Teaching the Art of Filmmaking - Paperback

by Karen Bennett (Author)

"Teaching the Art of Filmmaking" is written by a classroom teacher and intended to give educators a detailed look at building a high functioning film program from scratch with little to no resources. In conversations with colleagues teaching filmmaking around the world, the same questions seem to consistently come up: How do you teach film students to write consistently successful short screenplays? How do you plan for a class film shoot during the busy school day? How do you foster a collaborative and supportive environment with your film students? How do you manage equipment and technology in the classroom? As filmmaking tools become more and more accessible, students become ready to explore this art form at an earlier age. This book is dedicated to teaching the youngest generation of filmmakers.

Author Biography

After receiving a degree in Film Scoring from the Berklee College of Music, Karen Bennett worked for four years as a freelance music editor on such films as Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Catch Me If You Can. In 2004, she transitioned into teaching. It was an easy decision; Karen loves working with kids and finds inspiration in their view of the world. In 2007 she began teaching a film elective for students curious about filmmaking and created the Cinematic Arts Academy in 2012. Also in 2012 with the help of a grant from Funds for Teachers, she spent four weeks in Tanzania learning about the history of the country and visiting schools, documenting the trip with her video camera. In 2015 she won the Crystal Apple Award for innovation in teaching from the Los Angeles County Office of Education. When not working with her students, Karen enjoys making independent films of her own. In September 2011, Karen finished her first feature length documentary, Pink Slip. In May 2012, she was hired as one of fifty directors shooting the documentary Go Public: A Day in the Life of an American School District. Today Karen continues teaching at Millikan and traveling to film festivals around the world with her students including the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy, the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle, Washington, and the All-American High School Film Festival in New York City.