making plays and movies
nellebelle
My 10 yod Jackie wants to produce/direct a play. I'm not really sure how to facilitate this. Just the thought of organizing rehearsals for all the people she wants is overwhelming to me, and I'm not truly sure exactly what she wants from the experience.
I suggested making a video as an possible alternative.
Well, any ideas? Suggestions? Questions to ask her to help figure out what kind of experience she really wants?
Thanks!
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I suggested making a video as an possible alternative.
Well, any ideas? Suggestions? Questions to ask her to help figure out what kind of experience she really wants?
Thanks!
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Princess
Hello Mary Ellen
Why not try Claymation / Clay Animation ?
This is wonderful experience for a ten year old.
Basically get her to make a model out of clay or playdough. Even
plastercine can be used.
Make sure that there is some sort of bendy metal ( a wire coathanger
for example ) inside the model as this makes it easier to position.
Then she will need some sort of background - a shoe box turned
sideways or a felt board to use as the back ground would look nice.
Then it is a series of photographs taken against the background of
the model ( animals work well ) each one in the same pose but
something moved. For example if you have a man and want to see him
waving in the film, take the first picture, then move his arm
slightly upwards, take another picture, move the arm downwards again
or higher, take another picture and so on.
Then when you have lots of pictures, import them into the computer
and run them in sequence as a slide show. You can create transitions
between each picture if desired.
This can be achieved with a video camera in much the same way taking
film for about three to four seconds, pause, move object, then film
again.
Never move anything in the background that is not supposed to move as
this upsets the overall look of the piece.
There are 100's of websites about Claymation and Clay Animation.
What do you think?
A fine example would be Wallace and Gromit.
If your daughter really gets into this, she can narrate a sound track
to play over the finished movie with a story in her own voice. Add
music or sound effects etc.
Also, text files can be created to run along the bottom of the movie.
Just paste some text on top of each photograph during the editing
process and then add the finished photograph with text pasted on to
the slide show.
The creative prospects are endless with this type of thing. We use
playdough which I make up in different colours in our house. Silver
foil looks good on film but not so good in photographs for the back
drop.
Helen J.
Why not try Claymation / Clay Animation ?
This is wonderful experience for a ten year old.
Basically get her to make a model out of clay or playdough. Even
plastercine can be used.
Make sure that there is some sort of bendy metal ( a wire coathanger
for example ) inside the model as this makes it easier to position.
Then she will need some sort of background - a shoe box turned
sideways or a felt board to use as the back ground would look nice.
Then it is a series of photographs taken against the background of
the model ( animals work well ) each one in the same pose but
something moved. For example if you have a man and want to see him
waving in the film, take the first picture, then move his arm
slightly upwards, take another picture, move the arm downwards again
or higher, take another picture and so on.
Then when you have lots of pictures, import them into the computer
and run them in sequence as a slide show. You can create transitions
between each picture if desired.
This can be achieved with a video camera in much the same way taking
film for about three to four seconds, pause, move object, then film
again.
Never move anything in the background that is not supposed to move as
this upsets the overall look of the piece.
There are 100's of websites about Claymation and Clay Animation.
What do you think?
A fine example would be Wallace and Gromit.
If your daughter really gets into this, she can narrate a sound track
to play over the finished movie with a story in her own voice. Add
music or sound effects etc.
Also, text files can be created to run along the bottom of the movie.
Just paste some text on top of each photograph during the editing
process and then add the finished photograph with text pasted on to
the slide show.
The creative prospects are endless with this type of thing. We use
playdough which I make up in different colours in our house. Silver
foil looks good on film but not so good in photographs for the back
drop.
Helen J.
On 24 Oct 2005, at 03:23, nellebelle wrote:
> My 10 yod Jackie wants to produce/direct a play. I'm not really
> sure how to facilitate this. Just the thought of organizing
> rehearsals for all the people she wants is overwhelming to me, and
> I'm not truly sure exactly what she wants from the experience.
