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Using the Flip Cam in the Classroom. The Ins and Outs of Filmmaking as a Teaching Tool. Introduction . Using filmmaking as a teaching tool
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Using the Flip Cam in theClassroom The Ins and Outs of Filmmaking as a Teaching Tool
Introduction • Using filmmaking as a teaching tool • We will be covering the use of the Flip Cam, Windows Movie Maker and related software, as well as the timeline and procedure used in the Portuguese 101 class semester project – making a short film in Portuguese
Overview • The purpose of this project: • To motivate the use of Portuguese creatively • To level the playing field among students • To make students think in Portuguese and incorporate concepts recently acquired in the classroom environment in a concrete manner • To teach the important skill of pre-visualization – the filming itself only begins when all the relevant details, locations and lines of dialogue are completely fleshed out
First Step: The Pitch! • Presenting the concept to the students • Emphasis will be on the Portuguese, not on the technology • Grading rubric for final – reducing techno-anxiety • 60% of the grade is for content of final piece • 25% of the grade is for entertainment value • And only 15% is for technique – use a tripod and make sure the Portuguese is clear and easy to understand -- although anything else is appreciated! • Presenting the Flip Cam – brief in class demo • Every step will be scheduled and receive a grade!
Second Step: The Script • Treatment and initial concept • All topics accepted from serious to frivolous, as long as they are in Portuguese • 1st draft of script, subtitles and production notes • Mandatory meetings to pre-visualize production issues and/or problems – locations, effects, camera angles, etc. • Portuguese is corrected – script returned to students for final tweaking • Recording an MP3 of the dialogue for practice • Through MP3 recording software, for use on Ipods/players • The Mid Term – Grade Distribution • Lines recited from memory, properly pronounced (25%) • Final version of script, subtitles and production notes (25%) • Plus subject matter from textbook through Toolkit (50%)
Third Step: Film Production • The Flip Cam • Codecs and viewing raw footage • Meetings to discuss problems with Codecs and file sizes – (using Gspot) also to check problems with sound or stability • Editing with Windows Movie Maker or iMovie • Special sessions with individual groups to teach them how to effectively use editing software • Delivery as an AVI or MOV file • Delivery on a disk or memory stick (20% of final grade) • Compilation into a final DVD for everyone • Using commercial DVD publishing software • The “Premiere” • Final validation of the results of each group’s labor
Where to Get theSoftware • G-Spot – Codec information software (free) • http://www.headbands.com/gspot/ • Audio Recorder Pro (mp3 recorder -- not free) • http://www.ezaudiorecorder.com/ • Audacity (mp3 recorder -- needs plug in -- free) • http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ • LAME mp3 plug in (needed for Audacity -- free) • http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/ • Windows Movie Maker (comes with XP) • http://www.microsoft.com • Adobe Products – Encore DVD Publisher • http://www.adobe.com
Summary • Students produced a film in Portuguese above their level of fluency • Students are motivated and excited to do the project and utilize the language in a concrete manner by telling an original story • The DVD validates the experience and gives them a concrete memento of their experience
Many thanks to • Jama Coartney and the Digital Media Lab • The Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese • The Department of Systems Engineering • The students of the Portuguese 101 class • www.traceanimation.com