latenight post

I was thinking more about howw this program could be implemented and i thought that my first order of business should be a short piece explaining the goals and reasons behind the film program at indian head. I want to lay it out like a video i saw for apple showing new research and development teams and conferences. I want to stress factors such that:

-a camp is a great place to create a film-making atmosphere (especially for the older kids)

-campers need to be comfortable and take risks around their peers. (if that isn't one of the most important skills camp strives for,then i don't know what is.)

-Coming together in groups to achieve a high goal is the center around many camp special events already (ie - sing olympics... if you see all the dedication and the level of intensity brought to these events, you would know that great films took be produced using that energy.)

imtired...moire tomorrow

funny film idea

I just thought of a random idea and decided to blog it. Here's the idea... The campers play the counselors and the counselors play the campers. I think we could write some simple scenes and I think they will be funny with good acting. This idea should be good one to have the kids come up with the ideas. Maybe I can just have some themes and have them help with the story.

programs at IHC

I was reading all the existing programs that are currently at Indian Head Camp and I think this film program will fit nicely in being a mix of new media, film, theatre, and creative expression. I think it will fit nicely in the Arts as a new and exciting program. I know from my experience this summer in the media dept, two activities that the kids loved were making a "movie" and making music videos. I say "movie" because this year I want to make real films and being a positive role model and motivator I know I can push these campers and get something that the parents and kids will LOVE!

more film ideas

I have been studying techniques, especially in transitions, and I have found some easy, yet effective ways to change scenary. A quick pan moving to an object of focus faded into an object of similar look, feel, idea, revelance zoomed out makes for a smooth and other than studied unnoticed change.

open source

It would be interesting to have a web site where we could put all of our clips so that they could be edited by whoever wanted to and then sent back and to see how different each film turns out. From there, using the best parts from each film, put together a new film. It would be interesting to see the way the scenes would turn out and to see the differences in techniques between editors, but then finally arrive at a collective project.

new film idea

For the film for the older kids I think it would be fun to start a project with the idea of camp pranks and make it a drama. I'm talking Playmakers/Tilt drama. Start out with fun pranks and eventually have them start going so far overboard that bad things happen to good people. The idea of revenge and of know when to say when, actually I like that as a quote for near the end, "know when to say when."

More ideas

I like the idea of changing actors for each character. This presents a HUGE challenge, however. It is going to be difficult to have the audience recoognize which character is which through these transitions. It will take more time, but if successul could be a very interesting film. For each character they will have to have distict traits that stay constant troughout the story. I was thiking of a character that has a slight limp as one idea o make it easy for the kids to act as well as the audience to follow. More ideas on the way.

cluster diagrams

At first I was a little skeptical of doing one of these, but they do get thoughts down. I went from a single idea and pushed it in every direction i could think of adding on subthoughts to every though. You'd be surprised where you get from where you began. There are a few repeated words and phrases, maybe I am stressing these points subconsciously.

another idea

To keep this program moving in a round, I thought of writing the films a year ahead of time. For example this year we will be greenlighting the films already written and ready to go, while writing storyboarding etc. films written by/with the children for the next summer and this cycle can continue every year. This way the kids can write and contribute if they want, act or be in one of the other areas if they want. BTW here is a tentative list of depts neccessary for the film.

Executive Producer
Writers
Producers
Director
Assistant Directors
Casting Dept.
Location Scouts
Actors
Props/Art Dept.

and everyone is involved in the Brainstorm team

Stanislavsky

After reading a Web site about Constantin Stanislavsky, I have a better understanding on how to teach actors for the moment. He is best known for his approach known as "the method," which is for the actor's responsibility to be believed rather than recognized or understood. I think I can put every child in the moment through coaching and get them to perform a part that they can be proud of. COnstructive critism is neccessary, but extreme praise after success is most important. For them to be abe to see themselves in the movie play an important role will make them and their parents proud. Camp is for the kids and I want them to be excited and proud of their work.

14th

I was looking at some sites today of summer camps that specialize in film for its campers. The site I bookmarked on delicious was located in New York and Hollywood and they stressed not making the students write all by themselves, but to create an atmosphere where they will feel comfortable giving ideas and putting together a script collectively. I think the most important idea to stress is to work together which is why I know this program I will soon be hands deep in will be successful at Indian Head.

more ideas

I really want to get the kids involved in all aspects of film-making. I am planning on teaching them how to use the camera, the importance of lighting, the importance of background, and try to get them to think of the little things like props that can be seen to make the story more believable. I want to stress to them how the most important thing in a film is story. Without a story, there is no way to have good video,

Ideas

For the youngest kids I want to shoot "Cropsie" which is ghost story about a camper that was an outcast that drowned 50 years ago. I want it similar to the Princess Bride in that it will be narrated and go from present to past abrupty at times. The counselors will be telling the stories to the campers as the past will be shown, you get the idea.

For the older kids I think they would like something where they could act silly. I don't have any ideas for a comedy yet. I am having trouble because it has to be PG appropriate. I will keep thinking and writing down jokes or funny stories that happen at camp.