making movies with kids

Cipriani School Drama Class Performs their Original Play

2011-06-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

Make-A-Movie Studios Shelley Frost teaches drama to schools throughout the San Francisco Peninsula for the San Carlos Children's Theater. This past Spring, Frost challenged her Cipriani Elementary school class by having them brainstorm ideas for their very own play. This activity is similar to Frost's Make-A-Movie Workshops in that the children dream up their own characters, story lines props and locations before turning on the video camera. Frost then writes the script using the ideas of the children. This has resulted in over 40 original movie scripts that are available for purchase at Make-A-Movie Studios.

The Cipriani students brainstorming resulted in their original play, "The Princess & the Bee."

Detective McGillicutty assigned to be a watchful eye over a princess who is determined to find her childhood pet, a Queen Bee. Fruits and vegetables are in short supply as the bee population sorely needs their Queen Bee to pollinate the plants. Even though a werewolf and an alien from Mars threaten to derail her plans, the princess finds the Queen Bee and the world is suddenly a better place.

The play is now available at Make-A-Movie Studios for a discounted price of $15. To purchase your copy of "The Princess & the Bee" click here.

Stroke Of Midnight Trailer produced by St. Andrews School in Thailand

2011-05-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

KIDS GUIDE TO MOVIE MAKING featured in newspaper article

2011-03-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

The San Mateo Times has published an article about me, Shelley Frost, and my latest book KIDS GUIDE TO MOVIE MAKING. Please check it out. The writer came up with a fantastic title, "Belmont woman helps kids channel inner Spielberg." In the photos, my kitchen looks better than in real life!

Summer fun for kids - Make A Movie!

2011-03-04T18:50:00.001-08:00

This summer instead of the usual summer camps where kids are ordered around by well-meaning adults, why not take on a fun project that will require lots of hours, friends, creativity, props, costumes and more? Make your own feature film!

When you make your own movie, you will learn how to be organized, a team player, a leader and a creative storyteller. Movie making is similar to painting a picture. First you gather the raw materials:
A camera!
A cast and crew!
A movie script (find one by clicking here)

Next you need to make a movie plan. The best way to understand how to successfully take these steps is to use the book KIDS GUIDE TO MOVIE MAKING. Yes, that's right. I wrote this book and of course I am hoping lots of people buy it. But the reason I wrote the book is because I truly believe that movie making offers kids so many advantages.

Plus, if you have any questions, you are more than welcome to e-mail me for help.

New movie making book for kids

2011-02-17T13:34:00.001-08:00

KIDS GUIDE TO MOVIE MAKING: How kids can produce and direct their own movies that audiences will love, by Shelley Frost, Createspace February 2011

For children who love acting, film making, and the performing arts, KIDS GUIDE TO MOVIE MAKING is a middle grade, nonfiction activity book that provides them with the how-to's they need to make compelling movies with strong characters and stories audiences will enjoy.

With KIDS GUIDE TO MOVIE MAKING, children will have the opportunity to learn how to be a Movie Director on their own movie set with easy to understand guidelines and descriptions. Throughout the book are HOT TIPS! that will give the reader special insights geared to making their movie production problem free.

The final pages are filled with helpful movie making materials such as sample scripts, shooting schedules, storyboard layout and more.

If you would like a COUPON CODE to receive a 20% discount on your order of this book, e-mail Shelley Frost at shelley@makeamoviestudios.com

I signed up with Social Spark

2010-07-30T08:11:00.001-07:00

I just discovered a new avenue of social media. And I could potentially earn money too!

I've already had my Facebook page and Twitter feeds active for what seems like years, but there's a new opportunity on the horizon and it's called Social Spark. Great name, huh?

Their motto is "get everyone talking." They encourage this by bringing advertisers and bloggers together to share their message with anyone who is enjoying their on-line experience.

Do you want your blog to earn some income? Sign up for Social Spark. If you are an advertise who is looking for a new innovative way to bring your products to the people? Sign up for Social Spark.

