Experimental Videos at MS 258 Community Action School

21 Jan 2012, 12:27 AM by keith, Middle School

Students in MS 258's after school video program have been working with teaching artist Daniel Heffernan to create experimental, non-narrative videos. These "video poems" focus on shapes and patterns and utilize a wide range of effects in iMovie to transform their footage into these unique pieces. The students did all the shooting and editing themselves and we look forward to their next project, a series of short promotional videos focusing on the school and the things that make it a great place to learn.

“This class taught movies are made by filming, editing, and importing.  Movies are like other art forms because you can also express yourself in other art forms.  I think art is important. I think that because art is a way to express yourself.” – Brent

“I think movies are like other art forms because they mostly all tell stories in them.  This class taught me about how movies are made by showing me examples of images.” - Yarissa
 

PS 48Q's animation class

23 Dec 2011, 5:26 PM by kaya, Elementary School

We leave you this year with a video of animation projects from PS 48Q. Working with teaching artist Habibah Ahmad, PS 48's students made films based on the water cycle. You'll see dolphins of clay and creatures of paper perform magic acts. Next semester the class will continue with their science theme, we're excited to see what's next!

Video in progress of loading, check back soon!

IS 528 Digital Portrait

13 Dec 2011, 12:05 AM by keith, Middle School

For the Digital Portrait project, students from IS 528's after school Video Club wrote short declarative statements about their daily lives and experiences at school. They developed storyboards to accompany these scripts, and then recorded interviews of one another and shot "b-roll" footage to represent/illustrate their vocal track. Audio and visuals were assembled into a non-narrative video piece. As a reflection, each student made two collages, one addressing "What I learned making the video" and one addressing "What I hope to improve upon in the future." Student collages were collected into a reflection zine and each student received a copy.  Sample images from the zine are below:

"We cut out letters for the beginning part and took pictures to animate them to make the titles.  We did interviews about our school and what we think about it." - Laurisa, 7th grade

"I like how we animated the letters and made them move. My role was to help with the titles to animate the letters.  I want people to notice this part of the video and think about how we did it." - Andres, 7th grade

"One message of the video is about how we have fun at this school.  I was interviewed about what I like to do and also I was part of the dancing scene." - Luis, 6th grade

"My favorite part of the project was the dancing and using the camera and computers.  I like using the camera because I like to use equipment and push the buttons.  I liked working with everybody." - Isabel, 7th grade  

Film Program at ITAVA

11 Nov 2011, 1:12 PM by keith, High School

Students in the after school Filmmaking program at It Takes a Village Academy (ITAVA) in Brooklyn have begun work on a series of original short films with teaching artist Brendan Boland.  The films depict scenes set in a fictional high school and tell stories of daily life for students and teachers.  The students are participating in the project in a range of roles, such as writing the scripts, acting, and also doing the camera work.  

"The film is really interesting.  It's about typical high school days and how students deal with stuff.  Today we were working on a specific scene about a girl who has issues at home.  She has a lot of anger and is talking to a teacher about it.  I love both writing and acting.  I wrote the script, but once we all talked about it as a group, it came out different and better.  I love this class because I can be myself and different characters at the same time." - Christelle, 10th grade

"Today I was using the camera.  I moved around to different places to help show what characters were saying and what was happening.  Sometimes I did close ups to show the person who's talking more clearly and what they are feeling.  I'm filming the action, and the actors are acting according to how the scene goes." - Shener, 11th grade

Video Integration at Manhattan Academy of Arts & Language

18 Oct 2011, 3:04 PM by keith, High School

At Manhattan Acadmy of Arts & Language (MAAL), teaching artist Vee Bravo has been collaborating with science teacher Mr. Gallanero since the beginning of the year to integrate digital media/ video into the curriculum for The Living Environment class.  Over the course of the year, MAAL students will be creating a "digital handbook" for the class consisting of original media to complement the class.

Students have begun working on original educational media- short videos that illustrate specific concepts from the Living Environment curriculum.  The current batch of videos focus on students demonstrating how to properly use various science tools and instruments, with students handling all the production, shooting and editing.  The videos will be in both Spanish and English, and we are also exploring possibilities for distributing and sharing the videos so that other students can access and benefit from the videos.

"We were working on balance scales and how to use them to measure stuff.  We're making videos, so we learned about shooting different kinds of angles.  The videos show people how to use science equipment like balances and other things." - Sashaly, 10th grade

"I worked on shooting using two video cameras for different angles.  More angles will show how to use the equipment better.  I want the videos to help next year's students.  it's fun because I like having a camera in my hands." - Carolinie, 10th grade

"We are editing today using the computer.  We're making a video about using the balance scale to measure an object.  This video will help us learn more about science." - Edwin, 10th grade