4th Grade CMAS Practice- Writing

Read the following passage, then answer the questions. Film Facts By Shirley Grananhan Have you ever wondered how movies are made? I have. So last summer I decided to find out. Director Diego Gamba was in town. He was making his next film, Holiday at Home. I had a chance to visit Diego on the set. “How do you get the ideas for your films?” I asked. “They are always so entertaining.” “I read a lot of stories,” Diego said. “First, I target my audience. I decide if I want to make a film for little children, families, teens, or older people. Then, I pick a story I think the group will like. I figure out how to tell the story to my chosen audience." Diego said directors must focus on one scene at a time. They must decide how each part of the story should look on film. “First, I break down the story into tiny parts,” Diego said. “Next, I make a storyboard. It shows step by step how each part should look. Then, I plan ways to film each part.” Directors also decide where to make a movie. They may film outside, in real places. They may build sets and film inside a building. They may even have actors work in front of a blue or green screen. Then computer pictures of places and things are added. So we may see a thrilling shot on a mountain top. It could be a real place or it could be movie magic. I also met Sara, the director of photography. “What do you do?” I asked. “I run the cameras and lights,” Sara said. “It is up to me to always get the best shot. So I shoot from different angles, or positions, around the set. I have to make sure the lighting is just right. It helps set the mood or feeling of a movie.” “We pick the best actors for the story,” said Diego. “They come to the set early. They put on costumes and makeup. Then we practice a scene before we shoot it.” “Movie scenes are short. To get it right, we may shoot the same scene many times,” said Sara. “On a good day, we only shoot about three pages of the script.” “Once we film all the scenes, we edit,” said Diego. “That means we put together the best shots from each scene in the right order. We add sound effects and music. At last, it is a movie! Then we put it out and hope people like it.” Well, now I know how movies are made. I know Diego’s new movie will be a big hit!

What does a director have to focus on?

What does a director of photography do?

Why are so few pages of the script filmed each day?

What is the main idea of this text?