As a K-12 educator, you’re always looking for new and innovative ways to engage your students in the learning process. One such approach is by teaching them about raw movie-making. By introducing this form of creative expression into your classroom, you can foster a deeper understanding of storytelling and inspire students to explore their own voice.
Raw movie-making refers to the process of creating a film without any formal editing or post-production work. This means that the film unfolds in real-time, allowing for a more authentic and unfiltered experience. In recent years, raw movie-making has gained traction as a unique art form, with films like ‘Victoria’ and ‘Russian Ark’ garnering widespread acclaim.
For K-12 educators, teaching raw movie-making can be an excellent way to enhance students’ engagement in storytelling while also allowing them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Here are some ideas on how to integrate this concept into your curriculum:
1. Start with the basics: Begin your unit by discussing what raw movie-making is and why it’s valuable. Share examples of raw movies with your students so they can get a sense of what it entails.
2. The power of preparation: Emphasize the importance of pre-planning/storyboarding before starting the filmmaking process. Students need to be aware that, unlike traditional filmmaking, mistakes and improvisation cannot be easily adjusted during shooting.
3. Collaborative filmmaking: Divide students into groups and assign each team a specific scene from a larger story. Encourage them to work together on planning, filming, and presenting their scenes as part of a cohesive narrative.
4. Lights, Camera, Action!: After thorough planning has taken place, allow students to begin filming their scenes using digital cameras or smartphones. Having access to basic equipment will make this project more accessible and inclusive for all learners.
5. Reflect and critique: Once the raw movies are complete, have each group share their work with the class. Encourage constructive feedback, with a focus on storytelling techniques, cinematography choices, and how well the scenes fit together.
6. Connect to literature and history: Tie raw movie-making into other subjects by comparing it to classic novels and historical events. This can provide valuable context and insight into the storytelling process across various mediums.
By introducing raw movie-making in your K-12 classroom, you’ll be providing students with an engaging way to tell stories and share their perspectives. This hands-on approach not only fosters creativity but also promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving, all essential skills for lifelong learning and success.
