Ideas Development
11. Take a Myth/Fairytale and Change the Setting
Since Joyce imposed elements of the Odyssey on a day in contemporary Dublin , myth has been a rich source of ‘starting points’ for dramatic situation. Take a myth and write a one-paragraph synopsis of it. Now, discuss how the setting could be altered and how things could be paraphrased, reversed or played with to create a new idea.
Finally, a note on working with Low ability/disruptive pupils. A reality of our school system is that some teachers will find themselves with students who are genuinely low ability or cannot be trusted to look after expensive equipment.
If you are in this situation, avoid lengthy discussion about the film project; instead, offer the student a ‘choice’ from a smaller group of generic approaches. (eg Experimental montage, Music Video) This will give a manageable framework for the student to work within.
Also avoid complicated narrative. An ambitious drama involving multiple locations and actors will be unlikely to succeed so give the student less things which can go wrong.
Above all, make sure your student watch plenty of short films so they grasp the parameters of the art form. The following films make good exemplar material.
Telling Mark by Guy Ducker ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/A10475462) will allow your students to see how a single location can be enough if the script is strong and as it is ‘twist’ based can also* be used for the ‘what happens next’ exercise.
Double Take by Toa Stappard ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/A6670280
) is distinctive in that it uses no dialogue at all and no noon-diagetic sound or music yet presents a complex story appropriate to its length.
Beautiful by Rajiv Mohite ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/A5925846 )
offers a complete narrative in 15 seconds with a twist.
How to tell when a relationship is over by Tony Roche
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/filmnetwork/A9370028 )
This 2-minute film uses titles and rapid vignettes for comic effect. Be sure your students understand that it is not copying and is a healthy exercise to play with an existing idea.
For example, how to tell when…
You failed your exams
Your parents want you to leave home