Film and TV Production

Mission Statement

While the principles and practices of media literacy education are applicable to all media— from Film and Television to T-shirts, the Internet, and video games, the Film and TV English Curriculum seeks to empower students in the transformation of their relatively passive relationship to media into a future of active, critical engagement with commercial media culture.  Students will be capable of navigating and finding new avenues of citizen speech and discourse through an expanding appreciation of Media Literacy in accordance with the New York State English Language Standards.

Objectives

Using their best English skills Students will:

• Use a variety of analytic tools to articulate and examine media and develop critiques from multiple perspectives, such as historical, cultural, social, and psychological,
• Learn a basic vocabulary regarding media formats (e.g. film, TV, radio, Internet) and genre (e.g. documentary, interview, “reality,” horror, drama)
• State opinions or present judgments by developing a thesis and providing supporting evidence, arguments and details
• Evaluate impact of medium (format) on message.
• Evaluate content and organization by applying appropriate criteria and vocabulary
• Research and report various topics about media
• Present and discuss topics related to media culture to class
• Work in groups to write and produce their own media
• Use available technology to create a variety of media
• Research and explore the commercial power behind media
• Evaluate the expertise and possible bias of the source to judge validity of content
• Identify and use strategies (e.g. Rhetoric) designed to influence or to persuade in writing speeches, editorials, and advertisements.
• Select and present appropriate material to class as part of projects.

Grading Procedures: Grades are determined by the following criteria:

• Class participation/Notebook     20%
• Homework                                  20%            
• Tests                                         20%
• Quizzes                                     20%
• Term Paper/Projects                 20%

Class Participation Evaluation: See the Departmental Rubric.

Students are responsible for all assignments even when legitimately absent and should not expect to be brought up to date during class as this results in a loss of instructional time for everyone. See your teacher for the appropriate time to make up missed work.  Assignments are expected on the due date. There may be penalties for work that is turned in late.

Curriculum and Major Projects for Film and TV by Quarter

1^st Quarter    Multi Media Literacy: 

The use of a variety of contemporary media as examples in our development of analytic skills.

Major Project: Media Project

2^nd Quarter    History of Film and TV

The exploration of the development of a variety of noteworthy media in order to understand the evolution of media in our culture.

Major Projects: Research Projects (to be approved by instructor)

3^rd Quarter    The Future of Multimedia

Through the examination of technological advances (Computer Presentations and the Internet) and in consideration of the history of media, we will examine the skills needed in the coming decades for the production of media.

Major Projects: Computer/Technology Integrated Projects (as approved by instructor)

4^th Quarter    Production Projects

This quarter will be devoted to the Major Project in order to participate in the branding of a product, service, or event appropriate for an academic environment.

Major Projects: Production of Original Branding Proposal (as approved by instructor)

 Open Notebook Final Exam based incorporating all four quarters work.

Additional readings, research, and assignments will be required.

Please see Class Rules and Parental Information Sheet One for additional details that could have an effect on your grade.