Before you even begin consider why you’re making a film with students. Do you expect the students and you to have fun? Do you hope that something will be learned along the way? I use movies to help students practice writing, communication, and even a little math here and there. I also use it as a vehicle for social change within a classroom - often involving acceptance and friendship. Visual images surround us. Research says if we are emotionally involved with these they can lead to better memory retention. I’m saying that students will remember skills taught while making an exciting movie as opposed to a worksheet. What is more thrilling than Star Wars?! George Lucas, and now Disney, know that having people excited to tell their own stories in the Star Wars universe, is fun, and good for their bottom line. Just respect that and don’t try to make money off of any of your fun (e.g. selling DVDs of your latest fan film). Another consideration is what kind of story can you afford? If you want help buying equipment, props, and costumes you might consider writing a grant or lining up funds months in advance. Do you know people that can help you obtain these things, sew costumes, or help with advertising? Will your story contain adults? Do you want to include creatures? Will you have enough resources, including time? All of these must kept in the back of your head when brainstorming ideas with students and writing the script. Realize that some students will not be familiar with Star Wars. You or a student could give an overview of the Star Wars universe. Or better yet show them a short synopsis from YouTube. Background articles on Star Wars topics can also be found on Wikipedia and Wookieepedia for those wanting more depth. There are always some students who are passionate about Star Wars. Their passion, along with yours will be contagious. Discuss with your class what makes a good story. What do you want your audience to feel? Some typical story types in the world of Star Wars fan films include: an excuse for lightsaber dueling, humorful spoofs, story segments or vignettes, and even complete stories with a beginning, middle, and ending. With the concept of what you want to accomplish in mind, begin brainstorming story ideas with your students. Embrace limitations - don’t try to tell too big of a story. Plan to involve students in every step of the production, while setting up limits on what you consider appropriate in the areas of language, sex, and violence. Sometimes you’ll need to put ideas to a class vote, while other times you’ll want to get the opinions of a small group of especially enthusiastic individuals (they are your Star Wars ambassadors). Create a work timeline to keep you on schedule, get a release form signed by parents allowing students to be viewed in the class movie whether in a local venue or posted on YouTube. You may want to consider not including a list of credits with names for online video posting. Write your script with the idea that you will show, not tell what it going on. Leave the first page for the title (once you make it up), and a cast (with short descriptions of their characters), and a list of crew members with their responsibilities. Use Google Docs when writing your script for convenience and so you can work on it anytime, anyplace. Remember there is no story without conflict, and the best stories include at least one character who changes because of the events that occur in the story. After the script is completed create storyboards to plan how scenes will be shot. Ask someone to help you cast the movie after the script is written. All those who do not want to try out for parts will be in the crew. Plan to spend time training these crew members before you begin filming. Ask those trying out to be willing to play whatever part they get with gusto. Try out several combinations of possible actors. Do not rush casting; you do not want to have to go back and make changes. After casting is completed have those selected create a character sketch for their character. This is a great writing activity and helps ensure “buy in” for the students. Additionally, let the actors help plan their costumes and what props they wish to use. Along the way keep costs within the range of what has been budgeted. Make these into a list, take student measurements, start purchasing, and sewing (if necessary). Many props can be made very economically. For example water or Nerf guns that are painted black or silver make excellent blasters. PVC fittings and wooden dowels make good lightsabers. Below is the first page of the script from the last Star Wars movie I did with a class. I like to give each actor a copy with their part highlighted.