challenge, movement between locations, teacher-led activity, camper-led activity, viewing movie clips.
WORKSHOP PLAN: DAY 2, BLOCK 1 – 1hr 15mins
Objective: Introduce Silent Film genre, equipment, film production roles, introduce Lumiere brothers.
Activity 1 (wake up activity) - 5 mins
Instructor begins to teach non verbally – campers try to guess what is being conveyed. Under their seats are pieces of information they must convey non-verbally in response: eg., I have a stomach ache.
Activity 2 (whole class discussion) – 5 mins
The Silent Movie genre: if you can't use words, how do you convey story? Atmosphere? Character? Conflict? A list is compiled on the board.
Activity 3 (viewing) – 5 mins
Class watches a silent movie clip
Activity 4 (small group discussion) – 15 mins
In groups, campers discuss how the clip they watched conveyed story, atmosphere, character and conflict non-verbally. They refer to the list on the board and present their findings to the whole group.
Activity 5 (instructor-led, lecture-style) – 10 mins
The instructor goes over the rules for safe use of the equipment, battery charging etc.
Activity 6 (small group – practical) – 15 mins
The instructor provides her film counsellors with a list of basic camera features to teach to groups. Each group has a camera. The instructor rotates between the 2 groups, answering questions. Experienced campers have the chance to show what they already know.
Activity 7 (small group – game) – 10 mins
The instructor divides the class into 2 groups. Each group receives a list of film production jobs, each written on a separate card. They also receive job descriptions, each on a separate card. The group must attempt to match the job title to the job description. Once successfully matched, these are displayed on the wall. This activity ends with instructions on set etiquette, delivered by the instructor.
Activity 8 (viewing/discussion) – 10 mins
Screen Lumiere brothers clip and discuss, ready for the film challenge in the next block.
Snack time!