Post #4: Learning Film Practically

Being an actor in high school and a fan of group readings of plays in books in my English classes, I've always believed that the best way to get to know a book, play, movie, etc. is by doing it yourself. Most of us do it just by watching/reading repeatedly so we come to know the lines by heart. But when it comes to kids, acting out a film not only allows them room for interpretation, but also keeps them engaged in the material. Start by watching the film, then asking the students critical questions about it. Over the next few days, have the students get together in groups and discuss their individual interpretations of the film. Each group is then required to stage what they think is the most important scene in the film in front of the class, whether in person or in a video of their own. Following the presentations, have each student write a short paper on what their own interpretation of the overall movie was, their interpretation of the scene they presented, and why they came to that conclusion.

Post #3: Video Annotations

http://ant.umn.edu/vav.php?pid=61596511232625

This clip is a scene from one of my favorite TV shows ever, Breaking Bad. I chose this clip because it drives home the essence of the show in less than 2 minutes. The director uses lighting and music brilliantly to create an overwhelming sense of suspense and danger. The main character, Walt, undergoes a visible transformation as the scene progresses: from mild-mannered hardware store patron to menacing drug dealer in less than 30 seconds. The director used edgy and increasingly loud music, coupled with extreme chiaroscuro lighting, to show us the stark duality in Walt's double life.

Post #2: Me, Myself, and I

Post #1: Vlog Review

http://stevegarfield.blogs.com/

This vlog came from Steve Garfield, the man behind the Off on a Tangent blog and author of Get Seen: Online Video Secrets to Building Your Business. It uses a "man on the street" technique to appeal to (you guessed it) the man on the street: he uses a handheld camera and is only seen onscreen when the interviewee asks him to turn the camera around. I normally wouldn't care about the event he covers (BlogWorldExpo 10), the guy he's interviewing (Mark Burnett, reality TV producer and current producer of Sarah Palin's "documentary" series, Sarah Palin's Alaska), or what they're talking about (the premiere of a clip from said show), but Garfield's use of a handheld camera and his everyday speech patterns make him into a surrogate for the audience; it's easy to step into his shoes.