One Week In!

It was really nice to talk you some of you yesterday and also talk to your parents.  Good to know that your parents (and you) are trying to help you keep focused on school -- many of you are already trying to establish a routine and do some reading.  That will really help you as we struggle along without being able to meet.   If you know someone else in one of my classes, please tell them to check here to see what is going on in Drama.

Question of the Day:  What's your favourite thing about going to school?  (I bet you can guess mine -- it's getting to see all my students!)

Warm-up:  Try this with someone in your house or online with a friend.  Begin a story and when you get to an exciting part, say, "I can't remember what happened next" and let the other person continue the story.  Go back and forth five times or so.  Don't kill the main character off before the end!  This is a good warm-up to enhance creativity.

If you haven't finished watching "The Gold Rush", keep on with that.  I hope you're enjoying it.  When you finish that movie, watch "The General" with Buster Keaton.  (It is also in the "public domain" {which means the copyright has lapsed and it is free to view}.)

Here are some things to think about while you watch "The General".

1.  What do you know about the Civil War in the United States?  Does this movie teach you anything else about it?  Did its portrayal of events in the war surprise you?

2.  Buster Keaton has been called "the great stone face".  Why do you think he got this name?

3.  Compare "Johnnie Gray" (Buster Keaton's character) with Chaplin's "little tramp".  Do the characters change or develop as the story goes on?  How do each character's circumstances change?

4.  How are women portrayed in the two movies?  In what ways are Georgia and Annabelle the same?  How are they different?

5.  Which movie did you like the best?  Why?

Remember!  This is a really stressful time for all of us.  I am finding it very difficult not to be back at school and maybe you are too.  Try to be kind to yourself and your family and take it easy.  Some day, we will look back on this time and tell all sorts of good stories about it.  Difficult situations make great theatre.  

Have a nice weekend, everyone!