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Claymation Project: Fairy Tale

  • Introduction
  • Examples
  • Fairy Tales
  • StoryBoards
  • Keep a Schedule
  • Rubric

Introduction

Now that you understand the basics of STOP MOTION VIDEO and how to use Premiere Elements to create the videos, you are ready to tackle a BIG project.

In this project you will create a stop motion video of a popular fairy tale. You'll need to write a script, create your storyboards, film your story and edit it in Premiere Elements.

 

View Example

The example below is a retelling of the story The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

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Here is another example. It isn't a fairy tale, but it gives a lot of great ideas to help you plan out your video!

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Short and Simple Fairy Tales

As you think about the story you'll create, you need some stories that can be told in 3 - 4 minutes and don't require many different scene changes. Here are few that you can choose from:

Here are some fairy tales that are short and simple enough to work work for this project. You'll want to avoid long, complex stories with many characters so you don't get bogged down in a project impossible to finish.

 

Storyboarding Your Project

Once you have decided what story you and your partner will produce, you need to create a storyboard that describes your film visually.

You can open and print a storyboard template here.

 

Keep on Track with a Schedule

In order to finish your movie, it will be important that you get certain tasks done each week. Here is a weekly schedule to help you keep on track:

Section 1: Planning
check Choose your story. Write the name here:
checkj Create a storyboard for EACH SCENE. Turn these into Mr. Biggs before you can begin recording.
checkj Begin creating your characters, backgrounds, etc.
Section 2: Shoot your scenes.
Check Use the program MonkeyJam to record your scenes as you described them in your storyboard.
check Save each scene as an AVI movie in one team member's My Documents folder.
check Begin creating your characters, backgrounds, etc.
Section 3: Layout a rough draft of your video using Premiere Elements.
Check Import all of your scenes you recorded in Week 2 into Premiere Elements.
check Place each scene on the Premiere Elements timeline in order.
check Begin recording your narration in Premiere Elements if time allows.
Section 4: Add Narration and Sound Effects
Check Using Premiere Elements, finish adding the Narration to your video.
check Look for sound effects that will add to your story (or make them yourself) and add them to appropriate spots in your story. Here is a GREAT source of sound effects!
Section 5: Finish sound effects, add music and titles.
Check

Create a title for the beginning of your movie and add credits at the end of the movie. Your credits should include:

  • Producers (Your names)
  • Camera Person
  • Story adapted from the original by (name of original author)
  • Source of any music you use
check Add music to make your video more exciting and to bring the viewer in emotionally.
Section 6: Final editing and rendering of your movie.
Check Make all last minute changes and edits to your video in the Premiere Elements Timeline.
check When you are done editing, you will create your video as a standalone movie that will play in Windows Media Player. To do this, Premiere Elements must RENDER (create 30 pictures for every second in your video) the video. Use the SHARE option to do this.
check Be ready to share your video with the class.

Grading Rubric

 

U

NI

S

E

Story Line

Has only a beginning, middle or an ending but no complete story.

Has a beginning and some middle, but no ending to the story.

Story has a beginning middle and end.

Story has a beginning, middle and strong ending.

Character Voices

Voices are confusing and lack rehearsal.  Hard to understand.

Voices lack rehearsal and have many pauses.

Voices are rehearsed, move quickly with the story and are easy to understand.

Voices are rehearsed, help the listener understand the story, and have strong emotion.

Claymation Production

No backgrounds
Claymation is jerky or has big gaps.
Characters either don’t interact at all or their movement doesn’t support your story.

Not all scenes have backgrounds.
Claymation movement of characters has gaps and isn’t smooth.
Characters interact with each other in limited ways that don’t fit the story.

Backgrounds for each scene are included.
Claymation shows movement of characters.
Characters interact with each other in some way to help us understand the story.

Good backgrounds with enough detail to be interesting, but not overwhelming.
Claymation shows the movement of characters with good detail.
Characters move smoothly on the screen and interact with each other to support the story.

Final Production

Video not complete.

Claymation scenes joined together.
Character voices done at proper places.

Video includes title.
Claymation scenes are joined together well and include video transitions.
Character voices done at proper places.
End credits include:

  • Char. Voices
  • Producers
  • Reference to the original fairy tale author

Video includes music in the intro (title) and the end credits.

Video includes title with music that sets the mood for the story.
Claymation scenes are joined together well and include video transitions that help tell the story.
End credits use animated template and  include:

  • Char. Voices
  • Producers
  • Reference to the original fairy tale author

Video includes music in the intro section that sets a mood for the video  and the end credits that leaves people with a strong feeling for your work..

Problem Solving Skills

Gave up without trying.

Identified obstacles in the production of the video, but only solved them with lots of help.

Identified obstacles and found ways to work around them.
Used the online help in computer applications to try to find a solution with teacher help.

Identified obstacles in the production of the video and used ingenuity to solve them.
Used online help in computer programs to find solutions for problems with little help from the teacher.

 

 

 

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