Got a budding Martin Scorcese in your class? With the Intel Play Digital Movie Creator they can direct, film and star in their own films, writes Steve Place
The Intel Play Digital Movie Creator is perfectly designed for its intended users: would-be movie makers as young as eight years old. Intel has dispensed with any high-tech embroidery and fashioned the camera in a simple and friendly style. Its toy-like appearance can only be an advantage in encouraging young pupils to recreate reality according to their own imagination.
There are only five buttons (for video filming, still shots, timing, trash and a choice of resolution density), and a simple display. The pistol grip makes it easy to hold and squeeze the video button with the index finger. Audio is automatically activated. Pupils only need to look through the viewfinder and they are ready to produce a four-minute epic. This is the amount of film the camera can record away from the computer. Alternatively it can store up to 2,000 snap shots. It is also able to create stop-frame animation.
Downloading work is equally straightforward. The camera is placed on a stand that plugs into the USB slot on the computer. Once the Movie Creator software is loaded it asks to download the stored work. Then the editing can begin. Lighting and colour can be adjusted and there is a full library of titles, special effects and transitions. Sound tracks can be added too. The different functions of the software can be worked out quickly without the need of a manual.
The camera is extremely light, but well made. I found this out when I tried to prise open the battery lid with a Stanley knife to change the mhz setting. It survived my attack long enough for me to find the tiny retaining screw that was holding it in place. Let’s assume it is not too delicate for a classroom environment. The low price of the package is an obvious advantage in opening up a new world of artistic creation to more classrooms.
There are only two downsides. The first is a minor gripe. The camera functions come with different sounds: such as a tick-tocking timer, whooshing waste basket and bleeping video button. Amusing at first, they can become extremely irritating after a while, and they are impossible to switch off.
The other problem is the resolution level of the images produced. This is bound to be low given the price but, after the initial enthusiasm for the Movie Creator package has worn off, it is bound to limit the creativity of the budding Eisensteins and Pasolinis currently mucking about in the back of class. Given this restriction it is strange that the camera has bothered to provide an even lower resolution setting.
But these are only minor complaints compared with the stimulation this package can give to pupils, who won’t all be potential film directors, but will draw much benefit from using the movie resource developing their schoolwork in many different areas such as story-telling, reportage, science projects, design work and field trips, for example.
So there you have it. Film-making is becoming as simple as picking up a pencil.
Intel Play Digital Movie CreatorPrice: pound;84.95Tag Learning Ltd, 25 Pelham Road, Gravesend, Kent DA11 0HUTel: 01474 357350www.taglearning.com
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Suitability for purpose ***** Ease of use ***** Design ***** Quality of output *** Value for money *****