A Guide To Developing Filmmaking Skills In Young Learners

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Filmmaking is one of the most creative, collaborative and rewarding experiences that students can have when using technology in the classroom. Not only does the process of making a movie foster problem-solving, storytelling and team-building skills, but it can also easily be integrated into the wider curriculum, allowing students to make organic and meaningful connections across subjects. 

7 years ago, I enrolled in a CPD opportunity, which opened my eyes to how filmmaking could be used to support and enhance learning. Today, at The International School @ ParkCity, our students continue to become more adept at planning, recording and editing movies that explain a concept, tell a story or persuade an audience. Below are some of the key things I've picked up along the way that will help students on their creative journey.

5-second rule

Next time you watch a movie, you will notice how each shot rarely lingers for more than 5 seconds. This provides a sense of momentum, therefore capturing and maintaining audience engagement. Share some well-known movie clips with your students and get them to pay attention to this technique, clapping or counting each time one shot cuts to another.

Using a low angle can make a character appear important or scary

Shot types

Understanding and implementing a variety of shot types helps to create meaning and emotion, and add to the sense of momentum mentioned above. Want to show an important detail or facial expression? Use an extreme close-up. Showing the setting at the start of the film? Extreme long shot. Developing students' vocabulary in this area will support them to communicate effectively with their groups later.

Apple Clips is a great place to start

Know your tools

It is not advisable for students to jump straight into making a movie without first being confident in the tools and programs they'll be using. Simple video editing apps like Apple's Clips, Capcut, or Canva are a great place to start. Give students ample time to try out recording different shot types, as well as experimenting with trimming, splitting and arranging clips. At this stage, it's also a good idea to introduce a wider range of creative tools like transitions, filters and speed changes. Knowing about these features and how they work will be useful during the planning and recording process, too.

Filmmaking can significantly develop collaboration and problem-solving skills

Roles

I've learned that groups of 3 to 4 tend to work best for filmmaking projects. It is important for students to have clearly-defined roles in their group and understand how they will contribute to the success of the team. The director essentially takes the role of group leader, directing the actors and enthusiastically barking commands like 'action!' and 'cut!'. The camera operator responds to the director's instructions (making sure to start recording early rather than late!), while the actors perform their hearts out. Everyone can have a part in the editing process, but we'll get to that later...

Use a planning template to prepare students for the recording stage

Storyboarding

Just like writing a story in an English lesson, the planning stage is crucial to the success of a filmmaking project. A planning template like this one of mine supports students with planning roles, shot types, locations, props and an overview of the storyline.

Use a tripod for a more enjoyable viewing experience

Tripods

No one wants to watch a film with a shaky camera. Tripods provide stability, whilst also encouraging students not to move the camera during a shot. The 5-second rule mentioned earlier will mean that the tripod will have to move often - an additional command for the actors might be 'freeze!' while the director and camera operator change locations before continuing to film the action.

Avoid green clothing when using the green screen!

Green screen

There is lots of fun to be had with a green screen. Using a green background, even just a wall or big sheet, means that the background can be changed later to transport students to a whole new world. Be sure not to include green clothing (as above) or more than just the background will disappear!

Sound

I'd always recommend introducing sound much later on, after all the above has been practiced and embedded. Silent movies are a great place to start (see Everyone Can Create Video p.26) and force students to consider how to create meaning only using visuals. When you're ready, music and sound effects can be added directly in apps like iMovie, or downloaded for free from royalty-free sources like Pixabay. Clip-on microphones are a great way to capture high-quality audio during filming, or when adding voiceovers later.

Editing

Once filming is complete, groups can work with newly assigned roles to edit and publish their movie. For example, one group member could begin using film editing software to trim and arrange clips, while another could be finding and downloading audio to transfer over and add later.

Final tips

• Be restrictive to start. Set tight a time limit of 30 seconds or restrict students to only 5 shots and they will have to think hard about creating high-quality work. 

• Quality over quantity. Don't expect a finished product from the get-go (I've made this mistake before!) Be patient and support students to create something short, but special.

• Don't stop there! Filmmaking can be integrated right across the curriculum. Give opportunities for students to apply their new skills to another area of learning and watch them flourish.

More resources:

• Find more filmmaking resources from Apple, Stop Motion Studio, and Into Film in my resource library at The Primary EdTech Project

• Watch my series on using iMovie for iPad on YouTube