Classmate Interview, Film Introduction

Timeframe:
One to three class periods. (Roughly 50 minute sessions for introduction and filming, editing, and
video review.)

Objective:
This activity will allow students to build basic filming and interview skills. Students will develop
exploratory skills, such as using open vs. closed questions, as well as building conversation and
interaction skills. Students will learn how to edit and tell a story about someone else.

Procedure:

1. (20 minutes) Have students brainstorm questions that they could ask their partner.
Review open vs. closed questions, as well as who, what, when, where, how, why.

a. Closed question: A closed question can be answered with either a single word or
a short phrase, such as “yes” or “no.”
Examples:
Where do you live?
How old are you?

b. Open question: An open question is likely to receive a more in depth answer. By

asking the respondent “why” they will be more likely to reflect and offer their
opinions and feelings.

Examples:
• In what ways are you different from your friends and why?
• If you had to make a video of yourself, what would you being
doing in it and why?
• What’s the greatest accomplishment in your life so far and why?
• What’s the biggest danger you’ve ever faced and why?
• What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done and why?
• In what ways are you eccentric, strange, or mysterious?

Other phrases that lead to more in depth answers:

• Tell me more about…
• What were you thinking when…
• How did it make you feel when…

2. Divide students into pairs

3. (30 minutes) Each pair takes turns interviewing one another to find out essential and
interesting information.

4. (30-50 minutes) Students edit their video.

 5. (30-50 minutes) Class review of video. Critique and discuss interview techniques learned.

Assessment:

Name Date Project Due Date POINTS COMMENTS

Category 10 pts 8 pts 6 pts 4 pts
Exemplary Proficient Partially Proficient Incomplete

Objective The video The video The video partially The video
clearly expressed the expressed the goal or failed to
expressed the goal or objective of the report, express the
goal or objective of the but it was not clearly goal or
objective of report, but it stated. objective of the
the report from was not report and
the start of the apparent in the seemed to lack
film. beginning a specific
segments. focus.
Content, Facts, All facts and Most facts and Few facts and Facts and
& Information information information information presented information
presented were presented were were accurate & presented were
accurate & accurate & complete not accurate or
complete. complete. complete
Videoography Video did not Video Video was unstable or Video was
Techniques, rock/shake, occasionally the focus was poor unsteady and
Clarity & and the focus had shaky throughout. Few moved while
Interest was excellent movement but camera angles, sound the focus was
throughout. the focus was effects, and/or careful poor. Most
Many different excellent use of zoom in the shots taken
camera angles, throughout. video. Not much from one
sound effects, Some variation variety in the video. camera angle,
and/or careful in camera and the zoom
use of zoom angles, sound was not well
provided effects, and/or used. No
variety in the careful use of variety in
video zoom provided video.
variety in the
video.

Audio The video's The video's The video's sound was The video's
sound was sound poor and not clear at sound was
sufficiently sometimes all times. insufficient and
loud and clear faded out and difficult to
at all was clear part make out.
times. of the time.
Style & The video was The video The video was not well The video did
Organization well shows good conceived, shows poor not follow
conceived, organization, organization, and does directions or
shows good and mostly not follow required meet
organization, follows sequence. requirements.
and follows required
required sequence.
sequence.
Knowledge The video The video The video The video
demonstrates a demonstrates demonstrates some demonstrates
thorough good knowledge of the very little
knowledge of knowledge of subject investigated. knowledge of
the subject the subject the subject
matter. investigated. investigated.

Resources The video had The video had The video had very The video
a wide variety use of several little variety in the looks as if only
of sources of sources of sources of information. one source was
information. information. used for
information.

Preparation The student The student The student kept notes The student did
kept notes kept some notes for less than half of the not prepare
about all of the about the events events and facts adequate notes
events and and included in included in the video. before
facts included the video. Notes were submitted. beginning the
in the video. Notes were video or notes
Notes were submitted. were not
submitted. submitted.

Met Deadline YES NO = 20 pts.

TOTAL POINTS = _________________/100

COMMENTS: