Machinima: Rowan of Rin
Summary of task
As a summative task in an English and Media Arts unit, students were required to recreate aspects of one of the novels in the Rowan of Rin series by Emily Rodda, using the digital game Minecraft and the production technique of machinima, which involves telling a narrative within a game environment by using it to animate key scenes. The students worked in teams to design key locations from the novel using Minecraft. They then created a cartoon storyboard for their production, indicating how they would use those locations to recreate the story. This was followed by a phase in which the students used their avatars to perform the story within the game. The animation was recorded and the footage was then edited using video editing software. Sound effects and dialogue were added to complete the story in post-production.
Achievement standard
By the end of Year 4, students describe and discuss similarities and differences between artworks they make and those to which they respond. They discuss how they and others organise the elements and processes in artworks.
Students collaborate to plan and make artworks that communicate ideas.
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Gives key information about the narrative and its location via an establishing shot in the storyboard title frame
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Builds sets in Minecraft and uses them to convey the narrative via screen captures presented in storyboard form -
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Provides character motivation -
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Includes indicative dialogue -
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Provides key challenge of the narrative
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Indicates close up shots to reinforce the narrative
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Provides design of key scene, visually indicating how the machinima will represent the events of the narrative
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Chooses a high-angle close up to reinforce danger in a key scene
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Shows climactic scene of narrative through a thought bubble -
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Uses low-angle long shot to reinforce the dragon's power
