Next time you're brainstorming with the youth about what film to make, try this cool tool from BBC Scotland. (Courtesy of the great folks over at Lifehacker.)
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Monday
Movies for Young Urban Filmmakers
The first step to becoming a filmmaker is to watch great works then analyze and critique them. I have found these films to be especially effective when teaching storytelling, composition, and editing. Some of these films are Oscar winners, some are not. Many of them are urban cult classics. You can even ask your students to let you know which music videos have been influenced by these works.
Blood In, Blood Out - Three brothers, their choices, the consequences. (also called Bound by Blood)
City of God - Gangs in Brazil. The documentary about Favelas that's on the US dvd is also very educational. A nice contrast is to show this film with Black Orpheus.
The Conversation - A sound tech regrets the job he's done. Coppola directs.
Cooley High/Boyz in the Hood - An African-American High School story. Cooley High is set in Chicago in the 1970's and written by the same guy who co-created Good Times. Boyz in the Hood is essentially a remake/modernized version set in LA in the 80's.
Made in America: Crips & Bloods - This documentary by Stacey Peralta presents valuable perspective and also shows some great CG (After Effects, Motion, etc.) technique.
Do the Right Thing - Great example of issue filmmaking and also had a huge influence on music videos. Shows a wide range of camera angles and moves.
Klute - 1972 Oscar winner about prostitution. Deep. Shows how the camera can be used effectively when NOT moving.
Mi Familia - LA's Chicano history told in a classic Hollywood structure.
Requiem for a Dream/Trainspotting/Gridlock'd - Movies about drug addicts. Three very different takes. A good question to ask is which one is the most realiztic and why?
Scarface - If you have to ask, you'll never know.
To Be and To Have - A beautiful documentary about a group of schoolchildren and their teacher in rural France. In filmmaking, many times simple is better.
Visions of Light - Documentary about the job of the Cinematographer/Director of Photography. Dials in detail that students didn't realize was there.
The Warriors - Cult classic. Everything old is new again.
Be sure to screen all of these films in advance, many of them contain adult language or themes that may not be appropriate to your school/program. However, you can also show a less offensive scene or portion of the film for discussion.
Blood In, Blood Out - Three brothers, their choices, the consequences. (also called Bound by Blood)
City of God - Gangs in Brazil. The documentary about Favelas that's on the US dvd is also very educational. A nice contrast is to show this film with Black Orpheus.
The Conversation - A sound tech regrets the job he's done. Coppola directs.
Cooley High/Boyz in the Hood - An African-American High School story. Cooley High is set in Chicago in the 1970's and written by the same guy who co-created Good Times. Boyz in the Hood is essentially a remake/modernized version set in LA in the 80's.
Made in America: Crips & Bloods - This documentary by Stacey Peralta presents valuable perspective and also shows some great CG (After Effects, Motion, etc.) technique.
Do the Right Thing - Great example of issue filmmaking and also had a huge influence on music videos. Shows a wide range of camera angles and moves.
Klute - 1972 Oscar winner about prostitution. Deep. Shows how the camera can be used effectively when NOT moving.
Mi Familia - LA's Chicano history told in a classic Hollywood structure.
Requiem for a Dream/Trainspotting/Gridlock'd - Movies about drug addicts. Three very different takes. A good question to ask is which one is the most realiztic and why?
Scarface - If you have to ask, you'll never know.
To Be and To Have - A beautiful documentary about a group of schoolchildren and their teacher in rural France. In filmmaking, many times simple is better.
Visions of Light - Documentary about the job of the Cinematographer/Director of Photography. Dials in detail that students didn't realize was there.
The Warriors - Cult classic. Everything old is new again.
Be sure to screen all of these films in advance, many of them contain adult language or themes that may not be appropriate to your school/program. However, you can also show a less offensive scene or portion of the film for discussion.
Thursday
Using Digital to Make the "Old" Technology - Books
What Kids Can Do is a wonderful non-profit in Road Island that is helping kids to publish amazing books. Look. See. Be Inspired.
Barnes�&�Noble.com - Book Search: The Daily Spark Series
According to the publisher (Barnes & Noble) "The Daily Spark Series gives classroom teachers a dynamic way of delivering stimulating and effective exercises to get students motivated at the start of class."
I think they're also a great resource for media classes. I especially enjoyed the one focused on Poetry - many of the ideas would be perfect for short films. They could also work in a music/songwriting/beats & rhymes curriculum.
You can flip through them online with a membership or head into a B&N to look at the hard copies. But these books are only available from other vendors (like Amazon) as second-hand copies.
I think they're also a great resource for media classes. I especially enjoyed the one focused on Poetry - many of the ideas would be perfect for short films. They could also work in a music/songwriting/beats & rhymes curriculum.
You can flip through them online with a membership or head into a B&N to look at the hard copies. But these books are only available from other vendors (like Amazon) as second-hand copies.
Friday
Why Keep a Journal?
A cool list to spark ideas from online journal Penzu. These could be some great starting points for a video diary or 1st person documentary project as well...
Why Keep a Journal?: "Don’t know where to start? If you would like to achieve the therapeutic effects of journaling, writing in an expressive journal is a good place to start. Here are some quick tips from Dr. James W. Pennebaker to guide you along."
Why Keep a Journal?: "Don’t know where to start? If you would like to achieve the therapeutic effects of journaling, writing in an expressive journal is a good place to start. Here are some quick tips from Dr. James W. Pennebaker to guide you along."
Tuesday
A couple of cool links for generating ideas
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