Moving Images, Understanding Media

viii Preface

Chapter 8: The Production Process

In this unit, students review the full range of positions on a typical professional

motion picture. Th ey complete investigations of particular areas of interest, and the

class evaluates movies from various craft viewpoints. For this project, they work

on major productions from scripts that have been developed since Chapter 7.

As a fi nal note on the organization of the text, the two halves of the book follow

an additional paired pattern to facilitate pedagogical planning. Chapters 1

and 5 ask, “What are movies?” Chapters 2 and 6 investigate the historical

origins of movies and fi lmmaking traditions. Chapters 3 and 7 discuss the

relationship of verbal and sonic communication and examine screenwriting.

Finally, Chapters 4 and 8 off er a “putting it all together” summation of each

half of the book that culminates in an independent production.

Pedagogical Resources and Benefi ts

• Units are organized with classroom fl exibility in mind.

° Th e lessons of Moving Images are organized for incremental

skill development with students of varying abilities. Concepts

and skills are introduced thematically, so instructors are

never limited to a particular product or technology. Multiple

opportunities for student demonstration of mastery enhance

diff erentiation of instruction.

• Collaborative work is built into each unit.

° In this textbook, students work in groups to build production

skills through both guided and open-ended projects. Th e

organization of exercises facilitates eff ective implementation

of cooperative learning through clearly delineated tasks and

management of group work.

• Analytical and creative work imbedded in each chapter.

° In order to understand and master a fi eld of endeavor,

it is highly benefi cial to be able to think critically and

creatively about its subject matter. Students explore the

themes of each chapter through critical analysis and creative

problem solving. Th is approach enhances skill-building and

understanding of visual media through a range of learning

styles using higher-order thinking. Students also assess their

progress through refl ective personal evaluations.

• Every chapter includes features for classroom interaction and
  personal perspectives.

° Framing the Discussion provides questions to initiate

and guide classroom discussion and refl ective individual

responses to unit themes.

° Close-Up off ers interviews with leading fi gures in motion

picture professions to share personal refl ections and

experiences linked with chapter topics.

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