"Could you tell me how to make movies?"
The question is sincere, yet maddeningly vague. 'Which part film making: The physics and chemistry of recording light, the technology required, the theories of staging, the pragmatics of script writing, the art of makeup, the details of sound mixing?' My mind asks such questions, but my fingers reply: "Could you be more specific? What part of film making are you stuck on? Do you have a camera? Are you looking for editing software? It's much easier to answer specific questions."
The answer often comes back, "I just want to learn how. lol"
These internet exchanges are very different from ones I have with kids in my home. As I work with aspiring filmmakers on their projects, we talk and discuss. Sometimes the questions are incredibly specific--"Why isn't the audio track staying in sync with the video?"--but just as often we discuss general film making ideas (e.g. "Editing is about feeling. The trick is to figure out why that cut doesn't feel right"). In these contexts, the vague "random" questions kids ask aren't nearly that random.
As you homeschool, have you noticed that the time you spend reading together peppers your general conversation with specific questions?
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester
P.S. As always, if you have specific questions about homeschooling or Sonlight, please don't hesitate to ask.
Excoriate: criticize severely
Brought to you by Seth Godin
