Media Education
Regional Filmmakers Spotlight
This ongoing series showcases emerging and talented independent filmmakers from Louisiana and the South. It also highlights the growth of Louisiana's indigenous independent film industry. The guest filmmaker shows his or her work to RFC members and patrons on a weeknight, and participates in Q&As. Feature films are shown alone. Shorts are presented in two- to five-film compilation programs.
Free admission unless otherwise noted.
To submit your film for consideration, contact Meghan Hochstetler at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 318.459.4111. Click here for rules and registration form.
Social Studies Programs
The Living Room Candidate:
Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2004
Recommended for:American history and civics classes
Grades 6-12
Grades 6-12
From the Museum of the Moving Image comes a new lesson on presidential campaign ads that teaches students to think analytically about the visual messages they see:
"In a media-saturated environment in which news, opinions, and entertainment surround us all day on our television sets, computers, and cell phones, the television commercial remains the one area where presidential candidates have complete control over their images.
"Television commercials use all the tools of fiction filmmaking, including script, visuals, editing, and performance, to distill a candidate's major campaign themes into a few powerful images. Ads elicit emotional reactions, inspiring support for a candidate or raising doubts about his opponent. While commercials reflect the styles and techniques of the times in which they were made, the fundamental strategies and messages have tended to remain the same over the years."
In this two-session program students examine the historical context of former political ads, evaluate what makes an effective political ad, and learn how to be critical viewers of presidential campaign commercials by analyzing the use of images and sounds. The second day of the program has students filming and editing their own presidential ads. Click here for lesson plan.
Southern Cinema:
Over a Century of Louisiana Films
Recommended for:
Louisiana history and film classes
Grades 8-12
Just in time for Louisiana’s bicentennial, we are proud to introduce this program on our state’s rich cinematic history. Hollywood South has become our new nickname over the past decade, but did you know filmmakers have been making movies in Louisiana for more than 100 years?
From silent films like Tarzan to A Streetcar Named Desire to Steel Magnolias, this program covers all the famous films made in Louisiana plus many you’ve probably never heard of. Not only do students learn about film productions of the past and present, they also tackle such questions as “What sets our state apart from other filming locations?” “Why might today’s filmmakers choose to bring their productions to Louisiana?” and “What does all this mean for us locals?”
English Programs
The Novel Experience
Recommended for:
English, film and drama classes
Grades 6-12
During one classroom session, students reading one of our selected novels or short stories learn to adapt one chapter into a short film. Led by RFC’s media educator, students compare and contrast literary and cinematic terms, study how a novel’s story gets adapted into a one-page screenplay, and film and act in a short film. The media educator edits the footage during class and screens the final product with the students. (Please choose a work of literature from our list of titles. Other novels may be considered with advance notice.)
From Stage to Screen
Recommended for:
English, film and drama classes
Grades 6-12
In a modified version of “The Novel Experience,” students learn about the process of adapting a stage play into a film. Students compare the benefits and limitations of both stage productions and film productions. Boris Leven, producer of the film West Side Story, says this about adaptation, “We have no proscenium, there is no audience present and our stage is limitless in size.” In this program, students discover how to best utilize those resources of filmmaking to transform a play for the big screen. (Please choose a work from our list of titles. Other plays may be considered with advance notice.)
Shakespeare in the Movies
Recommended for:
English, film and drama classes
Grades 6-12
This program is just like “From Stage to Screen,” but tailored specifically for plays by William Shakespeare. RFC’s media educator takes students on a journey through the history of Shakespeare on film, leads students in comparing and contrasting different filmmakers’ takes of specific scenes from the selected play, teaches about the process of adapting a play for film, and directs the students in filming their own short movie based on a scene from one of our selected plays. Note: The Romeo and Juliet program requires two classroom sessions. Other plays can be done in one session. (Please choose a work from our list of titles. Other plays may be considered with advance notice.)
Screenwriting Workshop
Recommended for:
English, film, drama and creative writing classes
Grades 6-12
In this workshop, students learn the basics of writing for film. They work on some short writing exercises independently and then collaborate as a class to write a one-page screenplay.
Film Studies Programs
Understanding the Oscars
Recommended for:
Film classes
Grades 6-12
Sure, it’s fun to watch movie stars get dressed up and walk the red carpet, but what are all those awards really about? Everyone knows what actors and directors do, but what about sound editors and cinematographers?
This series, written by media educators from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, dissects the Oscar categories and explores the art and science of motion pictures. According to the Academy's educators, "The activities are designed to capitalize on students’ natural interest in current films and the excitement generated by the Academy Awards to teach valuable lessons in critical thinking and creative writing, and to develop visual literacy skills."
Lessons are offered on the following topics: animation, cinematography, costumes and make-up, documentaries, film editing, media literacy, screenwriting, sound and music, and visual effects. Teachers may choose one lesson from this list, or we can work out a schedule to do a series on several of these topics.
Film Pioneers:
Innovations of Sound and Color in Early Cinema
Recommended for:
Film, drama, history and fine arts classes
Grades 6-12
When the 2012 Academy Award for Best Picture went to The Artist, a silent, black and white film, it renewed interest in the early days of moving pictures. With this multimedia presentation, students learn about the origins of cinema and experience, through classic film clips, early experiments with synchronized sound and color. Students travel through time from the first experiments in film in the 1890s to the screwball comedy classics of the late 1930s.
The Movie Musical
Recommended for:
Film, drama, music, history and fine arts classes
Grades 6-12
When The Jazz Singer premiered in 1927 as the first talking picture and Al Jolson spoke those now famous words, “You ain’t heard nothing yet,” the movie musical was born. In this multimedia presentation, students study the work of musical greats Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews and more. Students also tackle such questions as, “How does a film musical differ from a stage musical?” and “How have movie musicals evolved from Singin' in the Rain to High School Musical?”
Elementary School Programs
Cinemagic:
The Films of George Melies
Recommended for:
Language arts, Gateway, Discoveries and AIM classes
Grades 2-5
Known as the father of special effects, George Melies invented many camera tricks that are still used today. What makes him really amazing is that he did this before the turn of the 20th Century. In “Cinemagic,” students view several of Melies’ fanciful films, and then try out some of his movie magic tricks.
Don’t you sometimes wish you could make someone disappear with the snap of your fingers? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could un-spill a glass of water? How cool would it be if you could suddenly have an identical twin? You can! Our RFC media educator teaches students how with simple effects invented by Melies. This program pairs well with a study of the book or film Hugo.
Fairy Tales on Film
Recommended for:
Language arts, Gateway, Discoveries and AIM classes
Grades 2-5
This multimedia program is designed specifically for grades 2-5. Students hear a short history of fairy tales and learn the “ingredients” that go into all fairy tales. They are then challenged to recognize these fairy tale ingredients in film clips of non-traditional fairy tale films. The program ends with students taking the ingredients they have learned and cooking up their own original fairy tale on an RFC storyboard.
Contact Information
To book a program for your classroom, or a field trip to RFC, contact education director Meghan Hochstetler at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 318-459-4111.
