Remember, C and B Blocks -- you are Zooming today. You should have received your invitation already. C will meet at 1 and B at 1:30.
Question of the Day: What is your favourite book (it could be a book for little kids, if that's your favourite)? Why do you like it? (My favourite book is The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (she wrote Anne of Green Gables which I also love). I love The Blue Castle because it is funny and suspenseful and romantic and it turns out so well that if I am feeling badly and I read it I feel encouraged!)
Warm-up: Read your book, or a page of your book (or any book) out loud. Use lots of expression in your voice (as if you were reading to someone else)! This is obviously a vocal warm-up.
Lesson: (mandatory) Finish your silent film -- script or storyboard. It is due tomorrow.
Wednesday 29 April 2020
I Wish You All The Joy That You Can Wish ("The Merchant of Venice", Shakespeare)
Questions of the Day (optional, but nice if you answer!) This is World Wish Day. If you had to make one wish for yourself only (so no "world peace" or that "everybody goes back to normal" or that "your little brother can get an A in Reading" -- this is for you), what would you wish for? I would wish for a healthy old age!
Warm-up: (Do it, but you don't need to report on it.) Think of a way to show, not tell, the following emotions:
1. sympathy
2. jealousy
3. boredom
4. enthusiasm
5. attraction
7. gratitude
This is good for social awareness, creativity, empathy and observation.
Lesson: (mandatory) Work on your script or storyboard. You can see my examples in the previous posts. You don't need to do both -- choose which is easier for you. I found the script easier and I could put more things in it. But the storyboard was a fun challenge.
A Block: If you missed the Zoom meeting, you need to email me! The admin is asking us to report to them about kids who aren't communicating with us. You need to attend the meetings, and your participation will be part of your final mark. For A Block, our next meeting will be on Wednesday at 1.
Zoom meetings tomorrow:
C Block at 1 p.m.
B Block at 1:30 p.m.
I will send you an invitation today for the two meetings tomorrow.
Have a nice day! Isn't it green?
There is a red-breasted sapsucker building a nice home for her eggs in the forest behind our house. It is so exciting to watch her work. She worked from early in the morning yesterday until dusk. I have tried to include a picture of a red-breasted sapsucker, but it won't work!
Warm-up: (Do it, but you don't need to report on it.) Think of a way to show, not tell, the following emotions:
1. sympathy
2. jealousy
3. boredom
4. enthusiasm
5. attraction
7. gratitude
This is good for social awareness, creativity, empathy and observation.
Lesson: (mandatory) Work on your script or storyboard. You can see my examples in the previous posts. You don't need to do both -- choose which is easier for you. I found the script easier and I could put more things in it. But the storyboard was a fun challenge.
A Block: If you missed the Zoom meeting, you need to email me! The admin is asking us to report to them about kids who aren't communicating with us. You need to attend the meetings, and your participation will be part of your final mark. For A Block, our next meeting will be on Wednesday at 1.
Zoom meetings tomorrow:
C Block at 1 p.m.
B Block at 1:30 p.m.
I will send you an invitation today for the two meetings tomorrow.
Have a nice day! Isn't it green?
There is a red-breasted sapsucker building a nice home for her eggs in the forest behind our house. It is so exciting to watch her work. She worked from early in the morning yesterday until dusk. I have tried to include a picture of a red-breasted sapsucker, but it won't work!
Tuesday 28 April 2020
"adjusting to retirement"
A retired friend sent me this cartoon and I had to pass it on to you guys.
Monday 27 April 2020
Day of Mourning
Today is the Day of Mourning for Workers killed or injured on the job. It is especially important to observe this day this year as many people are working every day in jobs that are much riskier than normal. Question of the Day: How can you thank someone like that? Who are doing jobs right now that are facing increased risks? If you thought you would get sick by going to work, would you go?
Warm-up: At 10:30 this morning, please observe a moment of silence for the 140 BC workers who lost their lives on the job last year and say "thank you" to those who continue to work in our communities to keep us safe and well.
