Skip to content

Media Arts Majors, 10-24-2025 – Q2P1: Festival Entry 1: Pre-Production

Published on

TODAY'S VIDEO OVERVIEW IS HERE!

  1. Objective:
    1. Students will complete a rough draft of their script for this year's Film Festival.
  2. Warm-Up: 2025-10-24: Ask Mr. Smith
    1. Ask Mr. Smith a question using this Canvas assignment. 
      1. You should NOT already know the answer. (If we've covered it several times this year, you should know it.)
      2. It should NOT be a question that can easily be answered by doing a Google Search.
      3. It SHOULD be a question that relates to Media Arts.
      4. It should NOT be about Mr. Smith.
    2. As with last time, all questions following these rules will be answered. (They might not be answered during class as helping students is the priority, but they WILL be answered.)
    3. Warm-Ups are usually a 5 point Independent Work grade if a written response is expected, or a 5 point Assessment grade if the Warm-Up is a quiz. They are due at the start of class and not eligible for late submission or re-submission.
  3. Announcements:
    1. October's Arcade Day is scheduled for 10/30 10/28.
      1. The day has been changed because of an Arts Team event scheduled for the 30th.
      2. You will need to have a 70% OR HIGHER in this class to be eligible.
      3. This does not change any deadlines.
      4. This will also be a T-Shirt Printing Day.
    2. November's Arcade Day is scheduled for Monday, November 24th.
    3. Create & Collaborate Conference
      1. November 19th
      2. Media Arts can take 20 students - that's 10 per class, just under 50%!
      3. The names have already been selected, THIS CLASS is taking at least 3 per grade level.
      4. You will be given a T-Shirt before the event. MAKE SURE you wear it on the day of the trip!
    4. Darnall's Chance House Museum
      1. Details will follow, but we're doing this again this year!
      2. Last year's selected projects can be found here.
      3. Selected projects will be showcased at the Film Festival AND another event. (This does not count against our total number of Film Fest entries.)
    5. Computer Buying Guide | Camera Buying Guide | Project Suggestions | "Portable" Software | PGCPS Amplify Awards & PGCPS Film Festival | Shot List Template
    6. PGCPS Digital Photography Club
      1. This month we’re training our eyes to feel with the camera. Hunt for surfaces that invite touch—peeling paint, knit sweaters, tree bark, rain on glass—and use light and focus to make those details jump off the frame. Aim for side-light to reveal ridges and grooves, get close to fill the frame, and try a black-and-white edit to emphasize shape and contrast.
      2. Quick tips
        1. Use side lighting (morning/late afternoon) to carve out depth.
        2. Get close / macro to fill the frame with detail.
        3. Test depth of field: wide (f/2.8–4) for isolated texture, narrow (f/8–11) for full detail.
        4. In editing, nudge contrast/clarity/sharpen—but keep it natural.
  4. Q2 Project Deadlines:
    1. Q2P1: Festival Entry 1: Pre-Production, Due 11/07
      1. Official Rules & Rubrics
      2. 10/24, Script Writing
        1. Micro-Movie
          1. In 60 seconds, or less, create a video that tells a story.
          2. Focus: Short storytelling with impact and conciseness.
        2. Narrative Film 
          1. In 5 minutes or less, create a dramatic work.
          2. Focus: Storytelling, character development, and engagement.
        3. Documentary
          1. In 5 minutes or less.
          2. Focus: Presentation of real-world issues or subjects.
        4. Animation
          1. In 5 minutes or less, create an original animation.  This entry must have the required elements of a story.  The animation may be presented in hand drawn, 3D animation, stop-motion, claymation, or paper cut-out.  Be creative!
          2. Focus: Animation techniques and creativity.
        5. Social Impact Film (This is no longer a category.)
          1. In 5 minutes or less, create a video that addresses a social issue.
          2. Focus: Addressing social issues, activism, or cultural commentary.
        6. We the People: The Story of Us (NEW!)
          1. Social-issue storytelling aligned with civic identity, activism, or historical themes.
          2. Focus: Research, authenticity, and impact.
      3. 10/28, Script Writing (Arcade Day)
      4. 10/30, Arts Team Incentive Day (Wear black!)
      5. 10/31: END OF Q1
      6. 11/03, Script Feedback
      7. 11/05, Script Revisions & Storyboarding
      8. 11/07, Script & Storyboard Feedback
      9. 11/12, "Put Out Fires" Day
      10. 11/14, Critique Day!
      11. 11/27, Re-Submits Due!
    2. Remember, if the first deadline was missed, you CAN'T re-submit! (You'll still need to write a script, though, or your recordings will be far more difficult!)
  5. Q2P2: Festival Entry 2: Production , Due 11/24
    1. Official Rules & Rubrics
    2. 11/18, Pre-Production
    3. 11/20, Production
    4. 11/24, Post-Production (Arcade Day)
    5. 12/01, "Put Out Fires" Day
    6. 12/03, Critique Day!
    7. 12/14, Re-Submits Due!
      1. Remember, if the first deadline was missed, you CAN'T re-submit! (Also, the next project will be extremely hard to complete as you'll have no in-progress feedback to help you improve.)
  6. Q2P3: Festival Entry 3: Post-Production, Due 12/09
    1. Official Rules & Rubrics
    2. 12/05, Pre-Production
    3. 12/08, Production (ALL-MAJOR DAY)
    4. 12/09, Post-Production
    5. 12/11, "Put Out Fires" Day
    6. 12/15, Critique Day!
    7. 12/26, Re-Submits Due!
      1. Remember, if the first deadline was missed, you CAN'T re-submit!
  7. Q2 Amplify Awards, Due 12/19
    1. Official Rules & Rubrics
    2. 12/17, Day 1 of 2
    3. 12/19 Day 2 of 2 (Arcade Day)
  8. Winter Break: 12/20-01/04
  • Projects are 100 point Classwork grades, and are not eligible for late submission.
  • Feedback from the critiques is provided in the Canvas assignment for that project.
  • Projects are eligible for re-submission, but only once. They must be resubmitted using the same form as before, and no later than 10 days after feedback has been shared with them in Canvas. The 4th project of each Quarter is not eligible for re-submission due to its proximity to the end of the Quarter!
  • Deadlines for future projects are not adjusted. Students are encouraged to not put off starting Project 4 because they've decided to work on redoing Project 3 from scratch.
  1. Exit Ticket
    1. Exit Ticket: Q1 Week 9
    2. 4 pts Proofread your work.
      3 pts What did you accomplish in Media Arts this week?
      3 pts What did you learn in Media Arts this week?
  1. Exit Tickets are always 10 point Classwork grades and not eligible for late submission or re-submission. They are due during the last 10 minutes of the last class of the week.