Parents and teachers are always looking for new and exciting online educational materials. Look no further. The Young Filmmakers Online Academy is for 3rd through 8th graders and was developed during the summer of 2020 by Patrick Thomas Keen of PTK Productions. Along with help from film editor Evan Fintzy, Keen has taken the most up-to-date filmmaking pedagogy and distilled it into this series covering Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. Only cell phone or tablet with editing software required. This adaptable series is for individuals and classrooms, to use on your own or synchronously. Lesson plans and optional equipment list included.

Pre-Production

40 to 60 minutes. A series of short videos with time to discuss, research and practice.

• Lesson Guide

• Storyboard Template

• Sample Script

• Introduction to Filmmaking

• Sample Film

• Genre, Tone, & Three-Act Structure

• Scriptwriting & Storyboards

• Interviews & Asking Questions

• Preproduction Conclusion

Create at home. Write script and create storyboard.

Production

40 to 60 minutes. A series of short videos with time to discuss, research and practice.

• Lesson Guide

• Production Introduction

• Safety on Set

• Directing

• Props, Costumes & Locations

• Camera

• Lighting & Shadows

• Sound Recording

• Production Conclusion

Create at home. Record the film.

Post-Production

40 to 60 minutes. A series of short videos with time to discuss, research and practice.

• Lesson Guide

• Post-Production Introduction

• Editing Essentials

• Titles & Visual Effects

• Soundtracks & Audio Editing

• Credits, Citing Sources & Permissions

• Publishing, Privacy, & Digital Citizenship

• Enter the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest

Create at home. Edit and publish. Enter the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest, if you choose

Adaptable

• Can be presented over 3 weeks, ideally, with time for script writing, filming, and editing in-between sessions

• Can be presented over 3 days

• Can be presented over 3 hours

• For individual use alone

• For classroom use in groups

• For synchronous learning

• For asynchronous learning

Accessible

• Closed caption videos (English and Spanish)

• Video playback speed control

• Transcription documents with screen reader support

• High contrast text ratios

• 70+ rating on the Flesch reading-ease scale (suitable for 7th grade reading level equivalence)

Actionable

• Students work on the film as they take the course

• Tools and materials to help create the students’ films

• Enter the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest, if you choose