There is something magic about the way professional media tools can inspire creativity.
This story began around a classroom table covered by a roll of paper and ended with editing in a professional application called Final Cut Pro. The studio work was facilitated by RU instructor Jeremy Jennings.
Governor’s School students used a combination of hand-held cell phone shots along with presentations from the RU television studio to create a unique and fun “Zombie News.”
For inspiration we looked to Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. You might see students using a few cinema tricks like low angle shots at dramatic moments or the way the zombies pull Chris back around a corner for off-camera mayhem.
Zombie News was played to rousing applause on the “showcase” day of Governor’s School.
Inspiration
Chaplin: The most famous icon of the silent era is Charlie Chaplin, whose “tramp” character still delights audiences worldwide. Chaplin created the character for film producer Mack Sennett when he was asked to put on a comic costume for a 1914 film, and his thought at the time was to express opposites: big shoes and small coat, big pants and small derby hat, and a big role for an little guy. And, voila, the “Little Tramp,” a down-at-the heels but refined fellow with a bewildered demeanor. Within a few years, Chaplin became one of the first great stars of the Silent Era, signing a contract with Mutual Films for over half a million dollars. At that point, Chaplin owned his own studios, producing classic silent films like The Gold Rush and The Kid. Here’s one of the iconic scenes from the Gold Rush… the table ballet:
Keaton: Almost as popular as Chaplin at the time was Buster Keaton, whose stunts in “The General” of 1927 were breathtaking. This first short video is from “Every Frame a Painting, a remarkably good video discussion series.