The history of the moving image (the cinema) is well documented in books and on the Internet. This article offers a number of activities that can easily be carried out in a science class. They make use of the phenomenon of "Persistence of Vision." The activities presented herein demonstrate the functionality of the phenakistoscope, the…

Dvolver is a free moviemaking platform that allows users to employ animated characters to develop fun, concise scripts in a digital format. The author and a co-teacher created a 45-minute lesson plan for teaching students at the upper-beginner and lower-intermediate skill levels. The purpose of this article is to describe the utility of Dvolver…

The concept of a ready-made block of knowledge does not exist in the Montessori classroom. Instead, the teacher's knowledge and the learning abilities of the child interact. The teacher brings what she or he knows about the world, and the child brings his or her desire to learn more about the world. In this article, a Montessori teacher uses her…

One of the most difficult challenges of incorporating literacy in the classroom--as called for by the "Common Core State Standards" (NGAC and CCSSO 2010)--is inspiring reluctant writers. Students are often unmotivated by essay assignments or having to write answers to open-ended questions. Some students may even view these as obstacles…

This paper describes how director Spike Lee changed Hollywood's representations of African Americans in a dramatic way. He returned to traditions of early African American filmakers like Oscar Michaux by casting all-black movies. In his first film, "She's Gotta Have It", he broke with the Hollywood tradition of using a classic beauty…

Details the Vienna Film School's program, including outlines of courses offered and projects required. Highlights the suggestions of three professional film directors who teach the program and a student participant. (JMF)

Describes a classroom experiment--the "concerned observer" experiment--for production students that dramatizes basic film language by relating it to several levels of human observation. Details the experiment's three levels, and concludes that film language mimics wide-ranging states of human emotion and ideological persuasion. (PRA)

Outlines the challenges of film and video production teachers. Describes "The Collaborative Film Project" of Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, which adapts the theater model of production training to film and video. Asserts that this project enables students to experience the organization, complexity, problem solving,…

Describes a sixth grade animated filmmaking project. Students researched tasks involved in filmmaking, developed a script, and worked on illustration and film production techniques. (AM)

Discusses the need for a bridge between the literatures of contemporary media studies and critical pedagogy. Argues that the theorization of pedagogy offers significant contributions in both the classroom and in the literatures of contemporary media and cultural studies. Describes a course on the theory and practice of the video documentary, and…

Filmmaking is a complex process involving many skills. This text attempts to demystify the process of filmmaking and make film technology accessible. Basic tools and techniques are explained for using either Super-8 or 16mm film formats; however, craftsmanship lessons are relevant and applicable to future technologies. The book is organized into…

Designed for senior high gifted and creative students, the unit focuses on developing creativity in imagery production and technical skills in filmmaking. Five lessons provide information on objectives, materials, and presentation activities for the following topics: color, dialogue, score, angles and shots, film critique, creative imagery, and…

Aspects covered include introducing the equipment, planning the movie, shooting the picture, editing the film, recording the sound track, and presenting the finished film to an audience. The steps involved in making an animated film are also outlined. (DLS)

The article provides teachers of elementary students with suggestions for incorporating the Super 8 movie camera in the classroom and for teaching simple filmmaking techniques as animation and special effects. (CL)

Describes a simple process for making an animated film by moving sand patterns on a lighted surface. (SJL)