Film Techniques & Comparing Film to Prose

Film Techniques &Comparing Film to Prose

Starter• Would your rather read a book or watch a filmed version

of the same story? Explain.

Before: Quick Write• Both authors and filmmakers use techniques to tell their

stories.

• What do you think the word “technique” means?• The word technique probably means ____________.

Technique• A technique is a way of doing something.

• Authors and filmmakers both use techniques to communicate their stories to their audience.

Today’s Goals• Today you will look at the different techniques authors and

filmmakers use to tell the same story.

• You will compare and contrast.

During: Graphic Organizer

• Directions: Create a T-Chart. With your group, sort the following words. Predict which column they belong to and write them down after discussing it with your group.

* Color * Camera Focus

* Camera Angle * Description

* Lighting * Dialogue

* Figurative Language

* Sound

Author’s Techniques

Filmmaker’s Techniques

During: Graphic Organizer (Answers)

Author’s Techniques Filmmaker’s Techniques

1. Figurative Language2. Description3. Dialogue

1. Sound2. Camera Angle3. Camera Focus4. Color5. Lighting6. Dialogue7. Description8. Figurative Language

During: Graphic Organizer• First let’s look at how an author uses their techniques to

communicate to an audience.

• 1. Who is an author’s audience, by the way?

• An author’s audience is a reader.

• 2. The techniques of an author are• Description• Dialogue• Figurative Language (Metaphor, Simile, and Personification)

Graphic Organizer

• With your group, read the short passage. Locate and jot down examples of author’s techniques.

Description Dialogue Figurative Language

During: Graphic Organizer• Now let’s look at how filmmakers use techniques to

communicate to an audience.

• 1. Who is an filmmaker's audience, by the way?

• An filmmaker’s audience is a viewer.

• 2. The techniques of an filmmaker are• Description• Dialogue• Figurative Language (Metaphor, Simile, and Personification)

In addition, a filmmaker uses these techniques

• 1. Sound• 2. Camera Angle• 3. Camera Focus• 4. Color• 5. Lighting

Who do they want you to focus on?Which of these technique(s) are they using?

• 1. Sound• 2. Camera Angle• 3. Camera Focus• 4. Color• 5. Lighting

Film Techniques: Color and Sound• Color and sound are used in films to establish the mood of

the story and to focus the viewer’s attention.

• Examples:• Color Editing in The Lord of the Rings• Girl on Bike Color and Sound Compare and Contrast

Camera Focus: Legolas Kills an Oliphant

• Long Shot

• Head Shot

• Medium Shot

Long Shot: Gives You Lots of Information

Head Shot: Forces You to Focus on a Character

Medium Shot: Makes you feel like you are standing there with the characters.

Watch “Legolas Kills an Oliphant”• Make this tally chart and make tallies as you catch the

different camera shots as they occur.

Long Shots

Head Shots

Medium Shots

Graphic Organizer• Fill out the Venn Diagram for “Legolas Kills an Oliphant”

Filmmakers also use Camera Angle• Low Angles show weak characters.• High Angles show strong characters.• Eye Level Angles show equal characters.

• Example: Bilbo and Gandalf

• Where an author might say, “Gandalf loomed over Bilbo”, the filmmaker uses camera angles to make Gandalf look taller and more intimidating than Bilbo.

Reading a story versus watching it on film.

• “The Mouth of Sauron”

1. What techniques did the author use to tell you the written version of the story?

2. What techniques did the filmmaker use to tell you the filmed version of the story? Give examples.

3. Which does your group like better? Why?

• “Journey in the Dark”1. What techniques did the author use to tell you the written version

of the story?

2. What techniques did the filmmaker use to tell you the filmed version of the story? Give examples.

3. Which does your group like better? Why?

Exit Slip• What are the techniques that authors use to tell stories?

• What are the techniques that filmmakers use to tell stories?

• How does a story change when it’s turned into a movie?

• Do you believe the written version or the filmed version of a story is better? Explain.

WEDNESDAY

Outcome • Students will write to compare and contrast how a written

story, drama, or poem compares to its audio, filmed, staged, or multimedia version.

• RL.7.7

Starter• If you could be any animal, which one would you want to

be? Explain in a paragraph. (5-8 sentences)

Before: Think Pair Share• What do you think the word “multi” means?• What do you think the word “media” means?• What do you think the word “multimedia” means?

Today’s Goal• Today you will compare and contrast the written version of

a poem with multimedia versions.

•Media is “any means of communication”

•Multimedia means “the combined use of media to communicate ideas”

During: Graphic Organizer

• Directions: Create a T-Chart. With your group, sort the following words. Predict which column they belong to and write them down after discussing it with your group.

* Color * Camera Focus

* Camera Angle * Description

* Lighting * Dialogue

* Figurative Language• Music• Rhyme• Actor

Poem’s Techniques

Multimedia Techniques

During: Graphic Organizer (Answers)

Poet’s Techniques Multimedia Techniques

1. Figurative Language2. Description3. Dialogue4. Rhyme

1. Music2. Camera Angle3. Camera Focus4. Color5. Lighting6. Dialogue7. Description8. Figurative Language9. Rhyme10. Actor

Written Version• 1. Figurative Language• 2. Description• 3. Dialogue• 4. Rhyme

“Who Killed…” Written Version• Who killed Cock Robin?

• I, said the Sparrow, with my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin.

• Who saw him die?

• I, said the Fly, with my little eye, I saw him die.

• Who caught his blood?

• I, said the Fish, with my little dish, I caught his blood.

“Who Killed…” Written Version• Who'll make the shroud?

• I, said the Beetle, with my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud.

• Who’ll be the clerk?

• I, said the Lark, if it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk.

• Who'll be chief mourner?

• I, said the Dove, I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner

“Who Killed…” Written Version• Who'll carry the coffin?

• I, said the Kite, if it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin.

• Who’ll toll the bell?

• I said the Bull because I can pull, I'll toll the bell.

• All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing, when they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.

Multimedia Version• Music

• Creates Emotion

• Camera Angle• High – makes you look weak• Low – makes you look powerful

• Camera Focus • Long Shots – give lots of information• Head Shots – show you what the character is feeling• Medium Shots – make you feel like you are there

• Lighting• Light • Dark

• Dialogue• Figurative Language• Color

• Creates Emotions

• Description• Actor

Compare and Contrast• With your partner, compare and contrast the poem with its

multimedia version.

• 1. How are they alike? How are they different?• 2. Which engaged your attention better? Explain.• 3. What techniques did the multimedia version use to get

your attention?• 4. How did the multimedia version try to manipulate your

feelings? (make you feel something)

After: Exit Slip• What does the word “multimedia” mean?

• What techniques did the multimedia version of the poem use to engage your attention?

• How did the poem change when lights, music, acting etc. were added to it?