The ads that are placed on your blog are consistent with your area of expertise or interests. Here at Making Movies with Kids, the ads that I will allow on my blog will all pertain to the movie and entertainment industry.

To sign up is as simple as 1, 2, 3. Simply visit Social Spark, and fill out the oversized blocks with just your name, e-mail address and create a password. You will need to paste some html into your blog

Sometimes I am a little lax in posting here at my blog. But with Social Spark and the opportunity to add a little pocket change to my pocket, I will be sure to post news and movie tid bits more often.

It's a brand new day

2010-07-30T07:58:00.000-07:00

Make-A-Movie Makes it's way to Australia

2010-05-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

Tracey Wester, a business woman who owns and operates Stress Free Parties in Glen Iris, Victoria, Australia, just purchased a Make-A-Movie Business Kit with the intention of offering Make-A-Movie parties to her clients.

Wester says, "It's such an unusual and unique party idea making movies starring children. I am excited to be the first here in Australia to give kids this fun activity."

Make-A-Movie Business Kits are provided to entrepreneurs who are interested in creating a fun, profitable business working with children and video. The business kits contain movie scripts, training material and even a movie make-up kit, all at a very affordable price.

Shelley Frost, the founder of Make-A-Movie Studios says, "The cost of the kit can be recouped after holding just one Make-A-Movie birthday party."

To learn how you can offer Make-A-Movie exclusively in your community, contact Shelley Frost at Make-A-Movie Studios: 650-906-8296 or e-mail shelley@makeamoviestudios.com

Media Beat

2010-04-21T12:49:00.001-07:00

testing and testing

Movie scripts now available on Amazon.com

2010-02-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

Make-A-Movie Studios now offers our movie scripts at Amazon.com. When you purchase a movie script from Amazon, it is shipped to you as a spiral bound book.

Or you can order our movie scripts from our website store and download them as PDF files. Of course then you will need to print them out. They are all around 24 pages long.

A new item we have available that parents are finding VERY helpful is our new book BIRTHDAY MOVIE PARTIES: How To Direct, Produce and Premier Your Child's Very Own Feature Film! You can order it as a spiral bound book from Amazon.com or from our movie script store as a PDF download.

Always feel free to contact us with any questions about making movies with kids!
shelley@makeamoviestudios.com

Movie Scripts Store Grand Opening

2009-09-24T19:03:00.001-07:00

We have opened our brand new Movie Scripts Store! The prices are low and the inventory is high.

The movie scripts are divided into two categories: Party Movie Scripts and Workshop Movie Scripts.

Party Movie Scripts are shorter and can be produced in one day. They are perfect for birthday parties and special events.

Workshop Movie Scripts are longer and require at least 6 two hour meetings. These scripts are great for teachers, Girl Scout Troop leaders, after school programs and summer camps.

Also on our website are helpful books such as How To Make-A-Movie Guidebook and Theater Monologues for Kids.

Movie making for kids is an activity that teaches them teamwork, creativity, technical skills, computer skills, and leadership. Finding programs that emphasis movie making for kids is rare.

Make-A-Movie Studios is proud to be one of the few resources kids have to further their movie making ambitions. And we've been teaching kids how to make movies since 2002.

Happy Movie Making!

2009-05-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

"The Cursed Necklace" a movie I wrote with my students at The Nueva School in Hillsborough a few years back, is being produced by Movie Director Stephanie Carter in Atlanta, Georgia. This movie is being made by a group of Girl Scout Brownies, who are excited to pull together props, locations and make-up, as they act in their very own movie. We'll keep you posted on their progress.

Meanwhile, Windy Coleman in Metairie, Louisiana is setting up her movie studio and will soon begin offering movie making in her community. To contact Windy, e-mail her at hollywoodsouthactors@yahoo.com.

