Film Studies: Introduction to Film
Students will learn how to appreciate, analyze and interpret character, story structure, and filmmaking technique through the medium of film as they study clips and full movies, write scripts/essays, and learn about the business of cinema.
Angelia Derrick (she/her)
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What's included
24 pre-recorded lessons
12 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
2-4 hours per week. 1. Week Two-Week Eleven: Ten full length film watches and complete the tracking sheets for each film. 2. Week One: write a logline. 3. Week One: one practice script. 4. Week Five: examine a score/sound activity. 5. Week Four, Seven, Eleven: three short film student-created scripts (students will have the option to do a storyboard instead of a script for one of them). 6. First Project Week Two: research a filmmaker and either write a four paragraph essay or film an oral slideshow presentation. 7. Mid-Term Project Week Six: Multiple choice exam, blockbuster pitch, or essay. 8. Final Project Week Twelve: Multiple choice exam, essay, or film a short movie.Letter Grade
Students taking the class for a grade will receive a course grade based on completing the homework assignments, turning in their tracking sheets for the full film watches, writing their three short film scripts, and completing the three larger projects during the course.Grading
Students can "opt out" of receiving a grade and don't need to complete any of the homework assignments. It is recommended that they watch the full films and mentally answer the questions on the tracking sheets to get the full benefit of the course.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 8
Beginner - Intermediate Level
This course explores a wide variety and range of film types and units of study, including film history, shot composition, editing techniques, animation, special effects, sound in film, film ratings, specialists that help make a film, and individual genre-based units of study. Additionally, students are introduced to basic script formatting, writing, and “pitching.” Focus includes the development of techniques for analysis in shot composition, story structure mapping, appreciation of silent and scored films, and character development through the visual medium of film. Students begin to analyze works of cinema, research film history and genres, and create original scripts using techniques studied in class. There are NO live meetings for this course. There will be weekly posts in the classroom each week which will include: video lessons (between one hour to an hour and half for each week), links to outside resources, homework assignments, movie watch assignments, and discussion prompts. Learners may log in and watch the lessons at their own convenience during the week. Introduction to Film will be taught as a US middle school elective, but you don't have to be taking it as an elective or for a grade to enjoy the class. Between class time and homework the students will do the required 60 hours of work to use this class as a semester length elective.
Learning Goals
Students will learn how to appreciate, analyze and interpret character, story structure, and narrative technique through the medium of film.We will also explore the artistry of sound, camera, costumes, set making, stunts, and SFX that help the filmmakers tell their stories.
Syllabus
13 Units
24 Lessons
over 12 WeeksUnit 1: Unit 1 - Structure, Story and Screenplay
Lesson 1:
Unit 1 - Loglines
Learn about the importance of loglines both in the creation and marketing of films. One-sheets and trailers. Homework: Write a logline. Nearpod Lesson: 21 min 1 assignment
Lesson 2:
Unit 1 - Dialogue & Screenplay Basics
Examine dialogue in cinema and learn how to write "good" dialogue. Learn about what a screenplay is and how to write one. Homework: Rewrite an example of bad dialogue. Nearpod & Video Lessons: 45 min 1 assignment
13 mins of video lessons
Lesson 3:
Unit 1 - Story Structure & Opening Sequences
Read two articles on story structure, learn about the three-act story structure, character motivation, and a popular story telling structure in the industry called Save the Cat. Learn about the different types of opening sequences a filmmaker might pick to start their film and why. Watch the first film of the class: The Princess Bride (1987) or Coco (2017). Nearpod lessons: 44 min 2 assignments
21 mins of video lessons
Unit 2: Unit 2 - A History of Cinema
Lesson 4:
Unit 2 - A History of Cinema - Early
Covering a brief history of early staged drama, timeline of drama from stage to screen, key figures in early cinema and major periods in film history, and innovations in filmmaking technology, including music, sound, color, and special effects. Complete first project: an essay or oral presentation on a filmmaker. Nearpod Lesson: 19 min 1 assignment
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The majority of the lessons will be posted as Nearpod links where the students will watch the video lectures and film clips.
We will be discussing and/or watching clips and full films of PG-13 and R rated movies in this class that might contain adult content such as violence, language, and sexuality. Some of the full movie watch options in the class will have a PG-13 rating.
Students will be provided with a list of both free and paid screenwriting programs to write their scripts as well as websites to read screenplays for free.
For the second and final project the learners have the option to do a mid-term and final exam which will be conducted utilizing Google Forms. Learners will need a gmail to take the tests (requirement of Google), but they can use a parent/guardian gmail and do not need their own. For all three of the project options the learners have the option to write an essay, the essay is required to be written and turned in via Google Docs.
A few of the homework assignments will include watching a YouTube video and the link will be posted in the classroom.
Pre-Requisites
If the learner will need a grade, they should understand the basics of how to write an MLA format four paragraph essay (grammar, thesis statements, paragraph structure, etc.) if they pick to write an essay for any of the three projects.
Supply List
Students will need to rent/stream required movies to watch as homework. All of these movies are available to stream or rent online in the US. The majority should also be available as DVDs or BluRays through a local library system. The Princess Bride, Coco, Cat Ballou, Mary Poppins, Arrival, Casablanca, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Poltergeist, Jurassic Park, Black Panther, ParaNorman, Up, Clue, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bumblebee, The Fall Guy, Dolphin Tale, Hidden Figures. Students will need to select and download screenwriting software to complete the screenwriting homework assignments. A list of free options will be provided to students at the beginning of the class. Students will need to have access to a word processor that can open Word Docs for the full film tracking sheets (most word processors will open .docx).
Joined May, 2020
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Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in Film/Cinema/Video Studies from California State University, Fullerton
Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Charter Oak State College
Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Arts: Creative Writing
Certificates from Institute of Children's Literature
Certificates from Institute for Writers
Writing young adult fantasy and space opera under the pen name Angelia Almos. Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$24
weekly or $288 for all content24 pre-recorded lessons
12 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 5 learners
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Ages: 11-14
