FULL CIRCLE CINEMA
The Alexander Valley Film Society’s Full Circle Cinema program offers media literacy and video production skills training. With this program, teachers can integrate media arts education into core classes to leverage existing curricula or take advantage of standalone classes designed to enhance class projects.
NEW FOR COVID DISTANCE LEARNING: ROLL IN THE AV CART!
If you’re a teacher or parent conducting distance learning, you deserve a break! This new feature from AVFS offers a free film for students to view outside of class as well as the option for synchronous discussion with a subject-area expert during one or more virtual class sessions. The experts will discuss the film and thematic issues.
For more information, or to schedule your AV Cart, please contact Tess McHaffie at tess.mchaffie[at]avfilmsociety.org.
(Notes: We ask for a minimum of 10 students in a class to schedule an expert. We have hotspots to distribute if students cannot access the internet at home.)
HERE’S WHAT’S “PLAYING” IN Q1 2021:
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FILM TITLE | DREAM BIG: ENGINEERING OUR WORLD | RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE | INSIDE OUT |
FILM TRAILER | |||
FILM LENGTH | 42 minutes | 71 minutes | 102 minutes |
FILM AVAILBILITY | January 1-March 31 | January 1-March 31 | January 1-March 31 |
COURSE TIE-IN | Science, Technology, Math | Science, Arts, Career development | Psychology, Arts, Science |
EXPERT TO JOIN YOUR CLASS | Speakers from IGNITE Worldwide | Chris Metzler, the film director | Laura Capinas, EMDR Certified Therapist |
THEMES | STEM, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature | Coastal Erosion, Hurricanes, Culture and Homeland, Human Resilience. | Adventures, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models |
SAMPLE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS | How do engineers use curiosity in their work? Why is that an important character strength?* Why do you the movie highlights so many women engineers? Why is diversity important in engineering?* | How did you gain the trust of the local people to tell their stories? Why are documentaries important? How does a filmmaker’s vision create bias? What can a filmmaker do to present as objective a story as possible? | What does it mean to have “mixed emotions” about something?* The characters in Inside Out learn and demonstrate many important character strengths — teamwork, communication, self-control, compassion, perseverance, integrity, and empathy. Why are these important?* |
GRADE(s) | 2nd-12th | 5th-12th | K-12 |
* Source: Common Sense Media |
ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SOLUTIONS FROM AVFS

MEDIA LITERACY & FILM INTEGRATION
Bring a teaching artist into your classroom to screen and discuss a film that relates to your subject area.

VIDEO PRODUCTION SKILLS TRAINING
Give your students a leg up on their video projects with editing tutorials, screenwriting basics, and story idea generation.

FILMMAKING
BOOTCAMP
From brainstorming to the final edit, this class helps students create their own videos as part of class projects or just for fun.
TO SET UP A SESSION OR FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL TESS MCHAFFIE, PROJECT MANAGER, OR CALL 707.893.7150.
SELF-DIRECTED RESOURCES

MEDIA LITERACY & FILM INTEGRATION

VIDEO PRODUCTION SKILLS TRAINING
THE CASE FOR MEDIA ARTS
Students with consistent access to the arts have higher GPAs, higher standardized test scores, and lower dropout rates. (Americans for the Arts)
Media Arts Education fosters self-directed learning and ultimately, the full range of 21st-century skills. Students are prepared to be effective communicators, creative problem-solvers, collaborators and lifelong learners, as well as for college and career. (Center for Media Literacy)
As part of Career Technical Education (CTE), standards for Career Ready Practice describe the fundamental knowledge and skills that students need to prepare for the transition to postsecondary education, career training, or the workforce. These include the ability to communicate clearly, effectively, and with reason and the ability to apply technology to enhance productivity. (California Department of Education)
Many public schools in Northern Sonoma County – as well as rural districts across the country – do not offer digital media classes. Student populations are too small to warrant the addition of another elective of this type, or students are not able to elect these classes and fulfill their primary educational requirements. AVFS fills the gap!

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