MY HERO’s mission is to use media and technology to celebrate the best of humanity and to empower people of all ages to realize their own potential to effect positive change in the world. These free media arts education resources support all levels of media makers with the tools needed to produce meaningful hero films that can be shared with our global audience.
The MY HERO Pocket Field Guide can be printed for students to use as a resource. If you would like to have a smaller, foldable pocket guide, use this link.
The Interviewing Tips link is helpful for those students who will be filming an interview with someone.
Steps to Creating a Hero Film
1. Decide on your hero!
2. Decide what kind of movie to make.
3. Shoot footage and gather media for your movie.
4. Edit footage.
5. Add music & titles.
6. Share your film.
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO USE DURING EACH STEP OF THE FILMMAKING PROCESS
STEP ONE: DECIDE ON YOUR HERO
Use the following essay, What Kind of Heroes Should We Embrace to start a discussion about heroes? Students identify the difference between a hero and a celebrity as they discuss what type of person is a hero.
STEP TWO: DECIDE WHAT KIND OF MOVIE YOU WANT TO MAKE
What type of film will students be creating? Do you want to create a documentary, narrative, or PSA (Public Service Announcement)?
The following student-made films from the MY HERO short film library are wonderful examples of a PSA film, an interview, and a call to action.
For those students creating a PSA, watching the film New Together is recommended and other excellent examples are located in the MY HERO PSA Film Library.
STEP THREE: STORYBOARD AND SHOT LIST
First, do research about the topic and make notes on a computer or notepad
Then create a rough draft of a script - this does not have to be word for word.
Then create a storyboard, or shot list.
STEP FOUR: FILMING: CAMERA SHOTS, ANGLES AND MOVEMENT
Make sure you have good, front-facing lighting and are not backlit.
Get a good angle with your entire face in the shot.
Memorize small parts of your script at a time so that you aren’t reading off the page-- it takes away from the energy and charisma (gaps in between sections are okay, they can be edited out!)
BE ENGAGING! Even if you aren’t passionate about what you are talking about, act as if you are.
STEP FIVE: POST-PRODUCTION AFTER FILMING
Transfer your clips onto whichever device you will be using to edit. A computer is recommended but alternatively, you can use a phone or tablet
Learn how to use your editing platform. See tutorials below.
Include pictures and subtitles, you can find free images on Wikimedia commons.
STEP SIX: ADD MUSIC AND TITLES
The following three links are resources to copyright free images and sound.
STEP SEVEN: SHARE YOUR FILM
SUBMIT YOUR FILM TO THE MY HERO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. ONGOING SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The following resource assists student filmmakers in creating a video using a mobile phone.
Using Canva to Create Videos Tutorials
USE CANVA TO CREATE A SIMPLE VIDEO PROJECT! THIS PAGE HAS MANY TUTORIALS TO GET STARTED.
Organizer created on 8/18/2021 3:54:41 PM by Wendy Milette
Last edited 1/9/2024 3:33:14 PM by Rachel Priebe