AV Media Class 10 Hour Film Challenge
Your Mission: Create a 5-8 minute movie (not counting credits) in ten hours.
Film Genre: Your film must be from the genre of film noir. (See below to find out what this is!)
You must include the following:
Special Instructions: This is not a comedy, so the use of humor should not really be included unless it is relevant to the whole storyline that you develop. You will be graded based on the quality of your final product. Camera angles, lighting, editing, sound, acting, and script will be judged by a panel of judges. Worthy winners will receive a fabulous prize and their name on a film challenge trophy that will be displayed forever in Mrs. Pack's classroom. Win this challenge, and Room 208 fame will be yours!
Film Genre: Your film must be from the genre of film noir. (See below to find out what this is!)
You must include the following:
- A surprise prop
- The character name Velma Vernon
- The line, "It's up to you."
- A dance (waltz, tango, macarena, etc.) Note: You may need to research an appropriate dance from the 1930's.
Special Instructions: This is not a comedy, so the use of humor should not really be included unless it is relevant to the whole storyline that you develop. You will be graded based on the quality of your final product. Camera angles, lighting, editing, sound, acting, and script will be judged by a panel of judges. Worthy winners will receive a fabulous prize and their name on a film challenge trophy that will be displayed forever in Mrs. Pack's classroom. Win this challenge, and Room 208 fame will be yours!
What is film noir?
Film noir is a movie term used to describe the stylish Hollywood crime dramas that were popular in the 1940-1950's. Film noir is filmed in black and white and is usually about a main character who is one of the following:
The main character often narrates the action using voice-overs. This allows the viewer to hear the character's thoughts.
Also, film noir frequently includes a character known as a femme fatale (translated "fatal female") who is responsible for double-crossing the main character at the last second. If there is no female character, then other male characters may do the double-crossing. The idea of unexpected betrayal that puts the main character in a life or death situation is key.
There can be romance in a movie from the film noir genre, but the romance is usually tragic and does not end happily ever after.
The plot of a film noir usually centers around a crime, a mystery to be solved, or an event that forces a difficult decision on the main character and leads him into a life of crime (which he ordinarily wouldn't have chosen).
Film noir is NOT any of the following:
- a private investigator
- a law-abiding, good citizen who is lured into a life of crime
- a police detective
- an old-style gangster (mobster)
The main character often narrates the action using voice-overs. This allows the viewer to hear the character's thoughts.
Also, film noir frequently includes a character known as a femme fatale (translated "fatal female") who is responsible for double-crossing the main character at the last second. If there is no female character, then other male characters may do the double-crossing. The idea of unexpected betrayal that puts the main character in a life or death situation is key.
There can be romance in a movie from the film noir genre, but the romance is usually tragic and does not end happily ever after.
The plot of a film noir usually centers around a crime, a mystery to be solved, or an event that forces a difficult decision on the main character and leads him into a life of crime (which he ordinarily wouldn't have chosen).
Film noir is NOT any of the following:
- a comedy film (no slapstick comedy allowed)
- a horror film (no horror movie serial killers or monsters allowed)
- a science fiction film (no aliens allowed)
Film Noir Video Clips:
Watch the following video clips to understand the look, feel, and plot structure of film noir.
