Exploring Film Techniques

Curriculum Area

• Curriculum Area: English
• Level: 4 (Year 9)
• Strand: Making Meaning: Listening, Reading, and Viewing & Creating Meaning: Speaking, Writing, and Presenting

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Understand basic film techniques and terminology.
2. Analyse how film techniques convey mood and meaning.
3. Discuss and present their analysis of a film scene.

Resources

• Film clip (5-10 minutes) from a New Zealand film such as "Whale Rider" or "Boy".
• Whiteboard and markers.
• Projector and screen.
• Handouts with film techniques glossary.
• Personal journals or notebooks.

Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 Minutes)

1. Greeting and Roll Call (2 minutes)

2. Introduction to Film Techniques (8 minutes)

   • Begin with a quick discussion about New Zealand cinema. Ask questions like: "What is your favourite New Zealand film?" and "Why do you enjoy it?"
   • Introduce the lesson objectives and briefly explain what film techniques are.
   • Hand out the glossary of film techniques to each student.

Direct Instruction (15 Minutes)

1. Film Techniques Explained (10 minutes)

   • Using the projector, go through the film techniques such as shot types (e.g., close-up, long shot), camera angles (e.g., high angle, low angle), lighting (e.g., high key, low key), and sound (e.g., diegetic, non-diegetic).
   • Show images alongside the definitions to exemplify each technique.
   • Encourage students to ask questions if they are unclear about any term.

2. Watching the Film Clip (5 minutes)

   • Explain that students will now watch a film clip and should take notes on the different techniques used.
   • Play the selected film clip.

Guided Practice (15 Minutes)

1. Individual Analysis (5 minutes)

   • Ask students to spend a few minutes writing down their observations about the film clip in their journals or notebooks focusing on the techniques observed and their effects.

2. Think-Pair-Share (10 minutes)

   • Students discuss their observations with a partner.
   • After discussing, each pair will share one observation with the class.
   • Prompt students to consider how the film techniques contribute to the mood and meaning of the scene.

Independent Practice (15 Minutes)

1. Group Work: Scene Analysis (15 minutes)
   • Divide the class into small groups of 4-5 students.
   • Assign each group a different short scene from the film (you may replay the same clip and ask groups to focus on different segments if it’s a single scene).
   • Each group should prepare a mini-presentation (2-3 minutes) discussing the film techniques used and how they contribute to the mood, story, or character development.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Presentations and Review (5 minutes)

   • Allow each group to present their analysis to the class.
   • After each presentation, briefly summarise the key points and provide constructive feedback.

2. Wrap-Up

   • Recap the lesson’s main points and ask students to share one new thing they learned today.
   • Assign a small homework task: Watch a scene from their favourite film and write a short analysis using the techniques discussed in class.

Assessment

• Formative Assessment: Listening to student discussions and presentations to gauge understanding.
• Summative Assessment: Evaluating homework analysis for comprehension and application of film techniques.

Extension

• For students who grasp the concepts quickly, they can be encouraged to explore additional film techniques not covered in class and present their findings in the next session.

Reflection

• After the lesson, review what worked well and what could be improved for future lessons.
• Collect feedback from students about their understanding and engagement with the content.

This structure aims to engage Year 9 students in a comprehensive study of film techniques while aligning with New Zealand's education standards, providing a memorable and educational experience.