Year 11 Drama Acting for the Camera

Because, in New Zealand nowadays, there are many more work opportunities for actors on television, film and phone screens, the Drama department has decided to offer Year 11 students a chance to further develop their understanding of what is involved for screen production and how the actor’s performance fits into it. 

Over the first seven weeks, through a mixture of theory and practical exercises

the course will cover the basics of:

• Pre-production

• Screenwriting – scripting for action, dialogue, sound, movement, light
• Shot types
• Storyboarding
• Location scouting
• Shot listing
• Scheduling
• Rehearsal
• Budgeting
• The principles of editing

• Production

• Camera operation
• Shot selection
• Sound recording
• Boom operation
• Crew roles

• DOP
• Camera assistant
• Art director
• Gaffer
• First and second assistant
• Runner
• Props manager
• Wardrobe
• Continuity

• Post-Production
  • Pick – ups
  • Editing
  • Titles
  • Exhibition

For the remainder of the course, students will work in groups to:

• plan and prepare for the production of a 2-4 minute film in which each member of the group will have a performance role and a production role 
• Shoot the film from a planned shot list and/or storyboard
• Edit vision and sound using Premiere Pro.

NOTE: Because you will be taught the modern method of two camera shooting, groups will be combined during the production process so that, at any one time, there will be a maximum of two films in production. 

Students will be required to crew short films other than their own.  They will also be expected to perform in at least one short film.  There will be opportunities to direct for a least 6 students.

ASSESSMENT

Using Drama, Media Studies and Performing Arts Technologies NCEA standards as guides, assessments will be especially written for the tasks listed below and will be expressed in simple terms based on Solo Taxonomy. There will be a mixture of Teacher, Peer and Self-assessment. 

Each student will be assessed on:

• The execution of their TECHNICAL ROLE
• Their individual PERFORMANCE TO CAMERA

DIRECTORS will be assessed on both process and their final product

SCREENWRITERS will be assessed on their scripts.

If the course is successful and there are enough numbers in 2021, this course will provide a gateway to Year 12 – CAMERA and PERFORMANCE.

It will also prepare you for Year 12 MEDIA STUDIES, YEAR 12 DRAMA and YEAR 12 PERFORMING ARTS TECHNOLOGY