Video Production Model

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Lesson Plan Industry Sector
Arts, Media & Entertainment

Lesson Plan Originally Created By: Jeff Schmidt

The Dolly & Track (specialized camera movement)

Part of Unit: Basic Camera Operation & Shot Composition

Lesson Plan Overview / Details

Using a Dolly and Track will enhance your shots and create unique camera movement and perspectives.  This lesson introduces the Dolly and Track system, and demonstrates the use and set-up of a track and dolly.

Lesson Time

Lesson
50 Minutes
Group Project (optional)
3 Hours

Objectives and Goals

Students will see examples of camera movement utilizing the dolly and track system. Students will understand the aesthetic value of adding specialized camera movements and perspectives. Students will learn some of the do's and don'ts of using and setting up a dolly and track system. In groups, students will create a video utilizing a camera dolly.

Activities in this Lesson

  • "Hello Dolly!" - Hooks / Set

    Play the video, "What do these clips have in common?" 

    After viewing the video, place the students into groups of 3.  Ask the student groups to discuss what they saw in the video examples, and how the use of the camera dolly and track affected the shots, and their perspective as a viewing audience.

    THINK-PAIR-SHARE – Have each group share their discussions on the video, as the teacher writes some of the main discussion points from the student groups on a display (chalkboard, whiteboard, projector, etc)

    [ for more info. on think-pair-share, goto: http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/think/ ]

    Teacher concludes class discussion with summary of discussion points.

  • The Dolly & Track - Lecture

    Step 1:  Teacher hands out the document, "Camera Movement Terms."

    Teacher goes over the terminology of basic camera movement, and then plays the video titled, "The Dolly Shot: Videomaker"

    Immediately following the video, the teacher plays another video called, "the Zoom  vs. The Dolly Shot."

    After viewing the two videos, the teacher then leads a class discussion furthering the previous discussion when the Camera Dolly was introduced.

  • QUIZ - Formative assessment - Assessment

    After viewing the videos (above), handout the "Dolly Shot and Tracking Quiz".

    Each student turns-in the simple quiz to teacher for credit.

    • The Dolly and Tracking shot QUIZ [ Download ]
  • Video Demo - Demo / Modeling

    After the Dolly &  Tracking Quiz, discuss the answers to the quiz, and move on by showing the movie, "The Dolly & Track".  This is a video demonstration of a Dolly & Track System Set-up and use.

  • Group Dolly Shot Assignment - Lecture

    Objective:  Students will create a short video utilizing some sort of equipment allowing for a dolly shot.  In other words, the students will use a dolly and track, or a tripod dolly, or a wheelchair, skateboard, etc. to produce a story with at least one Dolly shot or Tracking shot.

    Step 1:  Place students into groups of 3-4 depending on class size, equipment availability, time, etc. and hand out the Dolly Shot Assignment PDF digitally or in printed form.

    Step 2: The assignment asks the students to develop a simple visual story with a beginning, a middle, and an end.  Example: a student walking from bus to class, or a student walking down the hallway from one class to another. 30 second – 1  minute in length (final video).

    Step 3: Have the students create a list of shots and hand-in to teacher for review.

    Step 4: Production (shoot the video).

    Step 5: Edit and final touches.

    Step 6: Turn-in final video sequence as directed by teacher for assessment.

     

    • Group Teamwork Rubric [ Download ] Rubric to hand out to student for assessing their group participation.
    • Group Assignment: Dolly Shot [ Download ] Dolly Shot Assignment document

Assessment

Assessment Types:
Rubrics, Projects, Teacher-Made Test, Observations,

FORMATIVE assessments: Quiz, and participation observations.

SUMMATIVE assessments: Group produced project video.