TEACHERS - visit our website and receive a discount coupon to purchase a movie making kit that includes a script of your choice. E-mail us at shelley@makeamoviestudios.com

2009-05-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

Contact me for help with your dog-related questions

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2008-12-20T19:13:00.000-08:00

Teach Kids How to Make Movies

2008-12-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

By Shelley Frost
[http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shelley_Frost]

Math teachers are important, knowledgeable people. But in most middle schools, math classes along with science, english and history, are not always the most popular among students. Imagine being the teacher for a class titled "Movie Making 101." Your movie making class would most likely have a waiting list of kids wanting to sign up!

Today's kids are well schooled in high tech toys and gadgets, especially computers, cell phones and video games. As a 'movie making for kids' teacher, you can provide them with the perfect platform where their technical skills can shine. And since movie making builds self esteem, is team oriented and highly creative, even the most technically immersed students will be able to express themselves with a movie script kids can make.

If you would like to teach movie making for kids through a class you hold through your recreation department, after school program, girl scout troop, or in your own elementary school classroom, here are several tips to help you become a Movie Director.

1. Class One: Get to know your "cast" - what their skills and talents are. Find out who is familiar with video cameras, video editing, acting, make-up, costumes. If anyone has special talents such as singing, playing an instrument, note that these can be incorporated into your movie. By observing and learning about your students, you can cast your movie more successfully.

Teach them movie making basics such as the importance of being quiet on the set (so no background noise is heard while filming). When acting in a scene, don't look at the camera - look at the person to whom you are speaking. Don't worry if you goof up a line - that's why we have "bloopers" at the end of our movie!

2. Class Two: Announce the movie script that you will produce. Tell them the story of the movie as if you are a storyteller. Be animated by acting out the movie as you describe it. Announce who is playing which role. Pass out the scripts and do a "read-through" where the cast reads the entire script out loud. Do some rehearsals of complicated scenes. Assign students which props and costumes they will need to bring to the movie set. Lastly, scout your movie locations - where each scene will be shot.

3. Class Three: Shooting Day! Inventory all the props and costumes making sure you have everything you need. Assign one student to be the Script Supervisor. This person must glue them self next to you, so you can feed each line to each actor. If you are not the camera operator, make sure this person is well versed in camera operation. You want to make sure they know where the REC button is located!

Apply make-up, decorate the sets, put on costumes, open the script, turn on the camera, and you are ready to shoot your first scene.

4. The next two to three classes will all be shooting days similar to Class Three.

5. Movie Premier: Once the movie is edited with all the special effects, credits, and music, you are ready to roll the red carpet for the big premier event. Hold the premier at your local library, the school auditorium or even one of the cast members home. Make sure that wherever the premier takes place, that the audio system is acceptable. Once the audience is assembled with their popcorn and drinks, give a short speech introducing your cast and giving a short overview of the movie. After the premier, let the cast take questions from the audience.

Kids may remember their math and science teachers, but having the DVD's of their very own movie they will be sure to never forget their experience with you as their Movie Director.

If you would like more tips and resources for kids on how to make movies, visit http://www.makeamoviestudios.com for free downloads, plus movie scripts for kids and training materials such as workbooks and DVD's.

Shelley Frost is a movie director for kids, author, drama teacher and videographer. Her company, Make-A-Movie Studios has had more than 1000 children star in her movies. Shelley has written dozens of movie scripts kids can produce, all of which have been produced into movies. Her movie scripts and resources for new movie directors can be found at http://www.makeamoviestudios.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelley_Frost http://EzineArticles.com/?Teach-Kids-How-to-Make-Movies&id=1781250

Make-A-Movie Video Production

2008-11-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Since 2001, besides Make-A-Movie parties and workshops, Shelley has been a video producer. She has filmed dozens of school plays, graduations, non-profit organization videos, profile videos for people celebrating birthdays, Bat Mitzvahs and Bar Mitzvah's. And now with the recent ruling by the US Supreme Court, she is able to offer Victim Impact Evidence videos. For more information please visit Make-A-Movie Video Production.

Make Money Making Movies - With Kids!

