Past projects

contemporary media (9TH GRADE, Pre-data):

COVERAGE

Working in groups of 3-4, students write and produce a scene of dialogue shot from multiple angles from 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 be given 20 minutes to shoot their scene in multiple takes from all five angles.

Coverage Prompt

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

SILENT SHORT FILMS

To build visual storytelling abilities after learning the basics of editing and camera operation, students will create short silent films that clearly and coherently tell a complete story. Silent Films must be between 1 and 3 minutes in length and cannot include any on-screen text, dialogue, or subtitles. 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. This is an exercise in purely visual storytelling.

THE DOOR SCENE

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.

Part 1 Prompt | Part 2 Prompt

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

MUSIC VIDEOS

Students are building visual storytelling skills through 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.

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

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC VIDEOS

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

MEDIA LITERACY (10TH GRADE, DATA YEAR 1):

INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO

Working in groups of 2-3, students create a short instructional video that informs a specific audience how to complete a 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.

Instructional Video Prompt

AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7

Personal narrative

For their first project of the Digital Storytelling semester, students will 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/shoot/gather materials that are edited together into a short video piece introducing themselves to an audience.

The About Me 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.

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

MINI DOCUMENTARIES

Sophomores are shifting focus away from themselves and finding stories in the world around them. Working in production teams, students are creating mini documentaries 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.

AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7

SIMPLE STORY SHORT FILMS

For their final projects of the semester, freshmen and sophomores are creating short films that tell a simple story. Freshmen are working in small groups and sophomores are working in production teams they've developed over the course of the semester. Short films may span a variety of genres, but must include a clear beginning, middle, and end (or in the case of documentaries, a clear purpose) 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 a district-licensed catalog of royalty-free tracks designed to be used in student video and film projects.

AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A8.1-8.7

DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION (11TH & 12TH GRADE, DATA YEARS 2 & 3):

WEB SERIES

Juniors and seniors are developing original web series with a minimum of 3 completed episodes by the semester's end. 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.

Digital Media Production students are also working on a wide variety of projects with community and industry partners. Current projects and events are updated on the main blog page.

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
Responsibiliy 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

3 CREATIVE PROJECTS

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). Students who attended the Digicom Screenwriting Workshop over the summer will have the opportunity to produce their scripts.

Digital Media Production students are also working on a wide variety of projects with community and industry partners. Current projects and events are updated on the main blog page.

AME Pathway Standards A2.1, A2.2, A2.9, A4.3, A4.6, A5.6, A7.1, A8.1-8.7