>
> I suggested making a video as an possible alternative.
>
> Well, any ideas? Suggestions? Questions to ask her to help figure
> out what kind of experience she really wants?
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Robyn Coburn
<<<<< My 10 yod Jackie wants to produce/direct a play. I'm not really sure
how to facilitate this. Just the thought of organizing rehearsals for all
the people she wants is overwhelming to me, and I'm not truly sure exactly
what she wants from the experience.
I suggested making a video as an possible alternative.
Well, any ideas? Suggestions? Questions to ask her to help figure out what
kind of experience she really wants?>>>>>
As someone who has spent my whole professional life in both theater and
film, there is not necessarily anything "easier" in the different media. To
be honest making a video means fewer performances, but a lot more
work/organization during principal photography - and then you have to edit
it (presumably you are thinking of her using your computer). It may not be
getting everyone together at the same time, but there is still a lot of
planning.
However both share some basic questions that I would suggest asking or
jotting down if you already know:
Who is the intended audience? Family, family and friends, your local group,
the general public?
From this comes the idea of the venue - your living room, your back yard,
someone else's home, church or community hall, outdoors at a park (not the
video showing I guess)....
What kind of project? Already chosen, or self written, group generated,
adapting an existing story of some kind (eg a well known fairy tale), an
existing play (that could also be a film script)? Narrative, cabaret/skits,
performance art?
Who would be the actors? You and her family, her friends, puppets/animation,
has one of her friends devised the proposal and come to her to be involved,
was it something grander in scale with adult participants?
My first suggestion would be to look into your local community/college
theaters. Aside from the possibility that they may have a specific program
aimed at enticing kids into the theater, these little places suffer a
chronic shortage of volunteers to do all kinds of fun work like set painting
or props manufacture; she might be able to participate depending on their
policies and insurance issues :/. It might be a good way for her to get an
idea of the scope of the job.
I have always been really happy to have an enthusiastic youngster come
either to the theater or on certain independent movie sets (not allowed on a
Union set of course) wanting to help and learn. I remember one kid, about
11, who did a faux finish (I showed him how then left him to it like any
other artisan) on one of the floors on a set that I was designing for his
mother's short film project. I was not yet a mother, and it never occurred
to me to speak to him "like a kid"...I heard from his mom later that he was
so thrilled to be treated "just like an adult" by me.
Also small local theaters have facilities and other useful resources like
people, existing costumes and props that they may be able to help her with
in her own project.
Feel free to email me privately.
Robyn L. Coburn
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how to facilitate this. Just the thought of organizing rehearsals for all
the people she wants is overwhelming to me, and I'm not truly sure exactly
what she wants from the experience.
I suggested making a video as an possible alternative.
Well, any ideas? Suggestions? Questions to ask her to help figure out what
kind of experience she really wants?>>>>>
As someone who has spent my whole professional life in both theater and
film, there is not necessarily anything "easier" in the different media. To
be honest making a video means fewer performances, but a lot more
work/organization during principal photography - and then you have to edit
it (presumably you are thinking of her using your computer). It may not be
getting everyone together at the same time, but there is still a lot of
planning.
However both share some basic questions that I would suggest asking or
jotting down if you already know:
Who is the intended audience? Family, family and friends, your local group,
the general public?
From this comes the idea of the venue - your living room, your back yard,
someone else's home, church or community hall, outdoors at a park (not the
video showing I guess)....
What kind of project? Already chosen, or self written, group generated,
adapting an existing story of some kind (eg a well known fairy tale), an
existing play (that could also be a film script)? Narrative, cabaret/skits,
performance art?
Who would be the actors? You and her family, her friends, puppets/animation,
has one of her friends devised the proposal and come to her to be involved,
was it something grander in scale with adult participants?
My first suggestion would be to look into your local community/college
theaters. Aside from the possibility that they may have a specific program
aimed at enticing kids into the theater, these little places suffer a
chronic shortage of volunteers to do all kinds of fun work like set painting
or props manufacture; she might be able to participate depending on their
policies and insurance issues :/. It might be a good way for her to get an
idea of the scope of the job.
