This sub-organizer contains the following sections:

It is expected that students will:

• describe the stages of film and television production (procedures
• for pre-production, production, post-production, and
• distribution)
• use and maintain film and television production equipment in a safe
• and environmentally sensitive manner
• reproduce various production techniques to create effects
• describe the features of a screenplay format
• demonstrate an understanding of standard formats for screenplays,
• script treatments, and commercials
  

• Challenge students to work in groups to develop media campaigns for students running in student council elections. Following the activities, have students describe the steps involved in moving their campaigns through pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution phases.
• Introduce unfamiliar equipment by describing the essential parts and demonstrating safe and proper handling. Provide students with photographs of the equipment, and have them record in their journals the purpose of each and how it is used in a safe and environmentally sensitive manner.
• Connect a camera to a monitor. Have students observe as you demonstrate functions and shots with the camera (e.g., tilt, pan, long shot, close-up). As students take turns performing various camera functions and shots, ask others to comment on the resulting effects.
• Demonstrate to the class the effects of various production techniques. Challenge students to employ these techniques to reproduce the lighting, camera shots, action, or editing used in well-known commercials.
• Invite students to describe their favourite films in terms of the features of a screenplay format (e.g., shot sequence).
• Ask students to break down a script to describe setting, conflict, and resolution, then develop a few sentences to describe each section.
• Invite students in small groups to write one-page treatments for well-known feature films or for TV series episodes. Then ask them to develop treatments for original screenplays.
• Provide students with sample script formats (e.g., for television, films, commercials, storyboards). Have them refer to the unique features of a screenplay as they describe the scripts in terms of format, style of dialogue, technical terminology, shot information, and action description.
  

• To demonstrate their understanding of the four stages of production, have students create charts that show the roles, responsibilities, and sequence of events associated with each stage. Charts should include the headings Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, and Distribution, and list the appropriate roles, responsibilities, and sequences of events under each. (For a list of examples of roles and responsibilities for each stage, see Appendix D, Sample 2: Documentary Production.)
• When students identify the essential parts and functions of various pieces of equipment, have them use the information to create checklists. Assess the checklists for evidence that students have included:
  • all procedures required for appropriate use
  • precise terminology for various parts of the equipment
  • safety considerations
• After students have analysed a variety of different script formats, have them create short samples to demonstrate their understanding. Look for evidence that they are able to:
  • identify and use key elements of each format
  • use appropriate technical terminology
• To check on students' knowledge of technical skills, create a simulated game show. Provide category headings (e.g., Pre-Production Procedures, Lighting Techniques, Scriptwriting Formats) and assign students in groups to create questions and answers related to each category. In turn, each group presents its answers one at a time and challenges the other groups to provide appropriate questions. At the end of the game, students should record some of the new information they have learned, assess their own levels of understanding, and plan ways to increase their knowledge where needed.
  

Print Materials

• Elegantly Frugal Costumes
• Reading, Writing & TV
• Screenplay
• Successful Scriptwriting
• Understanding Movies, Seventh Edition
  

Video

• Constructing Reality
• Editing Techniques
• Ever-Changing Effects (Interactive Effects)
• Falling Stars (Falling Effects)
• The Danger Zone (Aerial Effects)
• Fooling Mother Nature (Animatronic Animals)
• Fright Factories (Horror Make-Up)
• The Hold Up
• How Are Movies Made?
• Inside the Television Set
• Lighting "Dead Poets Society" with John Searle
• Lighting the Office Interview
• Location Lighting
• Making Grimm Movies
• Multicamera Directional Planning
• No Strings Attached (Puppeteering)
• Unforgettable Shots (Motion Control)
• The Video Tool Box

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