film making

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Our latest Myst adventures

March 17, 2010 in learning, lesson ideas, Myst, Resources in the classroom

Over the last 3 weeks my class and I have been using Myst V – End of Ages in Literacy units. I say units because I have planned for it as a resource in the units ‘Imaginary Worlds’ and ‘Newspapers and accounts’. The pupils had previously written story openers based on their first foray into the game and these were then recorded using Easi-Speak Mics. The written descriptions, the use of language and the ideas that sprung up due to the effect of the game, once again leave me in no doubt that games based learning is a resource that teachers should not feel threatened by or afraid to use.

The class thoroughly enjoy using the game as a resource and understand we use it for certain purposes to help achieve targets and objectives.

Tags: activities, blue screen, chroma key, classroom tech, creativity, film making, Myst, windows movie maker
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Creative animation

June 25, 2009 in film making, lesson ideas

Over the past few weeks I have been teaching my class film making techniques and encouraging them to go off and create a short film of their own. One group decided to create an animated short based on a very simple idea of two characters playing games. I helped the group develop the idea along with a storyboard and editing but they did everything else – filming frame by frame using ‘I Can Animate from Kudlian Soft’, Windows Movie Maker and some natural sunlight (we didn’t have any other lighting unfortunately). The 2 minute short is a wonderful demonstration of student creativity.

Give them the tools, teach them how to use them and let them create.

Tags: animation, creativity, film making
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Using the greenscreen effect in iMovie

June 13, 2009 in film making, tools

A Green Screen made from wide bright green poster paper for classroom displays

This week my class have been film making and they are really enjoying the experience. I recapped the use of story boards and after demonstrating the use of Windows Movie Maker (and warning them that it might crash constantly) I pointed them towards this wonderful site from the BBC called me and my movie for extra tips on camera shots, lighting, story boards and editing.

As the class worked on their story boards I noticed that they all wanted sfx such as scenery and sound. That’s when I remembered that iMovie’09 on the Mac can put Green screen effects onto a movie. What this means is that you can change the background of a video clip to any other background as long as the first clip is shot in front of a green screen. I thought that obtaining a green screen would be expensive but I decided,