Door Movies by the 8th graders

The American Film Institute created a great student film curriculum that I have been using with my 8th grade digital video arts classes.

In this assignment the kids had to shoot a film in a small group. the requirements were: one actor only, all filmed within 5 feet of the door. The actor was to walk up to the door, hear a frightening noise, react in fear, struggle to open the door, finally make it through the door and show relief that the strange noise was not in-fact dangerous.

The first day, they shot the film without any storyboard or planning, then they watched the outcome, learned more about camera angles and storyboards and wrote a storyboard. Next, to experience the importance of storyboards they had to re-shoot using the storyboard from a different group. Finally, they re-filmed their own storyboard. For the editing part, all students had to edit their own version from any footage from the several group sessions. They had to edit out all camera audio and use only music and sound effects to tell the story and build the suspense.

 2 finished films by different editors ~ Starring LIZ

door movie starring LIZ

2 finished films by different editors ~ Starring TANNER

door movie with tanner

12 Responses to “Door Movies by the 8th graders”

  1. yuliya Says:

    it was kind of gross! but good

  2. Ievgenii Says:

    I like when she scared
    and when you zoom in

  3. Melanie Says:

    I like when she acted scared when she lost her keys. Also I liked the sound affects.

  4. Alana Whitsett Says:

    could have done better with the vidoe but i like the sound effects.

  5. Emma Says:

    Tanner did a good job with his facial expresions ilke when he was stuck in the door. the background music fits the situation well. i LOVED it when Tanner was doing summer salts.

  6. Mischa Says:

    I like the sound affects a lot.

  7. Tamara Says:

    Great sound effects. Tanner did great @ being unfearful.

  8. Emily Says:

    Tanners was kind of weird but super funny the back round music was cool

  9. sidney Says:

    it was really funny the backround music really fit what was going on

  10. nicholas thomas Says:

    it was cool untell after the credits that was just plain weird

  11. nicholas thomas Says:

    it was good but after the credits was just plain weird

  12. Tylambert Says:

    it waz kinda immature for 8th graders i expected alot more from them im an eighth grader to ant mac. but it was ok

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