Amy Tisdale

Star Wars Film Making Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson: Star Wars and the Creation of a New Hope for Film Length of Time: One Week Context: An informative lesson on the Star Wars saga, why it is renowned as one of the greatest films ever made, and how students can utilize this in creating successful and innovative storyboards to understand the process of film making. Citation of Source: Star Wars Saga Film Clips directed and created by George Lucas Star Wars: Original Trilogy Empire of Dreams Documentary Star Wars: Episode II Love Featurette Documentary Star Wars: Episode III The Chosen One Documentary Star Wars Episode III storyboard scene The Poetics by Aristotle The American Film Institute Desk Reference by Melinda Corey and George Ochoa Materials and Resources: Star Wars Saga Film Clips Star Wars: Original Trilogy Empire of Dreams Documentary Star Wars: Episode II Love Featurette Documentary Star Wars: Episode III The Chosen One Documentary Star Wars Episode III storyboard scene Smart Board Presentation The Poetics by Aristotle The American Film Institute Desk Reference by Melinda Corey and George Ochoa Storyboard Posters Markers and Colored Pencils Pre-Assessment Quiz Post-Assessment Quiz Storyboard Template Example The Roles of Film Makers Paper

Objectives: By analyzing the classic Hollywood film style through the infamous Star Wars saga, students will work collaboratively in groups taking on the roles of directors, writers, artists, and presenters in order to create original storyboard scenes and to comprehend the pre-visualizing stages of the film making process. Related TEKS: LEVEL I: 2C - identify the production team such as designers, director, crew members, playwright, and stage manager and their duties; LEVEL II: 5F - evaluate film, television, or other media in written or oral form with precise and specific observations of technical elements using appropriate vocabulary; LEVEL III: 2H - develop creativity as it relates to personal expression in technical theatre and design; Level IV: 1D - Compare the dramatic structure of theatre, film, television, and electronic media.

Level IV: 4B - Evaluate the role of live theatre, film, television, and electronic media in American society. LEVEL IV: 4B - articulate the impact of live theatre, film, television, and electronic media on contemporary society; LEVEL IV: 5D - offer and receive constructive criticism of designs or construction projects by peers and self; LEVEL IV: 5F - evaluate film, television, or other media in written or oral form with precise and specific observations of technical elements using appropriate vocabulary; LEVEL II: 3B apply the design process, including analysis, research incubation, selection, implementation, and evaluation, to a theatrical product such as a rendering, model, or sketch. LEVEL II: 3F manage and work collaboratively with the production team such as designers, director, crewmembers, playwright, and stage manager.

Academic Vocabulary: Film Form Aristotle Tragic Hero Hero Hamartia Tragedy Melodrama Archetype Storyboard Production Team Director Writer Artist Presenter Accommodations: A rubric has been created in order for the students to understand what the instructor is looking for. There are two students in the class who are not as skilled as the other students in the class. These students are being put into a group of five instead of a group of four so that they can receive extra help if needed. Also, both of these students will be Assistant Directors so that they may assist the Head Directors, but do not feel strained with the overwhelming responsibility of guiding the process. Other accommodations include: letting the students choose which role they would like to take in the film making process and which Star Wars episode each individual group wanted to work on for their project. Introduction/Hook: The students will watch a film clip that was just recently created by LucasFilms, before Star Wars was sold to Disney, in order to tell the over arcing story of the Star Wars saga. This will help refresh their minds on the material we have already covered in class and will engage their interests before they are about to add the storyboard scenes to the episodes. Pre-Assessment/Prior Knowledge: At the beginning of the lesson, the students will be given a Pre-Assessment Quiz over Star Wars, the film industry, and the dramatic form of a story. This will let them know what information will be covered in the lesson, but will also help the instructor understand what their student already knows about the material.

Rubric:

Real Life Experience: Film has taken a major precedent in our civilization today, and students will be able to ascertain the process of an art form that they watch and appreciate in their everyday lives. The film that was chosen as an example is considered the greatest saga ever created, and one of the most popular films of all time. Every student can relate to Star Wars because they grew up watching and reenacting scenes from the epic movie. Luke, I am your father is a line that they all know because they have heard it in commercials, television shows, other films, and has even in their everyday language. Star Wars is not just a film, but has become a part of our global society. Modeling: The instructor will show a model of a storyboard scene from the original film Star Wars and will then play that same clip from the movie in order to portray the similarities between each form and how shots are planned out before they are made. There will also be a lecture with the Smart Board application on creating a film, and the instructor will show different shot angles on the board so that the students know exactly what is expected of them. Student Activities: The students will take notes on the lecture about the process of filmmaking. They will also have group discussions, conducted by the instructor, about the analysis of the film clips and documentaries they are watching throughout the lesson in order to better understand the form of creating a great film. Afterwards, the students will separate into groups and choose which role they would like to take in the film process. They will then choose which Star Wars episode they will use for their scene. The students will work together in their groups to create a storyboard scene on butcher paper and will present this storyboard to the class. Assessment/Check for Understanding: After the lesson, the students will present their storyboards to the class to illustrate what they have created based on the information they learned during the lesson. Afterwards, the instructor will administer a Post-Assessment Quiz to determine how effective the lesson was and what the students were able to comprehend and absorb. Closure: We will have a class-guided discussion on the various storyboard designs that the students presented. The students will be able to vote on which storyboard was their favorite and why that particular groups scene was effective. Conclusion: The instructor will ask the students what they liked about the lesson and whether or not they believed it was an effective way to learn about the film process. Afterwards, the students will watch one last clip of the Star Wars saga to reflect on the accomplishments that Star Wars has achieved and the accomplishments that they have ultimately achieved. Plan for Reteach: