Introducing the five-shot film

This week we’ll be developing our skills further in the creation of multi-shot films. We’re going to focus on the five-shot film, including a filmmaking tool called 5,4,3,2,1, for use with students.

5,4,3,2,1 is a five-shot film activity which uses an editable brief as the basis of the task, allowing teachers to tie it into clear success criteria and a key area of curricular focus. By using a variety of shots, you and your pupils will be able to communicate more complex narratives and share a wider variety of information more effectively.

When creating a five-shot film, you can use ‘in-camera editing’ (which is simply filming the shots in the order that they’re required to play), so that external editing is not required. Or, when you begin to develop your editing skills (more on this in Step 2.10) you can edit your film together and include other effects such as titles, transitions (cuts or dissolves between shots) and sound.

For students who don’t have access to a camera, the 5,4,3,2,1 brief is an excellent way to ensure this activity remains inclusive by separating tasks into written and practical.