This page contains loads of free reference and learning resources for download, including filmmaking ro improve filmmaking skills, through to qualified film and media studies lesson plans, created by teachers, for teachers.
Filmmaking e-guides
A range of self-guided e-books, with exercises designed to improve filmmaking skills using Moviestorm.
Making Better Movies with Moviestorm - Volume 1: Basic Camerawork
This book, designed for self-guided study, enables students to develop their skills through filming scenes in several different ways.
Exercises cover common situations such as:
- Walks
- Conversations
- Phone calls
Students are also asked to experiment with filming techniques including:
- Static vs moving cameras
- Close-ups
- Focus
- Reveals
“Spot on. The exercises are set up in a very logical, progressive way.”
James Martin, University of North Texas
“Excellent - great for schools and colleges alike. The tone of the writing is perfect - neither patronising or too authoritative.”
Jezz Wright, Blockhouse TV
Download workbook of exercises
Making Better Movies with Moviestorm - Volume 2: Staging
Exercises cover common situations such as:
- Doorways
- Action scenes
- Dramatic conversations
Students are also asked to experiment with filming techniques including:
- Different size sets
- Using extras
- Showing the passage of time
- Deep staging
“If someone goes through the book and does the exercises, they're going to come out a better filmmaker, no question”
Hugh Hancock, Guerilla Showrunner
“A really good primer for any film student, especially all crammed into 40 pages.”
Andrew Segal, Carshalton College
Download workbook of exercises
Making Better Movies with Moviestorm - Volume 3: Sound and Lighting
Exercises cover techniques such as:
- Ambient noise
- Working with music
- Shadows and silhouettes
- Night-time filming
“A very fine job on sound and lighting.”
Ricky Grove, Machinimator, sound designer and actor
Download workbook of exercises
Making Better Movies with Moviestorm - Volume 4: Editing
Exercises cover techniques such as:
- Split cuts
- Establishing shots
- Cutting on action
- Montage
“ Anybody making not just machinima, but any sort of live action or animated films, will benefit from this informative series of books.”
Kate Lee, Chat Noir Studios
Download workbook of exercises
The Moviestorm guide to previsualisation
Previsualisation is a powerful pre-production technique that has the potential to reduce production and post-production costs and also help you make better movies. Some proponents of previsualisation claim that this technique can reduce shooting time by up to 50% and cut post-production time by up to 25%.
Using Moviestorm to create storyboards
Explains the basic process for creating a storyboard from Moviestorm and the key concepts of animatics and storyboards
Identifies two different approaches to animatics and how to choose which is right for you, then explains how to generate your animatic with Moviestorm, and convert it into a storyboard.
Film & media studies qualified lesson plans
Qualified teachers have started sharing their lesson plans on 3rd party sites. Here are some links to a selection of them. Keep checking back to see what's new!
Storyboarding with Moviestorm - Lesson 1
This lesson will provide an introduction to using Moviestorm for storyboarding
- Provide an introduction to the pre-production process
- Help learners to understand the benefits of pre-visualization
- Give learners the opportunity to use a pre-visualization technique
See also our guide Using Moviestorm to create storyboards
Storyboarding with Moviestorm - Lesson 2
This lesson is about producing promotional media.
- Develop an idea for promoting a service
- Use a pre-visualization technique to express this idea
- Present the idea
See also our guide Using Moviestorm to create storyboards
Narrative and Script
This lesson provides an introduction to narrative theory and using scripts. Students create an animated movie from a script using Moviestorm
- Understand the difference between narrative story and plot
- Gain an introduction to narrative theory
- Learn how to use a script
Camerawork - Camera Shots
This lesson provides will provide an introduction to camera shots and movements.
- Identify common types of camera shot
- Describe common camera moves
- Create a short animated movie that uses close ups/longs shots/a mixture of shots
See also our guide Making Better Movies with Moviestorm Vol 1: Basic Camerawork
Camerawork - Static v Moving Cameras
This lesson will provide an introduction to using static and moving cameras.
- Identify and use common types of camera movement
- Identify and use a range of camera angles
- Explain the purpose of using static or moving cameras
- Create a movie using static, moving and a mixture of static and moving cameras
See also our guide Making Better Movies with Moviestorm Vol 1: Basic Camerawork
These lesson plans support the following qualifications:
- ABC Certificate in Preparing to Work in Creative Media
- AQA GCSE Media
- City & Guilds Diploma in Media Techniques
- BTEC Creative Media Production
- Edexcel BTEC Certificate in Creative & Digital Media
If preferred, this series of Lesson Plans can be downloaded from a number of external teaching resource sites:
- Slideboom
- Slideshare
- Scribd
- TES
- Media Film
- British Council - BBC - Teaching English
- Guardian Professional - Teachers Network (search for 'Moviestorm')
- Promethean Planet
- HP Teacher Experience Exchange
