Film Making in Reykjavík

Introduction

The world pays a lot of attention to films. Now it is your opportunity to become famous and take part in making a film in co-operation with experienced producers and film makers.

Task

Congratulations! Your group of four students is about to be presented with quite an opportunity! Sigurjon Sighvatsson is making a documentary film about International Culture which will partly be set in Iceland. He is looking for buildings or places in the city centre of Reykjavík that will be appropriate for 5 different scenes in his film. You have been chosen to be his representatives and provide him with ideas and where to shoot the Icelandic part of his film.

Process

You will be working in groups of 4.
Each member of the group will have a specific task.
The whole group will collaborate to create the informative project.

Roles, depending on your project:
Director
History Advicer
Project Designer
Scriptwriter
Director of Photography

Scene:
Choose one of the following for your scene:
Church
Hotel
Theatre
School
Park
Restaurant
Another place?

Find the building/place for your setting.
Describe it and make sure it is a decent place.
Describe the location of the building/place.
Outline its history. Be sure it is not too modern.
Explain why you have chosen that building/place.
Is it appropriate in this cultural film?

People:
Introduce the people involved.
Explain who they are and why you have chosen them.
You might describe what their life was like compared to today

Project:
Now that you have investigated your special places it is time to collaborate and create your project.
You can choose to make:
1. A Power Point slide show
2. An illustrated poster
3. An illustrated article
4. A live drama presentation
5. A video of your drama
6. A Hyper studio presentation

For everybody:
Your presentation needs to be not only informative, but also interesting and enticing to make your assignment worth looking at.
You will present your project orally in class.
You will write a script for whatever you choose and hand it in.

Your Choice:
Videotape: A 5-10 minute scene or collection of scenes
A PowerPoint slide show: PowerPoint in the Classroom tutorial http://www.actden.com/pp/
An illustrated poster or article: Take pictures and make a lay-out to show how the scene could be recorded.
A live drama or video: If writing text for drama/video you might look at: The Movie Script Compendium, http://personal.redestb.es/jmunoz/Scripts.htm

The project will encompass two weeks.
Class time to work on your project will only be given during Week 1.
You will work together outside of class during Week 2.
All work will be turned in at the end of the second week.

Resources

Use the books and/or Internet information linked below to get some background information on the places you have chosen. Be creative in exploring the information so that you can create the most informative and appealing plan.
CultureNet Iceland http://www.menning.is/ensk/index.html
Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík http://www.nat.is/Kirkjur%20SV%20frikirkjan_rvik.htm
The National Gallery of Iceland http://www.listasafn.is/english/first_page.htm
The history of Iðno http://www.leik.is/sagaidno.html
Árbæjarsafn http://www.arbaejarsafn.is/rvk_e/1870-1918/
Althingi http://www.althingi.is/
Kvennaskólinn http://www.kvenno.is
Hotel Borg http://ws1.landmat.is/hotelborg/default.asp-sid=5.html
The City Hall http://www.studiogranda.is/Radhus.html
The Culture House http://www.kultur.is/vefurinn/kulturhus.htm
Reykjavik.com http://www.reykjavik.com/content.asp?lang=en&page=00
The Cathedral http://www.domkirkjan.is/AII080.html

Books:
Guðjón Friðriksson. 1991. Saga Reykjavíkur. Bærinn vaknar. 1870-1940. Fyrri hluti. Reykjavík. Iðunn.
Guðjón Friðriksson. 1994. Saga Reykjavíkur. Bærinn vaknar. 1870-1940. Síðari hluti. Reykjavík. Iðunn.
Páll Líndal.1974. Hin fornu tún. Reykjavík í ellefu aldir. Reykjavík. Askur.

Evaluation

Use your imagination. Make this creative.
Make sure you use appropriate language.
Presentation means a lot so spelling needs to be checked, punctuation, grammar, and neatness in general are all important in presentation.
The evaluation will include both individual and group grades.
Presentation, 10 points each group.
_____/10 The project takes about 5-10 minutes.
_____/10 The project has all of the group members involved.
_____/10 The project is organized creatively.
_____ /10 No misspellings or grammatical errors.
_____ /10 Presentation on time.
_____ /10 Project finished on time.

_________/60 TOTAL POINTS

Individual presentation:
_____ /10

Student giving grade, 5 points each:

Name:________________________________________
This grade is to be based on the following:
_____/5 How well did this student cooperate in your group?

_____/5 How hard did the student work and stay on task?

_____/5 How well did the student get along with others in the group?

Self-evaluation:
What grade do you think you deserve for working in your group?
_____/ 5

_________/20 TOTAL POINTS

Conclusion

This project has presented you with the opportunity to play an active role in both your own education and that of your classmates. This project on filmmaking has increased your knowledge of the culture
and history of Reykjavik. Be proud of the work that you have done to complete this assignment. If you are interested in filmmaking you might want to read: How Are Hollywood Films Made? http://www.learner.org/exhibits/cinema/

Credits

PowerPoint in the Classroom
http://www.actden.com/pp/

Last updated on June 9, 2001. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page