I have always been really happy to have an enthusiastic youngster come
either to the theater or on certain independent movie sets (not allowed on a
Union set of course) wanting to help and learn. I remember one kid, about
11, who did a faux finish (I showed him how then left him to it like any
other artisan) on one of the floors on a set that I was designing for his
mother's short film project. I was not yet a mother, and it never occurred
to me to speak to him "like a kid"...I heard from his mom later that he was
so thrilled to be treated "just like an adult" by me.
Also small local theaters have facilities and other useful resources like
people, existing costumes and props that they may be able to help her with
in her own project.
Feel free to email me privately.
Robyn L. Coburn
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.361 / Virus Database: 267.12.4/146 - Release Date: 10/21/2005
aplan4life
Forget the kids, Mary Ellen...LOL That sounds like fun for an
adult!!
I feel so out of place among a wealth of people not only intelligent
and full of wisdom but so creative.
:-)
~Sandy Winn
adult!!
I feel so out of place among a wealth of people not only intelligent
and full of wisdom but so creative.
:-)
~Sandy Winn
Jennifer Blair
Mary Ellen,
My daughter (11) is working on a play as well. It seems overwhelming to me also and I am currently in place where I am trying to not be discouraging and my biggest fear is that I don't want her to come away from the experience feeling unsupported. I'll share what she has done so far, maybe it will give you some ideas...
She has so far developed a story line, written a narrative introduction and character descriptions, designed costumes shared the idea with her friends and has begun auditions and one friend ( who loves to write) is writing the actual script. They have begun asking around for places to perform and are in the beginning stages of working out a budget. I am finding that I haven't had to facilitate anything yet and quite a bit has been done. As it gets down to needing more rehearsal time and getting everyone together it may get harder, but really it can be done in about a weeks time of intensive work, for which we may just create a backyard theater camp to facilitate. She has already realized that it will take a long time to complete and may decide at some point to simplify a bit.
I'm feeling the most support I can give her is helping her problem solve when and if issues come up, help her find solutions without rescuing her, which I have made it clear from the beginning that I would help if asked but it wasn't going to become my play ( like I will teach her to sew but I will not sew the costumes...My only other suggestion is to attend performances and see if she wants to take a theater class.
Break a leg,
Jennifer
My daughter (11) is working on a play as well. It seems overwhelming to me also and I am currently in place where I am trying to not be discouraging and my biggest fear is that I don't want her to come away from the experience feeling unsupported. I'll share what she has done so far, maybe it will give you some ideas...
She has so far developed a story line, written a narrative introduction and character descriptions, designed costumes shared the idea with her friends and has begun auditions and one friend ( who loves to write) is writing the actual script. They have begun asking around for places to perform and are in the beginning stages of working out a budget. I am finding that I haven't had to facilitate anything yet and quite a bit has been done. As it gets down to needing more rehearsal time and getting everyone together it may get harder, but really it can be done in about a weeks time of intensive work, for which we may just create a backyard theater camp to facilitate. She has already realized that it will take a long time to complete and may decide at some point to simplify a bit.
I'm feeling the most support I can give her is helping her problem solve when and if issues come up, help her find solutions without rescuing her, which I have made it clear from the beginning that I would help if asked but it wasn't going to become my play ( like I will teach her to sew but I will not sew the costumes...My only other suggestion is to attend performances and see if she wants to take a theater class.
Break a leg,
Jennifer
----- Original Message -----
From: nellebelle<mailto:nellebelle@...>
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 10:23 PM
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] making plays and movies
My 10 yod Jackie wants to produce/direct a play. I'm not really sure how to facilitate this. Just the thought of organizing rehearsals for all the people she wants is overwhelming to me, and I'm not truly sure exactly what she wants from the experience.
I suggested making a video as an possible alternative.
Well, any ideas? Suggestions? Questions to ask her to help figure out what kind of experience she really wants?
