Filmmaking Teacher Resources

What happens during the pre-production, production, and post-production stages of the filmmaking process? This 30-page packet, designed to be used with a viewing of Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, is loaded with materials,...

"I'll just wait for the movie version." How often have you heard that line? Transform passive viewers into active readers of visual images with an understanding of the three stages of the filmmaking process. This 28-packet packet is a...

Pixar, DreamWorks, Disney Studios. Prepare your primary graders to become the next generation of film makers with a guide that encourages kids to explore the possibilities of script writing, lighting, sound, editing, and post production...

The movies and television shows we enjoy always look effortlessly professional, but the truth is, the work involved in film production is anything but effortless. A thorough video on film production explains the departments below the...

Students consider different stories and story-telling techniques of animated and live-action filmmaking, write proposals for animated films, and storyboard individual scenes.

Consumer technology has made it possible for filmmakers to create entire movies from the comfort of their home computer. Guide high school film buffs through the process of designing a documentary with an extensive unit published by...

Why are film montages in movies so compelling? Learn about the origins and effectiveness of the Soviet montage, as well as discontinuity editing and other filmmaking techniques—and political statements—that arose from the 1917 Bolshevik...

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences awarded its 2017 Best Picture award to Moonlight, which was written and directed by Barry Jenkins. The tender exploration of expectations for black men, contrasted with the reality of...

How are films made? As part of their study of film, middle schoolers investigate the pre-production, production, and post-production process and consider the role of the director, the screenwriter, production designer, cinematographer,...

Ever wonder why a scene in a movie looks so ominous? Or how lighting can make a romantic scene even more beautiful? Discover the ways lighting choices and camera angles can affect the mood in a shot with a visual analysis lesson. After...

Do you have a brilliant idea for a movie? Where does it take place? Who should star in it? Who will want to see it? Filmmakers must consider these questions and more as they pitch their film ideas. Explore the art of pitching a film, as...

Students study budgeting money activities by watching a video about making a film and using a budget in the process. In this budgeting money lesson plan, students watch several videos about making a film, but study the role of budgeting...

Students discuss the difference between independent films and and films produced by a major studio. They select an independent filmmaker to research and begin their research from a list of given Web sites. When research is complete,...

Discuss personal ideas about science and how a filmmaker can employ the arts to promote science. After reading an article, young scientists will discover how James Cameron is trying to interest people in the oceans. In groups, they will...

Agnes Varda’s autobiographical “The Beaches of Agnes,” models for young filmmakers the cinematic self-portrait. Far from “old and plump,” Varda is a giant of filmmaking and will inspire your pupils. After watching a clip of this famous...

Explore women's history through films and filmmaking. An innovative research project prompts class members to create their own screenplay about a figure in women's history. After outlining their characters, settings, and plots, young...

Explore the rich history of African, Middle Eastern, and South American cinema with a video summary of the most prominent filmmakers from these regions in the 20th and 21st centuries. It discusses Egyptian filmmakers Asmaa El-Bakry and...

Combine visual and performing art in this creative lesson. Young filmmakers first choose a piece of art, along with music that matches the feel of the art, and write dialogue to go with the scene. They research the artist and record...

Hear a complete explanation of how a DVD player works. Data is stored in the spiraling groove of a compact disc, and a laser follows the groove, reading the peaks and valleys as 1s and 0s. The teacher even explains the difference between...

Ninth graders focus on how filmmakers have changed their view of the Second World War. They create portfolios or their own documentary to investigate the various screen interpretations of the wartime era and explain different points of...

Young readers work through an informative article about filmmaking, and answer five multiple choice questions about the text. The format of the activity would make a good quiz or homework assignment. Additionally, a home activity prompts...

The focus of a playlist on the history of film shifts from the development of early film technology to techniques used by filmmakers like Georges Melies. Melies, a former magician, used dazzling illusions and tricky editing to create...

Special effects have come along way since the spectacular illusions of Georges Melies. Young filmmakers learn about the three major types of special effects: mechanical or practical effects, optical effects, and computer-generated imagery.

Hollywood is the place to go if you want to make movies—right? Not necessarily. A fascinating video about the history of 20th century Asian cinema discusses the reflections of Japanese culture in the works of directors Yasujiro Ozu,...