Learn to Make a Stop Motion Animation Movie! (5-Day Camp)

Make sure to check all dates and times of your scheduled class. This class is a 5-day, 1-hour each day class. Those classes may not be on consecutive days, or it can take place over 5-weeks with 1-day per week.

Student films I have coached have been official selections in film festivals, including the GreenScreen Film Fest!

In this 5-day camp, students will learn to make a stop motion movie to bring their toys to life! Students will need:

* A phone, tablet or desktop computer that can enable the camera for taking photos
* Stop Motion Studio: Either the free version or the paid version will work. I recommend the paid version if you want to access green screen and other advanced features
* A tripod or stable surface: You can create your own tripod using household items too.
* Any figures you want to star in your movie
* String to make items fly or bounce
* Green/Blue Screen: Optional

Students should come to class prepared with all materials because every day, I will share tools to practice using during class time. This is a hands-on moviemaking class, not a lecture-based class. Much of the time will be spent on discussing students' projects, working on making props or setting the scene, and using the technology. 

Day 1
Students will receive an introduction to a variety of features within Stop Motion Studio, starting with the most basic, how to access the camera, as well as how to set the device up on a steady surface, and how to make it level with the toys. I will show how to use green screen and frames, to display the onion skin, and to adjust the speed or frames per second. Students will learn how to add voiceovers, theme music, and sound effects. This overview provides students with a foundation to help them plan out what they can film later in the week. By day one, students should have a short practice video using some features we discussed.

Day 2
Students will decide on a story idea for their final movie. Students will write down or draw some ideas on paper to have a plan before shooting. I will discuss the plan with students. There will be time to start shooting the final movie.

Day 3
Students will continue to work on their movie, adding to the story if they get further than they had planned, or beginning a second movie if they finish their first idea. While working, students will share what they filmed to get feedback so they can adjust their filming to get the best production value.

Day 4
Students will continue to film and learn different features within Stop Motion Studio, including adding titles and credits, and how to export the movie to upload it to the classroom.

Day 5
This will be the final premiere day. Students will either upload movies to the classroom, screen share, or hold their device up to the screen to show their movie. Feel free to bring popcorn and treats, put up a poster for your movie, or dress up in your most fun Hollywood-inspired outfit if you would like!

To comply with COPPA regulations, we will not using any program other than Stop Motion Studio.