Lesson Focus: Intermediate TV and Film Directing Vocabulary
Student Level: Intermediate
Materials: None
Time: 10-15 minutes
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Introduction to Key Vocabulary (3-5 minutes)
Introduce the following advanced directing terms with brief explanations and examples.
- Storyboard:
- Continuity:
- Blocking:
- Focus pull:
- Frame rate:
2. Vocabulary Comprehension (5 minutes)
For each word, ask the student a few questions to deepen understanding through discussion:
- Storyboard:
- Question: “How do you typically use a storyboard in your projects?”
- Follow-up: “What details do you make sure to include in your storyboards?”
- Continuity:
- Question: “What steps do you take to ensure continuity on set?”
- Follow-up: “Can you share an example when continuity became an issue and how you resolved it?”
- Blocking:
- Question: “How does blocking impact the way you plan each shot?”
- Follow-up: “Have you ever had to change blocking due to unexpected challenges?”
- Focus pull:
- Question: “In what scenes do you find focus pulls especially necessary?”
- Follow-up: “What do you think makes a successful focus pull?”
- Frame rate:
- Question: “How do you decide which frame rate to use for specific shots?”
- Follow-up: “What effect do you think different frame rates have on the audience’s experience?”
3. Scenario-Based Application (5-7 minutes)
Provide situational prompts to let the student apply the terms in a way that relates to their directing experience:
- Storyboard and Blocking: “Imagine you’re preparing to direct a busy restaurant scene. Describe how you’d approach storyboarding and blocking to capture the atmosphere and movement.”
- Continuity and Focus Pull: “You’re filming a long emotional dialogue in a close-up shot. How would you manage continuity and focus pulls to maintain a smooth take?”
- Frame Rate: “You want to capture a high-energy chase scene. What frame rate might you use, and how would it affect the shot’s impact?”
4. Summary and Reflection (2-3 minutes)
Wrap up by revisiting each term. Ask the student to summarize their understanding of each term and share one new insight or technique they learned that might apply to their work.
