Frequently Asked Questions
about the movies you see here
1. What camera do you use? How do I buy one?
The pictures for the movies with still images were shot using a simple digital still camera which also has the capability to shoot video. I use the Canon S400. I'm partial to Canon but other less expensive digital cameras will also do. You will want 4 or 5 megapixels. More than that is not really necessary for video and requires more space on your memory card and computer. For a motion video camera (a camcorder), I use a Sony TRV900 which is no longer available. If I was buying a camera today, I would buy a Canon camcorder.
2. How do you record audio?
The audio for these types of movies is recorded separately. I record the audio first and then do the video on a separate day. I record the audio onto my iBook using an external microphone. Generally, the more you spend on a microphone the better but even a cheap external mic will give you much better sound than your laptop's built-in mic. I record the sound directly into Garageband (part of Apple's iLife suite).
3. Do I need a Macintosh computer?
No, there are ways of doing this on the PC. But particularly if you are a beginner, you will definitely find the Mac easier to use. Although it does cost more, it comes with iLife preinstalled which is pretty much everything you need to make these movies.
4. What software do you use to edit the movie/put it on your computer?
iLife also includes iPhoto which imports the pictures from my digital camera. You can adjust your photos directly in iPhoto but I use Photoshop because of the greater control it provides and its capability for special effects. When you’re done editing your still images, you can import them into iMovie, sequence them, and have them move on the screen. iMovie is good for beginners and I have taught second graders to use it successfully. However, I am used to having greater control and I recommend Final Cut Express which has much of the functionality of Final Cut Pro (Apple’s pro application), is easier to use, and is about half the price.
5. Why do some of the movies use still images instead of digital video?
Truth be told, my digital video camera wasn’t work at the time we shot the two digital still movies. However, there are several advantages to using still images.
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•The image quality of a 4 megapixel still camera is often better than that of a miniDV camcorder.
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•Still images take up far less hard drive space than digital video.
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•By separating audio and video, you have much greater control over student performances.
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•Greater emphasis is placed on reading fluency versus simply memorizing lines.
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•Certain special effects are easier to create when working with stills than moving video.
6. What if I want to use digital video instead of stills?
The process is much the same and in some ways easier. You will import your video directly into iMovie and the audio will be attached. I would still recommend using an external camera microphone for better audio but it’s not entirely necessary.
7. How long does it take to make these movies?
The longest part of the filmmaking process is always editing the movie. When I have students edit their own work, they work much faster than I do and need less precise control over every frame. Our Cereal Box film was shot in a couple of hours time and students took turns editing their own films over the course of a morning.
On The City Mouse and Tales from the Yard, the process was a little different. I involve students in making decisions about which story to adapt into a movie from the beginning of the school year. We spend several months deciding. From the time I write the script and present it to students, we spend about one-two months reading and rereading the script in class.
I take almost an entire day to record students reading their parts then another day shooting still photos of them acting out their roles. Using a motion video camera could shorten this to just one day but then both the voice and acting would have to be perfect at the exact same time.
The longest part of the process, by far, is editing. When I edit the movies I like to have precise control over the exact timing of every frame of the movie and have each picture adjusted for color and contrast takes a long time. I would estimate that every frame of the movie takes about 20-40 minutes to adjust for color and set timing for. That means about twenty to forty hours of work. Teachers willing to give up some of this control could do it much faster. So what if every frame isn't perfect. This year I am experimenting with having students make their own movies. They can decide how much time they want to put in and see how the amount of work they do affects the results.
8. Have you seen a difference in student achievement as a result of making these movies?
Absolutely! From the time of completing the movie in March until the end of the year in June, students saw a 20% increase in reading fluency. In addition, students showed a much increased enthusiasm for reading and an obvious improvement in being able to read in a manner approximating natural speech.
9. How did you learn to make these movies?
As an independent filmmaker, I have been making movies for years so I come to education with much practice in writing, directing, and video editing. I have had the opportunity to work with editors who have more experience than I have but for the most part I am self taught. The hardest part of the process by far is editing. New software makes it extremely simple for teachers without any experience in video editing to create incredibly good work in the classroom and the software keeps getting easier and better.
10. How can I learn to create projects in the classroom?
If you use a Mac, your local Apple Store provides free classes on using the software I use. If you use a PC, you will find that there are many books available. I also have some links to online tutorials on my technology integration page. For visual learners one free resource is Marco Torres’s free podcasts.
Mathew Needleman is also available to provide professional development to schools within the Los Angeles area.
This month’s question? How did you place students in front of the Star Wars background in the movie Star Wars XXIV?
Students performed their scenes in front of a green screen purchased from Ebay and then the green screen is removed using a Mac computer and Final Cut Pro.
