Handout:

Lights, Camera, Action!!!

Making Movies with Students Using a PC!

Janna Laughon

2009 SDCUE Conference

laughonj@cajonvalley.net         www.jannalaughon.com

 

Important Links:

 

Audio Editing:

Audacity

http://audacity.sourceforge.net 

 
LAME Allows Audacity to encode files as MP3.  It doesn’t matter where you put this file, but you’ll need to find it later.  The Audacity program folder is a good place to park it when you download it!

Win:   http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/
Mac:   http://spaghetticode.org/lame

Copyright or Royalty Free Music:

Freeplay Music (no cost, but major limitations)

http://freeplaymusic.com/

 

Soundzabound Music

http://www.soundzabound.com/

 

Royalty Free Music.com

http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/

 

Getting Started – Media:

Digital Photos

·        Landscape, rather than Portrait

·        Close-ups tend to look the best

·        Take lots of them – more choices when editing

Video

·        Start the recording before subjects begin the action – edit later!

·        Hold the camera as still as possible – minimize the “zooming”

·        Take as much video as possible

Student Created Artwork

·        Again – Landscape, rather than Portrait

·        Scan and save as a JPEG image – easiest to work with!

Audio

·        Record directly into Audacity – cheap and easy!

·        Edit your recording in Audacity – export as a MP3

 

Getting Started – Equipment:

Basics

·        Digital camera

·        PC with Windows MovieMaker

Upgrades

·        Microphone to plug into PC (USB or 3.5 mm jack)

·        Digital camcorder (mini DV, mini DVD, Hard Drive)

·        Tripod – worth its weight in gold!

·        Digital audio recorder – Expensive!

·        Adobe Premier Elements – much better than MovieMaker!

·        Library of Copyright/Royalty Free music

·        Multiple DVD burner

 

Movie Making – Instruction:

Beginners

·        Kits – Limited choices (pics, video, soundtrack, transitions)

·        Limited group size: 3-4 students max

Intermediate

·        Using equipment to generate media

·        More choices – larger groups

Advanced

·        Production staff with specific assignments

·        Group-generated projects

·        Teacher as an advisor

 

Movie Making – Management:

Planning

·        Grouping students

·        Research

·        Story Boarding

Acquiring Media

·        Setting ground rules

·        Production Staff

·        Parent Volunteers

Special Concerns

·        Permission to publish issues

·        Copyright issues

Finished Product

·        Distribution

·        Movie Premier Night

·        Student Film Festivals

Helpful Hints:
If your network doesn't support a shared folder, flash drives are the easiest way to manage multiple group projects.  I get 1-2 GB ones in bundles from Costco!

An inexpensive microphone (USB or 3.5 mm jack) is helpful to record audio.  I prefer the "headphone-type" 3.5 mm microphones. 

A Digital Audio Recorder (DAR) is great, but don't worry if you don't have one.  DAR's are darn expensive!

Try not to buy anything if possible.  Use what you already have.  You might be surprised with what is "hiding out" at your school site!

If you're looking for good quality video, it's worth investing in a camcorder with an internal hard drive.  They seem to produce better quality video than the mini DV and DVD camcorders.