2008-10-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Unless you're Steven Spielberg, a movie business opportunity may seem near impossible to achieve. But what if your actors and audiences are those who prefer "G" rated films with funny characters, mysterious but satisfying story lines and lots of wild costumes and props? If you own a video camera, a computer with video editing software, love to shop at thrift stores and garage sales, then you too can have a video based business and become a Steven Spielberg for kids who love acting.

Sure, Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman probably won't respond to your offer of a movie role. But the kids in your neighborhood may end up competing with each other for the lead role in your film, especially if the movie script for kids has an exciting story line.

If you want to become a Movie Director for kids plus get paid to make movies with them, here are four tips to help you call "Quiet on the set... Action!"

1. Check with your local city parks and recreation department. They are always looking for new classes and workshops to offer the residents in their city. See if they would like to include a movie making workshop for kids as one of their programs.

2. Both private and public schools often look for after school programs their students can participate in. If you are available in the afternoons, contact these schools and offer to teach a movie making workshop for kids.

3. You can offer short movie making experiences for children as an activity at kids birthday parties and events. Advertise in local parenting magazines and websites this unique, one-of-a-kind activity children will never forget - especially true since you will be providing them with finished DVD's of their movie less than a week later.

4. If you are a classroom teacher, Girl Scout Troop Leader, home-school provider or after school care teacher, you can create a movie making activity and become a Movie Director to the children in your program. Parents can donate the blank DVD's, costumes, props, and maybe even the technical equipment, so you can concentrate on running the movie set.

Halloween with it's costumes and make-up fun only comes once a year. But movie making provides children with a chance to wear costumes, apply make-up and transform into exciting characters without pumpkins and trick-or-treating.

If you would like more tips and resources for kids on how to make movies, visit www.makeamoviestudios.com for free downloads, plus movie scripts for kids and training materials such as workbooks and DVD's.

Shelley Frost is a movie director for kids, author, drama teacher and videographer. Contact her at shelley@makeamoviestudios.com or visit her website at www.makeamoviestudios.com

Six Year Old Stars in Movie

2008-10-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago my assistant Christina and I drove 45 minutes to Pleasanton, California to do a Make-A-Movie birthday party for a six year old girl. That is teetering on the "a bit too young" side of filmmaking, however, the little girls mother, assured me that her daughter would shine on camera.

At the party, the guests began to arrive. Each one was littler and younger than the next. It soon became clear to Christina and I that our movie cast was the youngest group of youngsters we'd ever filmed!! And we began to worry. Would they be able to say their lines clearly? Would they understand how to "act" with fellow "actors?" As the giggling, running, and wrestling increased, so did my anxiety.

We called the "cast" into our cast meeting, where I gently told them the story of the movie we were about to film. Just like storytelling in a classroom, the children were entranced, probably wondering where the picture book was so I could show them the pictures! Next, we did make-up. They were loving this part of the activity, so my hopes rose.

Then we assembled in the kitchen to shoot the first scene. Once I had "quiet on the set" (which was no easy task because all 20 parents decided to stay to watch!) I gave the first little girl her line. And she pulled it off spectacularly. When the birthday girl's cue arrived, she pranced into the frame like a natural. Next she rattled off her lines, in a loud, clear voice, full of expression and emotion. I couldn't believe it!

But knowing 6 year-olds, I knew their attention span was limited. So we quickly ran through the lines, then moved onto the free-for-all singing contest scene. That's when everyone started joining in the fun, laughing, singing, dancing.

As I wrapped up the movie shoot, sure enough all 20 girls, were done paying attention. They were off running, screaming, and wrestling. Did I mention that they were all wearing princess costumes? Yep, princesses wrestling in the middle of the living room. It was time for this movie director to head to the edit room. Cut, it's a wrap!!

Make-A-Movie Workshop for Kids

2008-09-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to star in a movie? Now you can! We'll choose our script, cast our characters, plan our costumes, make-up and props. Then we'll rehearse action sequences and dialogue. Next comes "Quiet on the set... ACTION!" When the movie is shot, the director will say "That's a wrap!." Invite your friends and family to the Red Carpet Premier, enjoy some popcorn and see yourself on the big screen.

