film teach conscious filmmaking

7/27/2019 Film Teach Conscious Filmmaking

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© 2012 Kid Filmmakers. All rights reserved.

Cinema 1 Basic Curriculum ~ $79






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Teacher Guide

Students learn how to become visionaries and use filmmaking to address issues they are passionate about.

Equipment and Supplies Needed for this Lesson• Pen and paper• Video camera

Assignments

• Write a 500-word essay about what you feel needs to change in this world.• Watch and critique Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore.• Watch and critique Gandhi.• Write and shoot a conscious movie.

Suggested Viewing •

An Inconvenient Truth (Paramount Classics) • Avatar (20th Century Fox) • Babette’s Feast (Orion Classics) • Bowling for Columbine (United Artists) • The Cove (Lionsgate Entertainment) • Eyes on the Prize (PBS) • Gandhi (Columbia Pictures) • Sicko (Lionsgate Entertainment)

basic equipment needs conscious filmmaking




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conscious filmmaking

Resources• Center for Conscious Creativity(http://consciouscreativity.org)

• Conscious Film Festival(http://www.consciouslifeexpo.com/program2010/filmfestival.html)

• The Conscious Filmmaker(http://consciousfilmmaker.wordpress.com)

• Conscious Life News(http://consciouslifenews.com)

• Conscious World Summit(http://consciousworldsummit.com/)

• Culture Unplugged

(http://www.cultureunplugged.com)• Raising Conscious Kids Telesummit

(http://www.raisingconsciouskidstelesummit.com)

• Spiritual Cinema Circle(http://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com)




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Student Guide

“ I don't compromise my values and I don't compromise my work. That's why I've been kicked from one network to the next: I won't give in.”

~ Michael Moore

DAY 1: Respecting the World Around You

Think about all the things you are passionate about. Playing ball. Being with your friends. Livingyour faith. Making movies. Now think about what makes you feel compassionate. Animals inshelters. Homeless people. Sealife covered in oil.

People may look and sound different, but they are similar, too. For instance, everyone eats,sleeps, works and plays. Think about the connection you have with others. Do you realize thatwhat you do to a person, an animal or plant can affect other people, no matter who they are orwhere they live?

To be a Conscious Filmmaker means you are a trailblazer. You are passionate about change andcompassionate about the people or places affected by the current situation. Take a look at yourworld—a real look. Is it everything it could be? What are its good points? What elements couldbe improved upon?

ASSIGNMENT 1Write a 500-word essay about what you feel needs to change in this world and how you canhelp implement that change through your filmmaking.

basic equipment needs storyboarding and directing makeup and hair the shoot publicity marketing your movie conscious filmmaking




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basic equipment needs

DAY 2: Finding the Courage to Demand Change

Do you feel strongly about the environment? Are you against bullying? Do you want to stop worldhunger? Would you like to take away all the guns in this world and force people to “play nice”?Put your feelings into a movie!

One of the most conscious and influential documentary filmmakers is Michael Moore. Born in 1954

in Flint, Michigan, he is known for his fearlessness and devotion to tackling subjects that makepeople take notice.

Many people do not agree with Moore’s politics (or even his aggressive, bulldog tactics) but it isdifficult to ignore the fact that when he wants to bring a perceived injustice to the public’s atten-

tion, he does so with tireless research and courage. Sometimes people become angry at Moore forexposing their shortcomings and sometimes he wins the Academy Award for his efforts (as he didwith Bowling for Columbine).

What are the things that push your buttons? What do you feel are injustices and really make youmad? These feelings are straight from your heart and that’s what Conscious Filmmakers do—theymake movies that touch the hearts of others.

So how do you find the courage to demand change? You just do your research, then go and pro-duce your movie with heart. Don’t worry about what others may think—they’re your thoughts andyour movie.

ASSIGNMENT 2Watch and critique Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore. Did this Academy Award-winningfilm influence you at all? What is your opinion about gun control after watching the movie?[see Movie Critiquing worksheet]

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DAY 3: Finding Conscious Messages in Non-DocumentariesWe’ve looked at conscious filmmaking in documentaries, but what about the fantasy and dramatic

films?

Remember Avatar ? It’s the fantasy story of the indigenous Na ‘vi of Pandora and their battleagainst the military who sought to eliminate their peaceful community. Filmmaker James Cam-

eron said he wanted to evoke an emotional reaction to the various themes (like environmentalprotection, racism, corporate greed and religion) that occur in his award-winning movie.

ASSIGNMENT 3

Watch and critique Gandhi. What do you think was the central theme throughout the movie?[see Movie Critiquing worksheet]





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DAY 4: Be the Solution, Not the ProblemIn his Academy Award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, filmmaker Davis Guggenheim

presents scientific data to convince viewers that global warming is indeed real. Have we lostrespect for Planet Earth? Can we save it?

It is easy to complain about something, but that’s not helpful to anyone if you don’t offer solu-

tions to the problem. Yes, use your filmmaking skills to point out the injustices, but use yourconscious energies to show your audience what positive change could look like.

ASSIGNMENT 4AWatch and critique An Inconvenient Truth by Davis Guggenheim. Did this film influence you atall? What is your opinion about global warming after watching the movie? [see Movie Critiquingworksheet]

ASSIGNMENT 4BWrite and shoot a conscious movie (up to 5 minutes in length) where you show solutions tothe problem.





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In consideration of my participation in the film/television production entitled:

I hereby consent to the photographing, recording, or the reproduction in any other manner of my likeness,

voice and activities, in whole or in part, including the use of videotapes and audiotapes.

I further grant (insert your name here) all rights of every kind, whether known or unknown, for unlimited use

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MOVIE CRITIQUING MOVIE CRITIQUING MOVIE CRITIQUING MOVIE CRITIQUING

MOVIE TITLE: ______________________________________________________________________________________ WHAT WAS THE PLOT?__________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THE MOVIE?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT WAS BORING ABOUT THE MOVIE?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

DID YOU LIKE THE CHARACTERS? ____________________

WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER? __________________________________________________________

DID YOU LIKE THE PLOT? __________________________

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO OTHERS? _____________________________

ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

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