Yr 7 Media Arts

Key terms: Mise-en-scène (setting, costume, props, lighting). Activity: Discuss how Baz Luhrmann uses Mise-en-scène in the world of ballroom.

Scene 1: Close-Ups and Emotional Impact (Period 2 Focus: Camera Shots & Angles)

Timecode 13:30 This scene effectively uses Close-Ups (CU) to show the character's internal feelings and Low Angles to emphasise power or defiance.

- Scott's Confession to the comittee - arguing about the federation rules. Notice the Extreme Close-Ups (ECU) on Scott's face and eyes, emphasising his passion and frustration.  Contrast this with Low Angles used on the stern committee members, making them look authoritative and intimidating.

Activity: Students identify a Close-Up shot adn describe what emotion it tells the audience.  They then identify a Low Angle or High Angle shot and explain how it makes the character look.

Key terms: Extreme Long Shot (ELS), Long Shot (LS), Medium Shot (MS), Close Up (CU), Extreme Close Up (ECU). Activity: Deconstruct the opening scene of the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix (or a similar high-energy scene). Short Response 1: Identify 3 shots and explain what they show and what effect they create (physical booklet/form).

Key terms: High Angle, Low Angle, Eye-Level, Panning, Tracking/Dolly, Crane/Jib. Activity: Deconstruct a scene with an emotional turning point (e.g., Scott practicing alone). Focus on how the camera makes us feel about the characters. Short Response 2: Identify one angle and one movement, and explain its emotional impact.

Key terms: Cutting, Pace, Sound Bridge, Montage. Introduce the idea of non-diegetic vs. diegetic sound. Activity: Deconstruct a rapid, high-energy scene (e.g., the "Love is in the Air" sequence). Discuss how the editing creates the rhythm. Short Response 3: How does the pace of the cutting contribute to the scene's excitement?

Recap the key techniques (Mise-en-scène, Shots, Angles, Editing, Sound). Students begin planning their final written assessment. Activity: Discussion/Mind-map: The transformation of Scott Hastings.

Final Written Assessment: Show one scene and write a response analysing how three different film techniques (e.g., lighting, shot type, sound) are used to create meaning or emotional effect.

Key terms: Storyboard, Scene, Shot List. Demonstration: Show a scene from Strictly Ballroom (e.g., when Fran steps in to dance with Scott) and analyze its storyboard/shot list. Activity: Students practice sketching storyboards for simple shots.

Practical hands-on session using phones/tablets/cameras. Practice: Stability, Framing (Rule of Thirds), Shot Sizes (CU, MS, LS), Angles (High/Low). Focus on using a Close-Up to show emotion.

Assessment Task Introduced: Plan and shoot a 45-second scene (4-6 shots) showing an emotional shift. Example Scene Idea: A character's face shifts from sadness to determination or boredom to surprise. Activity: Students draft their emotional shift scene idea and initial shot list.

Students finalize their 4-6 shot storyboard for their 45-second scene, including specific shot type and angle for each frame. Activity: Quick rehearsal of movements and dialogue (if any).

Introduction to basic editing software (e.g., iMovie, DaVinci Resolve, or phone app). Focus on: Importing clips and trimming/cutting. Goal: Assemble the 4-6 shots in the correct order.

Quick Critiques: For the production module, encourage students to offer one Glow (something good) and one Grow (something to improve) for a peer's shot/edit.

Production Assessment: Students submit their 45-second scene and their storyboard. Activity: Screen a selection of the finished scenes and have a brief celebratory discussion about what they learned.