You should be working on your storyboard or your script for your silent film. If you are working with someone else, please put both your names on the work you hand in.
Here is my storyboard. (Earlier, I posted my script.) You don't have to do both. Do one or the other.
Warm-up: At 10:30 this morning, please observe a moment of silence for the 140 BC workers who lost their lives on the job last year and say "thank you" to those who continue to work in our communities to keep us safe and well.
You should be working on your storyboard or your script for your silent film. If you are working with someone else, please put both your names on the work you hand in.
Here is my storyboard. (Earlier, I posted my script.) You don't have to do both. Do one or the other.
"It's Everywhere"
Here is my script for the short film, as an example:
It’s Everywhere
Music: “The Wife” (Jocelyn Pook)
Shot of the Arrivals board at YVR – AC990-From Milan-0730 ON
TIME
Shot of Cassie
picking up her suitcase from the carousel.
She yawns, goes to a kiosk, looks at the chocolate bars, chooses an Oh
Henry, pays for it, opens it, takes a bite, licks her fingers and then rolls
her suitcase outside. (Tracking
shot). She exits through the automatic
door into bright sunshine. Close-up on
her shading her eyes and squinting. She
yawns covering her mouth with her hand.
Carl’s Yellow Taxi is waiting outside the door. He comes up, she nods and he puts her bag in
the trunk as she gets in the back seat.
She leans forward as Carl gets in the cab and a card says her
dialogue: “Beautiful Vista Care
Home”. Carl nods and starts the
meter. Camera shows the cab driving away
from the airport.
Cut to: cab pulling
up in front of Beautiful Vista. It is a
pleasant medical building surrounded by trees.
Cassie gives Carl cash and he starts to make change. She pats him on the shoulder and indicates he
should keep the change. He gets out and
puts her suitcase on the curb. He drives
away. Camera on the cab as it exits.
Cut to: Cassie,
pulling her suitcase through automatic doors to the Care Home. At the front desk, there are yellow flowers
in a clear vase and a sign “if you feel sick, please do not visit today”. Tracking shot: Cassie walking confidently down the hallway
to the bright sunny day room where a number of elderly people are sitting. One lady is doing handiwork, a man is
watching television (the news is on with pictures of Wuhan in the background),
two people are playing checkers. Emily
Revera is reading Katherine Anne Porter’s Pale
Horse, Pale Rider to Cassie’s mother.
Emily stands when she sees Cassie and they hug and Cassie kisses her
mother on the cheek. Cassie takes out a
scarf from her purse and gives it to Emily who puts it on. Cassie adjusts the scarf so it looks good and
then sits down and offers her mother some cookies from a plate on the
table. Emily takes a cookie and goes to
the lady doing the handiwork, as Cassie takes her mother’s hand in hers.
Cut to: Emily leaving
the care home, with the scarf around her neck.
It is warm and she takes the scarf off and puts it in her handbag. Tracking shot as Emily walks to the bus stop,
waits for a moment for the bus, looks to see if it’s coming, gets her fare out
and then boards the bus.
Cut to: Emily on the
bus. She sees Alice Chow, who beckons
Emily to the empty seat next to her.
Emily sits down, very tired, and pulls the scarf out of her bag to show
Alice. In so doing, the contents of
Emily’s bag fall onto the floor of the bus.
Camera gives us a shot of lipstick, tissues, cough drops, pen. Felix, sitting across from Emily, helps pick
up the lipstick and gives it to Emily.
Emily laughs at her clumsiness and thanks Felix. He nods and goes back to listening to music on
his headphones.
Cut to: Alice
disembarking from the bus. She waves at
Emily as the bus drives away. Cut
to: Happenstance Hair Salon. Alice pushes open the door and walks in.
Cut to Janice Arkos, sitting and reading The Plague. Alice greets her and asks if she wants
coffee. Janice nods and indicates that
the coffee will be ready in 1 minute.
Cut to: Alice giving
Janice a cup of coffee and seating her in the salon chair. She stands behind Janice, spraying her hair
with water and pushing the water through Janice’s hair as Janice describes the
cut she wants.