Instructor: Shelley Frost, SCCT Drama Teacher

Twin Pines Park, Belmont, CA

5 Classes, kids 6 - 12 yrs

T & Th 3:30 - 5:00

10/2 - 10/16

$100 residents; $120 non- residents

$25 lab fee

Belmont Parks & Recreation Dept.: 650/595-7441

Click here to sign up on-line!

Free Movie Making Guide for Kids

2008-06-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

I just finished writing a new guide that I'm giving away for free to anyone with kids interested in making movies.

Summertime is a great time for kids to get creative. Making a movie with the neighborhood children can be a great team building activity. They need to have their cast meetings; decide who will play which characters; scrounge through garages and basements for the perfect props; scout the entire neighborhood for the best locations; shoot the movie scene by scene; then edit the footage into an exciting feature film!

Best of all will be the movie premier. Announce the event with flyers, posters, e-mails, etc. Imagine the entire neighborhood gathering together on a warm summer evening to watch the movie premier on an outdoor screen. What could be more fun?

Visit Make-A-Movie Studios for movie scripts and the FREE Movie Making Guide.

Make-A-Movie Merchandise

2008-06-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

For all you kids out there who've made movies with Make-A-Movie, now you can wear your movies on your sleeve (or head!) Visit our new store at Cafepress.com where you can buy t-shirts, sweatshirts, baseball hats and more. All with our Make-A-Movie logo. Then the world will know you've made movies with Make-A-Movie!

Make-A-Movie Kits

2008-03-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

My wonderful neighbor Cathleen, runs a print shop. As we speak, she is creating gorgeous packaging for the Make-a-Movie Kits. As soon as the packaging is ready, I'll post a photo.

For anyone unaware, Make-a-Movie Kits include everything you need to make a movie in your home with your kids (minus the video camera and video editing software!) What is special about these kits are the fantastic movie scripts/screenplays.

Over the years, I've written these scripts, mostly with the help of casts of kids. All of the scripts have been produced into movies. Some of them several times!!

The kits are available right now by visiting www.makeamoviestudios.com.

From Screen to Stage

2008-02-26T12:53:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow afternoon we'll continue play reheasals for "The Princess & the Pickle Pie" and "A Spy in Mozambula." What!! Wait a minute!! Aren't those movie scripts, not play scripts?!

Yes, they are movie scripts, having been produced as movies countless times, with different casts (party guests) and locations (homes of the birthday girl or boy). But because I also teach drama classes, I am always in need of play scripts. Over the years, I have found too many play scripts with too many talking animals with too few lines.

So, since the movie scripts from Make-A-Movie Studios are written to make each role significant, I decided to rewrite these two scripts into stage scripts.

In our last class we casted the two plays, and did a read-through. So, tomorrow we'll actually get on stage and begin blocking the scenes. It will be quite a transformation bringing these scripts to life on stage verses on screen. But the 19 actors in my class (8 - 11 year olds), are filled with enthusiasm, energy and a desire to please their audience.

Will these two "plays" be flops or a blockbusters? I'll let you know...

Shy Kids Do Great Making Movies

2008-01-20T15:45:00.000-08:00

The first day of each of my Make-A-Movie Workshops or Theater Games classes, I am always on the lookout for my "shy" kids. These are the children whose parents wisely signed them up for an acting class knowing full well the discomfort their child may or may not feel during the class meetings.

Shy kids do great in Make-A-Movie classes. This is because they perform, character create and pretend play without an audience or a spotlight. Plus, there are no lines to memorize or scripts to follow. The Director follows a script of course, but the actors need not worry about words on a page being burned into their memories!

And the night our movie premiers, and all the parents and friends are in the audience, the "shy" child is no longer a "shy" child. They are larger than life, transformed into a character fighting to save the world... or in the case of "The Fowl Phobia" the life of a chicken!

