The Story of Movies is a FREE interdisciplinary film literacy program for classroom use, created and distributed by The Film Foundation, in partnership with the Directors Guild of America.
“Young people need to understand that not all images are there to be consumed like fast food and then forgotten – we need to educate them to understand the difference between moving images that engage their humanity and their intelligence, and moving images that are just selling them something.”
~ Martin Scorsese, Director
Why is film literacy so important?
Movies are more than just entertainment. They’re a door to knowledge. Knowledge of art, history, society. Knowledge of ourselves.
The language of film is a uniquely persuasive one. Communication using moving images is everywhere. Critical-viewing is as essential a skill as critical-thinking.
The language of film is universal. Movies enable us to see the world through another’s eyes.
Films are representations of our culture through time. They communicate ideas and feelings, fears and aspirations.
Complementing Common Core Standards
The Story of Movies supports the Common Core’s emphasis on deep learning. Today’s students are asked to recognize, understand and appreciate content in diverse media and formats. Cinema literacy requires students to use inference and implicit information to derive meaning.
An Interdisciplinary Approach
The scope and sequence of The Story of Movies lessons and activities integrate language arts, history, social studies, music, art and science. Students tap their existing knowledge to interpret and derive meaning from films, and cross-curricular links deepen their understanding of these subjects.
Why teach The Story of Movies?
Film is a communications medium and an art form, worthy of close reading and serious discussion. The Story of Movies curriculum challenges teachers and students to explore in-depth this essential part of our history and culture.