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Lesson 2: Film Techniques |
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| What's on for today and why? |
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This lesson will introduce student's to some of the technical jargon used in critiquing films so that they will be better able to make insightful observations about the way meaning is made in the film through the use of angles, cuts, lighting, and sound as well as more traditional literary elements such as symbolism, metaphor,and foreshadowing. Today will also be the day to introduce the webquest that student's will be exploring on their own while we are viewing and responding to the film in class. |
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| What to do: |
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First pass the "Golden's Glossary of Film Terminology" handout adapted by Jonathan Mitchell. Then go over the terms as a class either by putting a copy up on an overhead projector or by simply reading them to the class. Either way each terms should be contextualized with student's knowledge of films from recreational viewing by encouraging them to connect each term to a scene, moment, feature, etc. from a movie they have previously seen.
Next divide the class into five groups of 4-5 students each and explain that every one of these groups will spend a day as our resident expert film critics. As such they will be responsible for tracking various film features on the "Film Critic's Viewing Guide" handout which will be collected and kept in a class log so that students can refer to each other's notes. (This could also be turned into an online log by using a wiki and asking students to go online after making their notations in class and recording them so everyone can view the notes as well as add their own observations.). The group in charge of each viewing will be given a chance to share their observations with the class.
Set aside the last 3-5 minutes of the class to direct your student's attention to the webquest. Explain that they will be expected to log on and complete the 4 tasks at their leisure so long as they are all completed by the end of the unit. Also remind them to bring their autobiography to class the next day. |
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How did it go? |
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| Were the students excited to recognize how different films they watch and love use the film techniques you introduced them to? If so you've got them hooked! |
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