Cut to: Alice taking
the cape off Janice’s shoulders.
Janice’s hair is shorter and looks good.
Janice looks happily into the mirror.
“Oh” she remembers something and digs in her purse. She pulls a flyer out of her purse showing her
school play – “The Masque of the Red Death”.
(Music: “The Staircase” Jocelyn Pook) Alice takes it and sticks it in the window. Tracking shot as Janice leaves the shop. She walks past the window of the shop. She leaves the screen and the camera remains
on the poster, which shows Death at Prince Prospero’s party.
Sunday 26 April 2020
Pro-D Day? What's that?
Apparently, it is a pro-d day tomorrow, so there would be no school, if we were at school, which we aren't. So I won't post an actual lesson because, if it was a pro-d day, you wouldn't have a lesson!
So, I am asking myself this question these days. What is the difference between the weekend and the weekdays? Everything is a blur for me, except I really miss school. Do you? I don't miss my long bus/train/skytrain trip back and forth, but I miss having our classes and seeing your plays and doing your warmups and watching your rehearsals. What's one thing you miss about school? What's one thing you like about being locked down? (We've been doing this for six weeks!)
Tomorrow is my last chance to change report cards before they are published on Thursday, so if you see a problem (check the portal), let me know! I have found a few changes that I need to make so nothing is carved in stone yet.
Perhaps you are going to work on your final storyboard or script for your 2 minute silent film. I will publish my script tomorrow to give you an idea what that might look like. (I am working on my storyboard and hope to have it ready to show on Tuesday.) I have read your outlines and am really excited to see your final version. Lots of you have said you might have something different in the end. That's part of the process. Everytime you work on it, it will change (hopefully, for the better.)
Remember, if you feel overwhelmed by work (not just work assigned by me, but by all your teachers), you must let us know. We have been told you should have about 3 hours of work a day total for ALL YOUR SUBJECTS, so if you are doing more than 3 hours, you might find that difficult and stressful. This is new to teachers, too, and we aren't sure how long some of these lessons might take. I am very flexible about you handing things in when you can, with the caveat that you don't want to just say, "oh, well, she doesn't care when I get this done" and then leaving it until June 20 or something and then it will be VERY stressful.
Remember, we will have a Zoom meeting once a week. I do expect you to attend the meeting (that means it's mandatory)! We have been told to have it during the school day because then you should be free to attend class. My son's biology class has to meet at 9 a.m., so just thank your lucky stars that these meetings are in the afternoon.
A Block will meet at 2:30 on Tuesday.
B Block will meet at 1:30 on Thursday.
C Block will meet at 1:00 on Thursday.
I will set the meetings up and send you an invitation on Monday.
Grade 8's! We finally had our meeting about the switch to Art. We will be switching over to Art on Monday, May 4, but I will still be your teacher. I'm excited about the chance for all of us to explore Visual Art together!
So, I am asking myself this question these days. What is the difference between the weekend and the weekdays? Everything is a blur for me, except I really miss school. Do you? I don't miss my long bus/train/skytrain trip back and forth, but I miss having our classes and seeing your plays and doing your warmups and watching your rehearsals. What's one thing you miss about school? What's one thing you like about being locked down? (We've been doing this for six weeks!)
Tomorrow is my last chance to change report cards before they are published on Thursday, so if you see a problem (check the portal), let me know! I have found a few changes that I need to make so nothing is carved in stone yet.
Perhaps you are going to work on your final storyboard or script for your 2 minute silent film. I will publish my script tomorrow to give you an idea what that might look like. (I am working on my storyboard and hope to have it ready to show on Tuesday.) I have read your outlines and am really excited to see your final version. Lots of you have said you might have something different in the end. That's part of the process. Everytime you work on it, it will change (hopefully, for the better.)
