Using Windows MovieMaker or Apple i-Movies to create a trailer for a film adapted from a book studied in class

Class or Subject Area: English / Foreign Language

Specific Learning Objectives:

Writing (intermediate):

Students give a straightforward prepared presentation on a given literary work in a clear manner.

Students describe the plot and sequence of events of a film or book, and narrate a story.

Writing (advanced):

Students produce clear, smoothly flowing, storyboard for the adaptation into a movie of literary works.

Students critically appraise classical as well as contemporary literary texts in different genres.

Speaking (intermediate / advanced):

Students deliver announcements fluently, almost effortlessly, using stress and intonation to convey finer shades of meaning.

Grade Level(s): 10-12

Activity Summary:

After a short tutorial on how to write a storyboard, students use Windows MovieMaker or Apple i-Movies to translate their own storyboard into a short film. They are asked to create a trailer for a hypothetical movie adapted from a book studied in class.

What you need:

Windows MovieMaker or Apple i-Movies

How it works:

The teacher previews the trailer of a movie of his choice. He then transforms that trailer into a storyboard that he gives her/his students as a model while showing them the trailer used as sample. Students work in groups to create their own storyboard. Then, they shoot their movie, edit it with Windows MovieMaker or Apple i-Movies and publish it.

Preparation:

Preview the trailer of a movie and adapt that trailer into a storyboard. Give them a short tutorial about Windows MovieMaker or Apple i-Movies if needed.

Explain the assignment to them

Directions for the students:

“ You have been asked by a movie producer to work on the trailer of [title of the book studied in class]. You will (1) write the storyboard for that trailer and (2) shoot it and edit it. To understand how it works, let’s demonstrate with … (you model the activity by showing an example of a storyboard you created yourself).

Sample:

Here is a sample model of a storyboard created after the trailer of the French movie “Entre les murs” (The Class), available on YouTube.