Lesson #4-The Post Production Package…and more.

Objectives and Goals add comment

  • Identify, analyze, and prioritize elements of an effective movie poster.
  • Create a movie poster to use for advertising short film.
  • Identify, analyze, and prioritize elements of an effective movie trailer.
  • Create a movie trailer to use for advertising short film.
  • Create a promotional website to promote short film
  • Create a Withoutabox account to submit film to film festivals.
  • Use proficient communication and design skills to conceive, develop, produce, edit, critique and revise multimedia projects that inform, educate or entertain while meeting accuracy, project and deadline requirements.

Elements of a Movie Poster

Materials:

  • Film Notes
  • Computers
  • Chart Paper
  • Markers to chart

Warm up:  Teacher says :

We will begin by marketing our short film.  Marketing involves aligning the image of our product with the interest of our target audience.

What is your favorite film or a film you have recently viewed?  You will have five minutes to research online and find the movie poster for that film.  Sketch the movie poster in your notes and identify elements on that movie poster.   

Direct students to http://www.impawards.com/ or http://imdb.com (list them on the board).  They can also use an Internet search for their film and click on images.   Students are to only choose one poster to analyze.  Some films may have multiple posters.

After students have been given time to research, sketch, and identify, teacher says:

Compare your list of movie poster elements with your group and create a list of common elements that you will present to the class.  

Begin charting their elements as groups present only adding new elements.

Assign the following readings to students.  Students are to take notes on the readings.

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/02/7-elements-of-a-great-movie-poster-design/

http://themediaameetingpoint.wordpress.com/2012/11/21/act-15-elements-in-movie-posters/

After reading, ask students:

Are there other elements that should be added to our class list?  Why? 

Be sure to add new elements to class list. Lastly, ask students:

Which elements must be on a movie poster?

Highlight these elements or place a check mark by them.

 

Create a Movie Poster for Short Film

Materials

  • Sketch paper
  • Computers
  • Wacom tablets if available
  • Graphic arts program such as Photoshop or Illustrator

Students are to create a movie poster for their short film that includes the mandatory elements from the warm up above.

Teacher says:  You will individually create a movie poster for your group short film using the mandatory elements on our class movie poster elements list.  

Post steps below on the LCD projector or white board.

Note- Students should have prior experience using Photoshop, Illustrator, or other design program.  If not, you may have to scaffold their steps via modeling or online instructional tutorials.  I have included some links at the end of this project.

Step 1.  Sketch your movie poster idea.

Step 2.  Capture/gather images for your movie poster.

Step 3.  Use a digital imaging program to digitally create your movie poster.

Step 4.  Submit your movie poster to your online portfolio for grading.  Include a short reflection discussion your design.

Step 5. After all group members have completed their posters, groups will collaboratively grade poster and chose one poster for their short film.  These image files can be added to the preproduction Google Drive Document for easy peer access.

Online Resources:

http://layersmagazine.com/movie-posters-in-adobe-illustrator-cs5.html

http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/designing-tutorials/action-movie-poster/

http://wegraphics.net/blog/tutorials/create-a-dramatic-film-poster-in-5-minutes-using-photoshop/

http://www.pixel77.com/design-process-create-movie-poster-photoshop-paint-tool-sai/

http://dafont.com

http://www.1001freefonts.com/

 

Elements of a Movie Trailer

Materials:

  • Student handout with questions
  • Computers
  • chart paper
  • markers to chart

Pass out the student handout IntrotoTrailer.pdf and review directions.

Teacher says: Begin by watching 2 different movie trailers on the websitehttp://trailers.apple.com/. Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. 

Trailer 1

  1. How and when are the characters introduced? Who is the protagonist and who/what is the antagonist?
  2. What obstacles are present and how are they introduced?
  3. How does the story resolve?
  4. What is the rhythm of each trailer?
  5. How does music help tell the story?
  6. How does the trailer end?
  7.  What text is in the trailer?

Trailer 2

  1. How and when are the characters introduced? Who is the protagonist and who/what is the antagonist?
  2. What obstacles are present and how are they introduced?
  3. How does the story resolve?
  4. What is the rhythm of each trailer?
  5. How does music help tell the story?
  6.  How does the trailer end?
  7. What text is in the trailer?

Compare and Contrast both trailers

  1. What do both trailers have in common?
  2. How do they differ?
  3.  In your own words, explain what makes a trailer effective.

Teacher says: Group share your compare and contrast answers.  Then as a class, create a llst of movie trailer elements that make an effective edit.  

Teacher says: Read the following articles and take notes.

 

 

After reading, ask students:

Are there other elements for a movie trailer that should be added to our class list?  Why? 

Be sure to add new elements to class list. Lastly, ask students:

Which elements must be in a movie trailer?

Highlight these elements or place an check mark by them.

 

Create a Movie Trailer

Teacher says:  Using the required movie trailer elements your class agreed upon, you will create a movie trailer for your short film that is between 1 minute 30 seconds and 2 minutes.  

Post the following steps on the white board or LCD.

  1. Begin by creating a storyboard for your trailer.  Think about the highest points in the story.  How will you show them without revealing too much of the story?
  2. Then, gather your chosen clips from the key editor via external hard drive.
  3. Create a rough edit using your editing software with your storyboard as a guide.
  4. Preview your edit.
  5. Revise tracks and edit as necessary.
  6. Add text if necessary
  7. Add music
  8. Add titles
  9. Save your final edit and render as a Vimeo SD.  Upload to your online portfolio.  Write a short reflection on your new learning experiences creating a trailer.
  10. After all group members have completed their trailers, work together to review trailers  and choose one trailer to represent your group’s short film.

Promotional and Film Festivals

Website

Teacher says:  Your group will create a website using wordpress.com that is solely for your film. Include About the Film, About the Writer(s), About the Cast and Crew, and Media (w/Trailer, Movie poster, and Gallery) pages (not posts) for your short film.

Work together to make copy for each page.  Check for spelling and grammar errors before publishing site.  

Make sure you post directions for clarification of pages. 

See student sample in resources below.

Link website to your online portfolios for grade.

Withoutabox

Teacher says:  With your group, create a WITHOUTABOX account.  Give a copy of your login information to your instructor. Submit your project to this account. Complete the application for your short film.  Do not leave application areas blank.  Make sure information is accurate.  

Once your applicaiton is complete, upload your short film to the imdb.com. 

Search for free student film festivals that your group can submit and submit.

 

Assessment Types:
Rubrics,

Movie Trailer and Movie Poster Rubrics are assessed using the Rubrics listed in each project.

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