Video/Film Center
Overview:
Historians use video and film recordings of all kinds to study and analyze what has happened in history since Thomas Edison created motion pictures. Just like sound recordings, it is much easier to convey the history of a particular period, person or event if you can study motion pictures directly related to that event. Students learn about the bombing of Peal Harbor more effectively if you see actual film footage of the "Day of Infamy", December 7, 1941. You can also look at footage of the march on Washington in 1963 or watch Martin Luther King deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech. Watching and listening to him, looking at his facial expressions and body language, inflection of his voice is much more powerful than just reading his words. This center allows you to study film and documentaries of time periods we are studying to get a better sense of what happened.
Pre - Before watching the video
1. What is the title of the film?
2. What is the source of the film?
3. Think about what you might see in this film based upon the title and first picture?
4. Think about concepts, people or ideas you might see as you watch this film. Jot them down.
Active - While you watch the film:
1. Determine what kind of film it is.
2. Describe the film. Does the film have:
3. Describe the tone of the film. How does it make you feel.
Post - After watching the film
1. What is the central message of the film.What is the message and is it effective?
2. How do you think the film maker wants you to feel?
3. List 3 things the film tells you about life during this time period. Give evidence to support your ideas.
4. Write a question you would ask the film maker.
5. Is there information in the film that you understand better than if you just read words of the film?
Historians use video and film recordings of all kinds to study and analyze what has happened in history since Thomas Edison created motion pictures. Just like sound recordings, it is much easier to convey the history of a particular period, person or event if you can study motion pictures directly related to that event. Students learn about the bombing of Peal Harbor more effectively if you see actual film footage of the "Day of Infamy", December 7, 1941. You can also look at footage of the march on Washington in 1963 or watch Martin Luther King deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech. Watching and listening to him, looking at his facial expressions and body language, inflection of his voice is much more powerful than just reading his words. This center allows you to study film and documentaries of time periods we are studying to get a better sense of what happened.
Pre - Before watching the video
1. What is the title of the film?
2. What is the source of the film?
3. Think about what you might see in this film based upon the title and first picture?
4. Think about concepts, people or ideas you might see as you watch this film. Jot them down.
Active - While you watch the film:
1. Determine what kind of film it is.
- cartoon
- documentary
- newsreel
- propaganda film
- training
- other...
2. Describe the film. Does the film have:
- music (what kind? happy, sad...)
- narration (what is the tone of the narration)
- special effects
- color or black and white
- background noise
- animation
3. Describe the tone of the film. How does it make you feel.
Post - After watching the film
1. What is the central message of the film.What is the message and is it effective?
2. How do you think the film maker wants you to feel?
3. List 3 things the film tells you about life during this time period. Give evidence to support your ideas.
4. Write a question you would ask the film maker.
5. Is there information in the film that you understand better than if you just read words of the film?