TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS FILM
MATERIALS
An unfortunate reality of teaching film journalism is the relatively large amount of resources needed. You should begin planning your materials months before the class begins; at the very least do an inventory if you believe that your organization already has equipment. Part of this process is familiarizing yourself with the equipment! If you're starting with nothing, look for community organization or companies able to donate -- they may be more willing to help than you expect.
What do I already have?
Check around your house and ask around for:
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Digital cameras
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Tripods
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Microphones
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Materials to build sets and props
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Plywood, paint, green cloth for a green screen.
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Don't worry if isn't brand new, it's just equipment to learn with! I used DSLR cameras instead of dedicated camcorders
and it worked alright, though use camcorders if you can!
What do I need?
For two classes of 9 kids each, I ended up using 4 computers, 2 cameras, 2 tripods, 1 green screen, 2 64GB SD cards and typical arts and crafts supplies. I used much less than I thought I would need, and was able to make due with materials found on site. I didn't end up using mics and made due, but if you can secure some, use them! Tripods, however, are something you cannot sacrifice.
How can I get it?
See the chart below for estimated prices of materials. Check out local nonprofits such as the Mac Recycle Clinic to see what donated materials are offered. Hardware stores such as Home Depot also often will donate basic materials such as plywood or paint to non-profits, so don't be afraid to ask! Do your research online to compare equipment prices, but approach buying used equipment online with caution.
Organization is Key!
WRITING A PROPOSAL
The curriculum for this class didn't materialize out of thin air: I drew it from my experiences, my own ideas and consultations with a mentor. Its first realization was in the form of a proposal I presented before I was even hired for the job.
Since the organization for which I was working did not already have an established film journalism program, they asked me to provide them with a proposal for my class. Even though I had worked with the people reviewing my proposal previously and I knew they were supportive of my idea, presenting a proposal was still a test of my capacity to realize my vision.
The proposal, which you can see to the left, lays out my vision for the class, goes over the projects it will include, and finishes with a day-by-day outline of the class. Preparing this outline weeks in advance proved very useful, as when I came to the point at which I needed to write my daily lesson plans, I already knew where each day fit in to the master plan. Laying out this calendar also helped turn this class from an idea in my head to something I could put into reality.
While writing this proposal, I met with my film journalism teacher from high school who provided me with many resources. He showed me the database of project lesson plans from his county-wide curriculum, which provided me with ideas to build off of when developing my projects. If you know someone with experience teaching film, don't be afraid to reach out--this would have been a lot more difficult for me without having someone to run my ideas by.
Here's how I organized potential materials, prices, and models recommended by my mentor. Items that I did not eventually use are crossed off, but they could still be useful to you!
Recommended camcorder, though I used DSLRs.
Snowball mics plug into computers to record voiceovers.
We ran out of time to build a set so we used a green screen.
These are lapel lavalieres to plug into cameras.
Green Screen: Buy bright green fabric in bulk from JoAnn or Michael's. It cost me less than $10.