Happy Movie Making!!

Hiding Under My Desk

2007-12-28T12:36:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for a Make-a-Movie birthday party is always a creative process. I always read through the script to make sure I feel it is tailored perfectly for the birthday boy or girl. If we're doing SPACE: The Movie, and the child playing the Commander is a girl, then I'd better go through it and switch all the 'him's" and his" to "her's" and "she's.'

I'll never forget the party where the Scientist character was played by a sweet little girl, yet the script referred to her character as a boy throughout. And wouldn't you know it, but I didn't even catch this until I was at my computer editing the footage??!! I wanted to crawl under the desk and just sit with all my wires and cables hoping the world would forget I even do Make-a-Movie birthday parties!!

Luckily, the family who hired me for this party was the most understanding and accommodating family I have ever worked with. This proved true when I rang their doorbell to deliver 15 freshly burned DVD's with a lovely printed sleeve that read "SPACE: The Movie" starring... "Misspelled Birthday Boy's Name." With no desk to hide under, I crept back to my car and hightailed it back home. Once there, I crawled back to my computer, and relaunched Final Cut so I could correct his name in all the titles. Fifteen freshly burned DVD's later, I trundled back to my ultra-patient customer to deliver the perfected DVD's.

I've never been one to describe myself as a perfectionist, but when it comes to spleling, I mean spelling, and a customer is the victim, there's no choice but to crawl out from under the desk and make it right.

Happy Movie-Making!

Kids Who Enjoyed a Day of Acting

2007-12-19T10:37:00.000-08:00

Making movies with kids is so rewarding because of the sheer enjoyment the children express afterwards. All you need is a strong script, filled with smart, funny characters, and a few exciting props (what child doesn't get excited to use cell phones or walkie-talkies!), and your movie making experience is ready for "Action!" www.makeamoviestudios.com

Acting Like Kids OR Why kids LOVE to Act!

2007-12-19T10:14:00.000-08:00

Pretending. Make-believe. Fairytales. Storytime. All of these child-activities are a form of acting. You might wonder about adult actors who do the same thing in their multi-million dollar movies. Is becoming an actor a path to never having to grow up? Maybe - and who could blame Dustin Hoffman for diving into the role of Mr. Magorium? Or Nicole Kidman as Samantha in Bewitched?

Remember when, as a child, your mother would read aloud a story to you? Think of those images that formed in your head as you imagined how the scene would look, or the color of a character's hair, or the scowling expression on the witch's face. What if someone invited you to come up on stage or to stand before a camera where you could pretend to be that character you so vividly saw in your imagination?

Kids have so little power in their everyday lives. But when they are given the opportunity to act, to perform a story, everything changes. Through the characters they create, the stories they tell through their performances, children can feel the power of personal expression. And isn't that what Dustin Hoffman and Nicole Kidman do best? Expressing the many facets of their personalities and their abilities for all the world to see.

Where there's pretend play, there's freedom.

Make A Movie with Your Kids

2007-12-18T12:41:00.000-08:00

For the past six years, I've been making movies with kids. Birthday parties, movie workshops, bar mitzvah's... I like to think of myself as one of the most prolific movie directors in the world's history. I've made close to 100 movies with close to 1000 children! And each movie was made with an original script (written by me.) All my movies have strong characters, well plotted story lines, and a "G" rating! And all our movies have had premier nights: big screen, surround sound, packed audiences, popcorn, drinks, prizes, speeches!

Through the years I have written over 30 original scripts. These stories are geared to what interests children, mostly because the elements in each script came from brainstorming sessions with groups of children. I've decided to make the scripts available for anyone to use. You can visit www.makeamoviestudios.com to read the script descriptions, and even see clips of past movies I've made.

For a fun family activity or a unique classroom activity, Make-a-Movie scripts and kits could be what you're looking for.

Let me know if you have any experiences working with kids making movies. I'd love to hear them...