PREMISE: We have completed a year’s (or at least a semester's) worth of filming, editing, film watching and so forth. Now, the time has come for the student to demonstrate what they have learned in this class by producing a complete film final product. This product will have everything, a written treatment, a script and storyboard and a final edited film, which will include music, title screens and closing credits.

YOUR GOAL: This is your CAPSTONE PROJECT for this class. Your final product should be the most polished and perfected piece that you have created this year. Show me what you can do!

1. A brainstorm of at least THREE different ideas for a possible final project. Discuss these with Mr. B. He will guide you on your choices. 
2. A Written TREATMENT, submitted before production begins, that outlines the ideas and subjects of your film. This should be in paragraph form and should be well-written and carefully thought out. This MUST be approved by Mr. B. before you start working.
3. A thorough and written SCRIPT. This should be a fairly detailed and well thought out plan of action for the production of your film. You have a film pictured in your head that you would like to create, the SCRIPT outlines and organizes your thoughts for you. Do NOT go out randomly shooting film and hoping that you catch something good enough for a movie! AGAIN, this MUST BE APPROVED before you start filming by Mr. B. (If your Final Project is a Comic, I would like a completed STORYBOARD for this part of the deliverables.)
4. A filmed or compiled movie. You can capture your own footage, use photographs, graphics, whatever you wish to create your movie. You will use Vegas to edit your movie together, complete with appropriate transitions, effects, etc.
5. Music and sound: You will need to include some music and sound in your movie in some fashion. At a minimum, you will need music for your opening title and closing credits.
6. Opening Title/Closing Credits: You must have both included in your movie. Please make sure to give appropriate credit to anyone that helped you with your movie in your credits.

Project Ideas: I do not care what you use as the theme for your movie. It can be anything that is school appropriate and demonstrates your talents. A few different types of project ideas are seen below:

1. Melodramas: Have a good idea for a miniature melodrama that you could film? Put it together! What happens, who dies, who is guilty, you get to control it all!
2. A Funny: Maybe you have a good idea for a funny skit that you would like to put on film and post up in YouTube. Maybe you will become famous! Do it!
3. Enter a Contest: All of a sudden, there are tons of “Video Contests” around, where you create a video and can win prizes. Why not pick one that is interesting and enter the contest? You get a grade and you might win something!
4. Commercials: Lots of groups, organizations, or businesses might be interested in your filming expertise to create a commercial to advertise about their cause. Produce and film one!
5. Commercial Spoofs: Can't find an organization to film their commercial? Shoot your own, make it funny, make it serious, whatever. You could do this on any product, real or imaginary. Seen a commercial recently that you thought was really bad? Shoot your own version!
6. Want to remember your friends from High School? Why not create a montage of clips of your friends and set them to music?
7. Are you passionate about something? Shoot a documentary, explaining your passion and what the world should do about it!
8. Are you good at doing something most other people can't do? How about making a "how-to" video, showing how you do it, step by step, maybe with some voiceover explanations.
9. Music Videos: There is tons of music out there, locate a piece that you like and set some moving images to it! Make sure to include titles and credits.
10. Film an interview with someone of interest, a teacher, a coach, a student, an elderly citizen from a nursing home, you name it!
11. Pick an upcoming event in your life and shoot a documentary of it! How about the story of your Prom, including buying the dress, getting the corsage, climbing in the limo, going to after-prom, etc. Maybe you are getting your first tattoo: tell the story of how you picked the design, what it means, take the camera to the tattoo parlor and film everything, etc.
12. Anything else that might fit into the concept of movie creation and media productions.

Alternate Projects: Mr. B. might be willing to let a student do an alternate Final Project, in one of the areas that we have studied during the year. This might include the creation of a digital comic or possibly a sound editing project or creation of a Digital Photography Portfolio.

Timelines: Below, please find a timeline of the different components of this project and the due dates. (Please note, we will continue to be completing UNIT WORK for the next TWO MONTHS in class, as well as working on our final projects!)

1. FRIDAY, JANUARY 28th, 2011: I want in writing at least THREE different ideas that you have for your final project. Your write up should be AT LEAST a paragraph or two for each of your THREE IDEAS.  Talk about what your idea is, why you want to shoot it, why anyone will want to view your project, why it is important to you, etc.  We will discuss these in class and I will help you pick the most appropriate one for your project. 100 POINTS!
2. FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18th, 2011: I want your completed Final Project TREATMENT form, outlining your idea, what it means, why you want to film it and how the final product will look. 100 POINTS!
3. FRIDAY, MARCH 18th, 2011: I want your FINAL SCRIPT (or Storyboard), typed and turned in for my perusal. Include ALL camera angles, actors, settings, props, dialogue, etc. 200 POINTS!
4. FRIDAY, APRIL 8th, 2011: MUSIC DAY: I want a copy of the music files that you will be using for your movie in my Q: Drive Drop Box. 100 POINTS!
5. FRIDAY, APRIL 22nd, 2011: FOOTAGE DAY. I want each person in the class to have signed out at least one camera overnight and shown me that they have produced some footage for their project. Turn your video clip or still photographs into my Q: Drive Drop Box! 100 Points!
6. FRIDAY, May 6th, 2011: EDITING DAY: You need to burn a work in progress movie from Vegas and show me your progress on your project. Put the movie in my Q: Drive Drop Box! 100 Points!
7. WEDNESDAY, MAY 17th/THURSDAY, MAY 26th, 2011: Completed Final Projects are due! May 17th for Seniors and May 26th for Underclassmen. As this is the final project for this class, it will be worth 20 percent of your grade for the semester! We will watch these in class during finals period, Senior projects will be seen in class on May 17th!

Grading: Each of the SEVEN dates above will have the points and grades as listed. The FINAL PROJECT will be worth 20 PERCENT of the student's grade for the semester. That means that the final project will be worth 700 points PLUS 20 percent of the semester grade. The final grade will be given SOLELY on the quality of the final product.