PAST PROJECTS
Scene Coverage
Standards
Leadership and Teamwork 9.2, 9.7; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2, A8.1-8.7
Working in groups of 3-4, students write and produce a scene of dialogue shot from multiple angles with a single camera (master shot, over the shoulder 1, over the shoulder 2, close up 1, and close up 2). The scene must also include at least one action cut involving a prop.
The purpose of this project is to build skills in shooting for coverage and postproduction. Once students complete a script and storyboard, they will film their scene in multiple takes from all five angles, managing their time effectively.
Instructional Video/Tutorial
Standards
Communications 2.2, 2.4; Technology 4.1; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Ethics and Legal Responsibilities 8.4, 8.6; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7
Working in groups of 2-3, students create a short instructional video that informs a specific audience how to complete a certain task or build a skill. Each instructional video must include a minimum of five steps, a script and storyboard, and a variety of camera angles with clear and level audio.
Web Series
Standards
Communications 2.5; Career Planning and Management 3.1, 3.4, 3.6; Technology 4.1, 4.5; Problem Solving and Critical Thinking 5.2; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Ethics and Legal Responsibilities 8.3, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7; Leadership and Teamwork 9.6, 9.7; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3, 10.4; Demonstration and Application 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A4.3, A4.6, A5.6, A7.1, A8.1-8.7
In this capstone project, juniors and seniors develop original web series with a minimum of 3 completed episodes. Each series will be reviewed and critiqued by the class as a whole. Completed, high quality series will be distributed and promoted online for viewing.
Students will begin by pitching their series concept to the class, then building and refining the idea until it is achievable. Each episode will include a script and storyboard.
To build visual storytelling abilities after learning the basics of editing and camera operation, students will create silent short films that clearly and coherently tell a complete story. Silent shorts must be between 1 and 3 minutes in length and cannot include any on-screen text, dialogue, or subtitles. All storytelling must be entirely visual.
Students have the option of using one instrumental audio track to help set the mood of the piece, but no other audio may be used.
Silent Short
Standards
Leadership and Teamwork 9.2, 9.7; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2, A8.1-8.7
For their first projects, students will be introduced to digital storytelling by learning the basics of visual storytelling through "The Door Scene," an exercise developed by the American Film Institute.
Students are given a simple script, which they must shoot "in-camera" with no post production. These scenes are then reviewed, and students are introduced to the basics of storyboarding and editing. The door scene is then re-shot and edited to create a polished short film.
Once finished, each Door Scene will be reviewed/critiqued by the class as a whole.
The Door Scene
Standards
Communications 2.2, 2.4; Technology 4.1; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7
Students continue to build visual storytelling skills through the production of music videos. Students select an instrumental track and create a complete story, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, that goes along with the mood/emotion of the music piece.
Along the way, students are given an introduction to copyright law and fair use policies as they choose music for their projects. Students may only choose music from a district-licensed catalog of royalty-free tracks designed to be used in student video and film projects.
Music Video
Standards
Ethics and Legal Responsibilities 8.6; Leadership and Teamwork 9.2, 9.7; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2, A8.1-8.7
Students create individual projects communicating what makes them who they are. Beginning with an academic essay, students will describe themselves using details that aren't immediately obvious or visible. The essay then becomes a voiceover script as students create, film, and gather materials that are edited together into a short video piece introducing themselves to an audience.
The Personal Narrative project not only allows students to practice communicating their values in a clear and engaging way, but also serves as a diagnostic assessment, informing grouping and collaboration for the rest of the semester.
Personal Narrative
Standards
Communications 2.2, 2.4; Technology 4.1; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7
Students shift focus away from themselves to find true stories in the world around them. Working in production teams of 1-3, students create mini documentary films that focus on a person, place, event, issue, or other topic of interest. Students are required to include 3 interviews (man-on-street and studio) along with b-roll, voiceover narration, and appropriate music, graphics, etc.
The documentary should be specific in its focus, but must also be compelling enough to hold the attention of an audience and deliver an emotional impact.
Mini Documentaries
Standards
Communications 2.2, 2.4; Technology 4.1; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Ethics and Legal Responsibilities 8.4, 8.6; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7
At the start of the term, students create short films that tell a simple story. Short stories may span a variety of genres, but must include a clear beginning, middle, and end and must be between 3 and 5 minutes in length.
Students may not use any copyrighted material in their short film projects. Students may only choose music from an approved or district-licensed catalog of royalty-free tracks designed to be used in student video and film projects.
Simple Stories
Standards
Communications 2.2, 2.4; Technology 4.1; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Ethics and Legal Responsibilities 8.4, 8.6; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3; Demonstration and Application 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7
3 Creative Projects
Standards
Communications 2.5; Career Planning and Management 3.1, 3.4, 3.6; Technology 4.1, 4.5; Problem Solving and Critical Thinking 5.2; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Ethics and Legal Responsibilities 8.3, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7; Leadership and Teamwork 9.6, 9.7; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3, 10.4; Demonstration and Application 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A4.3, A4.6, A5.6, A7.1, A8.1-8.7
Juniors and seniors are responsible for creating 3 original projects during the first quarter of the school year. Each project must be between 1 and 3 minutes in length, including one stop motion animation, one 60 second piece, and at least one visual effect (digital or practical).
This not only serves as a fun way to start the school year, but many of these projects will be refined over the course of the semester for submission to a wide variety of competitions and festivals.
Short Films
Standards
Communications 2.5; Career Planning and Management 3.1, 3.4, 3.6; Technology 4.1, 4.5; Problem Solving and Critical Thinking 5.2; Responsibility and Flexibility 7.2, 7.3, 7.5; Ethics and Legal Responsibilities 8.3, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7; Leadership and Teamwork 9.6, 9.7; Technical Knowledge and Skills 10.2, 10.3, 10.4; Demonstration and Application 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5
AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A4.3, A4.6, A5.6, A7.1, A8.1-8.7
As a capstone project, seniors will create short films for submission to a recognized film festival. Students will spend the majority of a semester engaging in the preproduction, production, and postproduction process. Students will begin by pitching their concept and then working to create multiple drafts of properly formatted scripts, schedule production, create a marketing campaign, engage in multiple critiques, and finally premier their film before submitting it to a film festival for consideration.
This project is an opportunity for students to demonstrate the culmination of their learning throughout time spent in a CTE pathway. The final product should be up to professional standards and may be added to a portfolio to be used to gain employment or acceptance into a college/university.