Filmmaking
In this 8 week course, students learn how movies are made, and experience the joy of shooting their own! If you love movies, this course from an award-winning feature-length filmmaker and cinema history expert is for you.
What's included
16 live meetings
16 in-class hoursProjects
1-2 hours per week. During each unit, students will be assigned a specific project to ensure mastery of learning. During the writing unit, students will be assigned to create their own short story using what they have learned about three act structure. During our acting unit, students will be assigned a monologue to perform OR the chance to create a Google Slide about a famous actor. During cinematography, students will be assigned camera angles/movements to record on their phones. During editing, students will learn to edit their videos. The directing unit will be their cumulative final project, where students direct their own short films to present to the class!Assessment
Students will be given verbal and written assessments of their work. Since film is an art-form, these assessments will prove more helpful than letter grades in your students' continued development as a filmmaker.Class Experience
Beginner - Intermediate Level
Welcome to the exciting, magical world of Film! This class serves as an introductory course into the concepts of all of the artistic work that goes into making a movie, including writing, screenwriting, acting, cinematography, editing, and directing. Students will be introduced to the concepts of cinema history, director as auteur, practical and digital effects, story analysis, technical analysis, characterization, and vocal performance. Theories in numeracy will be reinforced through learning activities, such as grouping like terms, characters, themes, plots, motifs and through stage design/costume design. Course reinforces grade-level ELA comprehension and writing. Growth and development of the student will be measured by their movement beyond their current skill set, not judged according to other student’s abilities. Every week, we have two class sessions. During these sessions, students will learn about a specific topic of filmmaking, and then will be given the chance to express themselves creatively through creating their own stories, camera angles/movements, edits, and ultimately culminating in directing their own short film (1 minute-10 minutes in length) to showcase to the class. Students will interact with me through lecture, discussion, slides, video clips, and more.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the history of cinema as an art form.Students will learn how movies are made.
Syllabus
16 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Intro to Cinema
Introduction to the magic of moviemaking! Outlining what the course will be about, and an icebreaker including a spirited discussion of everyone's favorite films. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
History of Cinema
An overview of how movies were first made, and how the art-form has evolved into what it is today. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Intro to Storytelling
Students will learn about Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey", and the three act structure of most Hollywood scripts. Assignment: students will be given a specific genre and brainstorm their own story ideas to "pitch" during our next class! 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Pitch
Students will "pitch" their ideas and be given instructor/peer feedback. 60 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
As a teacher with 6+ consecutive years' experience teaching students with learning needs, I am well-equipped to scaffold based on the unique specifics of each individual. My course caters to a variety of learning styles.
Parental Guidance
Some clips from films may feature content that includes some violence (PG-13 level, nothing excessive ever). I will always issue a warning beforehand in case students would prefer to turn off their screen during any such clips and will give them alternative viewing material. All content featured is age-appropriate, curated for this age-level, and anything screened in the course has inherent artistic value specific to the topics being studied.
Pre-Requisites
The only pre-requisite for this course is that you like movies and you're interested in how they are made!
Joined July, 2020
Teacher expertise and credentials
California Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts
I have written, directed, produced, edited, and acted in several projects including two feature-length films, one of which was the recipient of several awards at film festivals, the other of which was shot on actual 16mm celluloid film and is in the process of being edited now. My third feature is set to star notable name actors and is currently in the development phase. My Bachelor’s Degree from San Diego State University is in Television, Film, and New Media. In addition, I hold a Single Subject English Teaching Credential, and integrate reading comprehension/creative writing into my pedagogy to help bring literacy and college preparedness to each student I work with.
Reviews
Live Group Course
$3
weekly or $20 for 16 classes2x per week, 8 weeks
60 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-12 learners per class