Remember, if you feel overwhelmed by work (not just work assigned by me, but by all your teachers), you must let us know. We have been told you should have about 3 hours of work a day total for ALL YOUR SUBJECTS, so if you are doing more than 3 hours, you might find that difficult and stressful. This is new to teachers, too, and we aren't sure how long some of these lessons might take. I am very flexible about you handing things in when you can, with the caveat that you don't want to just say, "oh, well, she doesn't care when I get this done" and then leaving it until June 20 or something and then it will be VERY stressful.
Remember, we will have a Zoom meeting once a week. I do expect you to attend the meeting (that means it's mandatory)! We have been told to have it during the school day because then you should be free to attend class. My son's biology class has to meet at 9 a.m., so just thank your lucky stars that these meetings are in the afternoon.
A Block will meet at 2:30 on Tuesday.
B Block will meet at 1:30 on Thursday.
C Block will meet at 1:00 on Thursday.
I will set the meetings up and send you an invitation on Monday.
Grade 8's! We finally had our meeting about the switch to Art. We will be switching over to Art on Monday, May 4, but I will still be your teacher. I'm excited about the chance for all of us to explore Visual Art together!
Thursday 23 April 2020
Zzzzzoooom!
Hi everyone,
It was so great to touch base with so many of you today. I just wanted to post the information for you and also tell everyone that we will meet through Zoom weekly. C Block -- every Thursday at 1; B Block -- every Thursday at 1:30 and A Block -- every Tuesday at 2:30. Make sure you attend the meetings. They are held during school times because you would normally be at school and should be free. I will send you a new invitation each week with a new password and meeting id number.
Info on report cards: Marks for lst term of second semester are posted on the portal. They will be officially published on Thursday, April 30. Let me know if you think I've made an error. This mark is for what you did before spring break.
We are expected to produce a report card in June as well. This will reflect your achievement since spring break. Do all the mandatory work and you will be in great shape.
If you are finding the work difficult or overwhelming, let me know. We will figure out what will make it manageable for you.
What is optional and what is mandatory?
Question of the day: optional (send Ms. Kosar your answer if you like)
Warm-up: Do it, but you don't need to report on it to Ms. Kosar. This is to keep you working with drama ideas and working with the important aspects of drama -- imagination, teamwork, sense awareness and observation, trust, concentration, vocal and physical dexterity, critical thinking, etc.
Lesson: Mandatory.
Study Hall for Students: If you are struggling with your work or don't communicate with your teachers or answer emails, you could be referred to the study hall. This is an idea the school has come up with to help you with your work. If you don't understand a lesson or can't figure out what is going on, you could be invited to a study hall which we hope to set up in the Shark Tank. Social distancing rules will be observed, but you could attend the study hall and ask questions, seek help with organizing yourself, or get help for certain subject areas or certain projects. You can let your counsellor know if you think this could help you. Your teachers might also refer you to the program if you don't respond to their lessons or emails.
Thanks heaps to Viaan and Claire for helping with this. Please, everyone, reach out to your friends or students who were absent and let them know that I expect them to attend the Zoom meetings. They won't be long. Today, each meeting only took about 20 - 30 minutes.
LESSON FOR APRIL 24
Question of the Day: Do you like to dance? Are you a good dancer? Is dance a sport or an art form? (I do like to dance, and I used to be a good dancer, but now I am much less flexible and so it is harder for me. I think dance is an art. Obviously, it is very physical and requires the dancer to be strong and agile and very fit, but I think it transcends sport because it is expressive and tries to communicate metaphorically.)
Warm-up: Watch Alvin Ailey's dancers performing an excerpt from "Revelations" (I Been Buked) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEFW5JznwOY There's the link. Follow along. This is creative, communicative, physical and uses teamwork and observation.
Lesson: You should hand in your detailed plot outline of your film and start thinking about the script or storyboard due next week.
Grade 8's: As I told you, we will discuss the course change to Art tomorrow at our meeting (which was postponed from today). I will let you know what is decided.
Have a terrific weekend.
