CLUB OVERVIEW:

By way of making our own short films, the Film Club will teach the overall process involved with creating a film from scratch. This includes brainstorming ideas, learning how to read a script, creating a shot list, casting actors and actresses, blocking scenes, lighting, filming, sound recording, directing, and editing.

Although the films will use professional level compositing effects and music, our focus will be on the kinds of low-budget (or no-budget) films the kids would be able to make with their own devices, like filming with a smartphone and working with the locations, sets, and props we have handy. For this particular club, I will do all of the editing of the films.

The goal is to finish at least 1 short film every month. This is just a guideline though, meaning we’ll try to finish one every month, but if one takes longer than a month, then it does. That said though, we will have a showcase of all of the films twice each school year…before Christmas break and at the end of the school year. I know this seems like a while to wait, but to see them all together is worth it.

Please know that even though I make every attempt to give as many people speaking roles a possible, it simply isn’t feasible for everyone to be the “main character” or have a big role every time, especially if the part isn’t right for them. However, we should be able to do around 7 films over the course of the year, which should give everyone some nice opportunities. On that note, this isn’t strictly an “acting” club. It’s a FILM club, so even when kids aren’t onscreen they are responsible for something behind the scenes, like hold the lights or microphone, etc.

I will provide all of the tools needed to film, though costuming may require a little input here and there. The most essential thing the students NEED to bring to this club is a LOVE for storytelling and making movies.