Thanks!
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Pamela Sorooshian
My daughter and a couple of friends put on a play with about 40 kids
in it - she was 11 or 12 at the time. They cast the show, set up a
rehearsal schedule, came up with costumes (did not sew them, modified
thrift store purchases and listed for many of the kids what they
needed to get for themselves), they found props, the got one of the
moms who plays the accordion to play the music and a kid with a
keyboard to do special effects. They called around and searched
until they found a high school that would let them use their theater
for one night, for a fee. They also hired two high school kids to run
some lighting. They got the money to pay for this by having everybody
bring goodies to sell before the show, at intermission, and after the
show.
They needed some adult help when they had too many kids at rehearsal
at the same time - crowd control help. They needed adult help to get
the theater use squared away. And they ended up needing some adults
backstage to help get all the kids off and on stage with all their
props, etc., at the right times (that's because the girls putting ON
the play also had major roles and so couldn't supervise backstage
during the show).
One night - one wonderful performance.
THEN they did it again - this time they wrote it themselves and
handled even more of it themselves, with a number of adults providing
support. For this one. First, they held a 6 week acting workshop -
one hour per week - for younger kids. Then they auditioned and cast
the show. This was somewhat fewer kids - no big ensemble numbers -
and much easier to do. They didn't charge for tickets, but they did
have a big bake sale, again, and they asked for contributions. They
pretty much just covered their expenses.
It is doable. Just help her take one step at a time. Help her keep it
simpler rather than complicated, whenever possible. Remind her that
her FIRST show doesn't need to be the most elaborate - she can build
on her experience and do other shows later.
Also - warn ALL the adults involved that this is going to be
primarily a kid-directed activity. Make it REALLY clear to them
before they get involved - otherwise you can end up with a terrible
situation of adults actually complaining about a child's competence.
Remind them that the mistakes will be charming!
-pam
in it - she was 11 or 12 at the time. They cast the show, set up a
rehearsal schedule, came up with costumes (did not sew them, modified
thrift store purchases and listed for many of the kids what they
needed to get for themselves), they found props, the got one of the
moms who plays the accordion to play the music and a kid with a
keyboard to do special effects. They called around and searched
until they found a high school that would let them use their theater
for one night, for a fee. They also hired two high school kids to run
some lighting. They got the money to pay for this by having everybody
bring goodies to sell before the show, at intermission, and after the
show.
They needed some adult help when they had too many kids at rehearsal
at the same time - crowd control help. They needed adult help to get
the theater use squared away. And they ended up needing some adults
backstage to help get all the kids off and on stage with all their
props, etc., at the right times (that's because the girls putting ON
the play also had major roles and so couldn't supervise backstage
during the show).
One night - one wonderful performance.
THEN they did it again - this time they wrote it themselves and
handled even more of it themselves, with a number of adults providing
support. For this one. First, they held a 6 week acting workshop -
one hour per week - for younger kids. Then they auditioned and cast
the show. This was somewhat fewer kids - no big ensemble numbers -
and much easier to do. They didn't charge for tickets, but they did
have a big bake sale, again, and they asked for contributions. They
pretty much just covered their expenses.
It is doable. Just help her take one step at a time. Help her keep it
simpler rather than complicated, whenever possible. Remind her that
her FIRST show doesn't need to be the most elaborate - she can build
on her experience and do other shows later.
Also - warn ALL the adults involved that this is going to be
primarily a kid-directed activity. Make it REALLY clear to them
before they get involved - otherwise you can end up with a terrible
situation of adults actually complaining about a child's competence.
Remind them that the mistakes will be charming!
-pam
On Oct 24, 2005, at 4:13 AM, Jennifer Blair wrote:
> My 10 yod Jackie wants to produce/direct a play. I'm not really
> sure how to facilitate this. Just the thought of organizing
> rehearsals for all the people she wants is overwhelming to me, and
> I'm not truly sure exactly what she wants from the experience.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]