Grant Proposal: Student Film Festival

Cassandra M. Neumann

Brunswick High School

CURRENT EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

•Brunswick High School

•Located in Brunswick, OH

•Medina County- suburban city

•Approx. 2200 students

•Offers a wide range of classes, clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities

•Rated “Excellent” by the State

•Towards the end of a 5-year Technology Plan

•Encourages teachers to find ways of incorporating technology into their classrooms,

HOW HAS THE TECH PLAN AFFECTED US?

Many core classes have benefitted from the addition of new technology, including:

•individual lab spaces/time

•the purchasing of new hardware and software to support learning

•curriculum changes to redirect efforts to focus on using technology to enhance student.

….But what about the elective classes?

NEED FOR CHANGE

Film Lit: An arts elective for the non-arts student.

*Many students take the class as an easy, “blow-off” class.

*The current curriculum is not interesting to them.

*The current curriculum lacks opportunity for student involvement in the arts.

NEED FOR CHANGE, CONT.

We need to find a way to make the class more engaging and effective.

Instead of having a boring, sit-in-your-seat lecture class, we need to turn film lit into a hand-on, student-motivating class.

If we want students to benefit from arts classes, then have to not just learn about the arts, but they must learn how to practice the art.

WHAT LIMITS US?

•Current film curriculum focuses on teacher-led instruction.

•We lack the technology to implement something greater.

What’s our plan?

TECHNOLOGY PROPOSAL

Create the opportunity for student-made films! Students will learn about movie production through the creation of student film shorts. With the help of the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, we will purchase: Cameras and Editing Software! -for student use in learning film techniques and demonstrating mastery through film projects.

GOALS OF PROPOSAL

•Increase student learning and interest through a hands-on, collaborative project.

•Give students the opportunity to have mastery over a skill (producing and filming a movie).

•Increase student skill through application of knowledge.

•Build working relationships and a stronger arts community through the cooperation of two classes (Film Lit and Acting).

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

•Fine Arts Licensure •Theatre PK-12

•4 years teaching experience •Film Lit, Intro to Theatre, Acting, Mass Media •BHS Theatre Director (7 shows)Outside Theatre and Film Experience

•Outside Theatre and Film Experience •Acting and directing in professional theatre venues •48 Hour Film Fest Team Member

IMPLEMENTATION

Fall Semester (October): Interested students apply for special section of Film Lit. Teacher makes selections of qualified students. January-mid February Film Basics, Equipment Introduction with Skill Practice Involved Parties- Classroom Teacher, Film Students Mid-February-mid April: Film Short Assignments- Assigned by teacher in correlation with each film unit (each project will have certain requirements that correspond to what is being taught). Acting students will be doing a unit on film acting during this time. Involved Parties- Classroom Teacher, Film Students, Acting Students Mid-April- May: Writing, Production, and Showing of Final Film Projects- Films will be shown in the Film Festival (approximately the second week of May) and then posted online. Involved Parties- Classroom Teacher, Acting Students, Film Students, School Community and Parents

BUDGET

•10 Panasonic Camcorders: $190 each $1,900 •These are easy to use, basic handheld cameras. They are HD quality, but run on the lower end of the price scale for film cameras.

•Adobe Premier Editing Software, Student and Teacher Edition: $119

•This is a fairly simple editing program to learn, but it also offers options for more advanced editors.

Total: $2,019

ASSESSMENT

•Grades for individual projects- rubric scored.

•Tracking of test scores- compare to film classes who are not using the new curriculum.

•End-of-the-year student film festival. Will be held in the PAC, and awards will be given to best films. This will be a school-wide community event.

CONTINUATION INTO THE FUTURE

•Future student film festivals.

•Could raise money for future tech investments.

•Transitioning all film classes to this curriculum.

•Would have access to student fee funds.

•Working with the theatre department to build up the film classes.

•Possible creation of a duo-film/theatre department?

With an initial investment, WE CAN build our arts program into something great!