Identity Project / Studio Portraits


Essential Questions:


Directions for Shooting this Assignment:


Directions for your Identity blog post:

    1. What are you showing about yourself in this image?
    5. Do you like studio portraiture? If so why?
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Production Packet






Your production packet should include:


  • The most current draft of your screenplay. *

  • List of actors (cast, and to be cast)





  • Complete shot list for each scene. *



Wes Anderson directing Moonage Kingdom


Film Analysis



Essential Question: What makes a movie “good?” What are the pieces of a “good” movie?


  1. Choose one or two 3-5 minute clips from a movie, TV show, or short film –something you feel the class needs to see. Think carefully about which film and which clip(s) you choose to show. Th clip(s) should represent the film you are showing (ie give us a good idea of the style of the film, and what the filmmaker is doing. You will be encouraged to choose something the majority of the students in class have not seen. Look for something classic or independent.
  2. Write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) about each of the elements of cinema, below. This is one of two parts to this assignment, which you will turn in on our Google Classroom.
  3. You have two options as to how you want to present your analysis:
    • Create a montage explaining your clip. You may make this in Adobe Premiere or a google slideshow (see example). Put your clip in context of the longer movie (etc) that it comes from–where does it fit? Overall, tell us why you chose this piece of media and why WE should see it too. OR…
    • Present the film clip to class. Plan, rehearse and deliver your thoughts on the clip. Delivering your presentation, you have some choices:
      1. You may choose to introduce the film to put the clip into context for the class, then let the clip show in it’s entirely before delivering your analysis.
      2. You can talk while your clip is playing, starting and stopping at times to point things out to us.
      3. After your introduction, you can play the clip through once, then play it through a second time, pointing out elements of the film you want us to notice (this works better with a shorter clip, say 3 minutes).

Analyze the following elements of cinema in your presentation:

  • Storytelling (The Script / Writing: Plot, Beginning / middle/end – structure; Dialog; Characters; the IDEA)
  • Acting & Directing
  • Mise En Scene (‘What you see’ – Locations; props, costumes; makeup)
  • Cinematography (Shots: Composition, Lighting, Viewpoint / Perspective / Angle; Movement)
  • Soundtrack (Music score; Mix; Compliments visuals and story;
  • Editing (Tells the story; special effects; continuity; pacing)

The PSA (Public Service Announcement)



    • ‘Don’t text and drive”
    • “Eat healthy”
    • “Get enough sleep”
    • “Get more exercise”
    • “Stand up to sexism/racism/etc”
    • “Protect freedom of speech”

Creating a Photo Blog

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Every student in Digital Photography class will post work to personalized photo blog they make themselves. The blogs are free and easy to create through Follow these steps:

  1. Sign into (create a free account). You must  remember which email you use and your password–write it down somewhere!
  2. Create a free blog. Title your blog (something other than your name), that has to do with photography (think hard about this–once you choose it, you will be using it for the rest of the semester and beyond!)
  3. Choose a template for your blog. A template controls the design–how the images and words appear. Choose one from the Subject category “Art.” Make sure it’s free. OR filter for “photography” Here are some that would work well for photography, but you can choose others. :
  4. Customize your site (we will demonstrate / work through this in class).
    1. Give your site a “Site Title”
    2. Edit your “Primary Menu” to add or subtract menus. You need to add a “About the Photographer”
    3. Add one of your photos as a “Header Image” (if applicable to your site template)
    4. …and so on! Note that you may alter your site after adding posts / content–that shouldn’t change or erase your content, but it may move things around. You can even apply a NEW template after you’ve started your blog, if you decide later that the template isn’t working for you.

Looking at Color Photography

Asylum: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals

Here is a assortment of some of my favorite contemporary photographers working in color, and web links to their work.

ASSIGNMENT: Visit all the photographer’s websites. Pick three photos from three different websites that interest or excite you. Create a google doc. Write a short paragraph (minimum 5, maximum 7) sentences describing what you see in the photo. For each, be sure to comment on what you see (what’s happening in the photo? What’s the subject? Where are we? Why is it important?), AND how composition and color are used by the photographer to enhance the image. Add the image to your description, so I can see what you are talking about. 

Add a fourth photographer–one you find yourself. Your teacher can point you in the right direction if you like, but I recommend finding an area of interest and doing a web search to find photography you are interested in. Copy or screenshot an image for your google doc, and write about it. Be sure to write the name of the photographer and include a link to their website. 

Christopher Payne  (“Asylum”)

Cig Harvey (“You Look At Me Like an Emergency” and “Gardening at Night”)

Rania Matar


Edward Burtynski


Alec Soth (“Sleeping by the Mississippi”)


Laura McPhee

Alex and Rebecca Norris Webb

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First Assignment: On Campus Interviews


