This 5-week class is designed to prepare students to gain a better understanding of formal terms used in the world of film studies. Many of these terms also transfer to film making. There is no prerequisite, other than a positive attitude and a curiosity towards film!

Each class will cover a new major category. In each class, we will look at slides with photos that exemplify the given term. We will also watch the occasional film clip in order to demonstrate an example of a term. All clips will be age-appropriate for the given class. 

Every class, I will also name off a few recommended films that best showcase the category of filmmaking for the week. These are completely optional and learners do not have to watch these recommended films to do well in this class.

Week 1: CINEMATOGRAPHY. Terms include: High angle, Pan, Tracking Shot, Dolly Shot, Extreme Close-up, Establishing Shot and more.
Week 2: SOUND. Terms include: Dialogue, Diegetic/non-diegetic sound, Foley, Sound Bridge, Sound Perspective, Soundscape, and more.
Week 3. MISE-EN-SCENE. Terms include: On location, Props, Practical Effects, Costumes and Makeup, Hard and Soft lighting, and more.
Week 4: EDITING. Terms include: Cut, Fade, Dissolve, Crosscutting, Jump-Cut, Match cuts, Montage, Kuleshov Effect, and more
Week 5: NARRATIVE & REVIEW KAHOOT. Terms include: Plot vs Story, Character tropes, Non-linear storytelling, Intertitles, and more. A final Kahoot will take place at the end of this class that will review all of the weeks thus far.

There will be a lot of vocabulary to get through, but we will also move at a pace that allows students to ask questions when needed. The last 5-10 minutes of class will be dedicated to our weekly Kahoot review quiz and any additional questions.

I like to begin class by introducing general concepts to students. I do this by asking questions such as "What's a movie you've seen where you noticed something about the sound?" or "How did the camera angles in this film make you feel?". By getting the learners talking about these sort of topics, it helps everyone tune in their watching and listening skills in order to grasp the smaller details. 

Once the class has started, students will have plenty of opportunities to participate by asking and answering questions about the clips they are shown. Film Studies is a field where the students learn best by participating in discussion, even if it's simply a comment about how they felt while watching a certain sequence. Learners will get the most out of this class by letting their comments and questions be heard!