It was so great to touch base with so many of you today. I just wanted to post the information for you and also tell everyone that we will meet through Zoom weekly. C Block -- every Thursday at 1; B Block -- every Thursday at 1:30 and A Block -- every Tuesday at 2:30. Make sure you attend the meetings. They are held during school times because you would normally be at school and should be free. I will send you a new invitation each week with a new password and meeting id number.
Info on report cards: Marks for lst term of second semester are posted on the portal. They will be officially published on Thursday, April 30. Let me know if you think I've made an error. This mark is for what you did before spring break.
We are expected to produce a report card in June as well. This will reflect your achievement since spring break. Do all the mandatory work and you will be in great shape.
If you are finding the work difficult or overwhelming, let me know. We will figure out what will make it manageable for you.
What is optional and what is mandatory?
Question of the day: optional (send Ms. Kosar your answer if you like)
Warm-up: Do it, but you don't need to report on it to Ms. Kosar. This is to keep you working with drama ideas and working with the important aspects of drama -- imagination, teamwork, sense awareness and observation, trust, concentration, vocal and physical dexterity, critical thinking, etc.
Lesson: Mandatory.
Study Hall for Students: If you are struggling with your work or don't communicate with your teachers or answer emails, you could be referred to the study hall. This is an idea the school has come up with to help you with your work. If you don't understand a lesson or can't figure out what is going on, you could be invited to a study hall which we hope to set up in the Shark Tank. Social distancing rules will be observed, but you could attend the study hall and ask questions, seek help with organizing yourself, or get help for certain subject areas or certain projects. You can let your counsellor know if you think this could help you. Your teachers might also refer you to the program if you don't respond to their lessons or emails.
Thanks heaps to Viaan and Claire for helping with this. Please, everyone, reach out to your friends or students who were absent and let them know that I expect them to attend the Zoom meetings. They won't be long. Today, each meeting only took about 20 - 30 minutes.
LESSON FOR APRIL 24
Question of the Day: Do you like to dance? Are you a good dancer? Is dance a sport or an art form? (I do like to dance, and I used to be a good dancer, but now I am much less flexible and so it is harder for me. I think dance is an art. Obviously, it is very physical and requires the dancer to be strong and agile and very fit, but I think it transcends sport because it is expressive and tries to communicate metaphorically.)
Warm-up: Watch Alvin Ailey's dancers performing an excerpt from "Revelations" (I Been Buked) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEFW5JznwOY There's the link. Follow along. This is creative, communicative, physical and uses teamwork and observation.
Lesson: You should hand in your detailed plot outline of your film and start thinking about the script or storyboard due next week.
Grade 8's: As I told you, we will discuss the course change to Art tomorrow at our meeting (which was postponed from today). I will let you know what is decided.
Have a terrific weekend.
Wednesday 22 April 2020
Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!
Question of the Day: Shakespeare wrote "King Lear" while London was shut down because of the plague. Have you done anything productive since we've been locked down? I've been working on my play -- "The Coronamon" (based on Boccaccio's Decammeron) but it is heavy slogging these days.
Warm-up: Blindness, both literal and figuratively, is a theme in "King Lear". Imagine you are blind. Walk around your house as if you can't see. What other sense helps you the most? If you want to push it further, go outside! This is good for imagination and trust.
If you can, watch the Stratford Festival's production of "King Lear" this evening. (It's free through Gem this month. Go to the Stratford Festival's website and choose "Watch".)
I hope you all got the invitation to the Zoom meeting tomorrow (if you didn't, email me!). The intention of the meeting is to bring you up to date as far as term 3 (the first term of second semester) report cards go, to talk a bit about the assignments on the blog and my expectations of your online work and how I will figure out your final mark. Grade 8's, tomorrow morning we are having a meeting about what will happen as far as the new term goes, so I will pass that info on to you. It is also a good way for us to try out the technology and see how it will work with our class. I am looking forward to seeing you. Make sure you read the letter Ms. Sakata sent home -- it gives you clear instructions for how to use Zoom.
Zoom Meeting Times
C Block 1 p.m.
B Block 1:30 p.m. (I wanted it to be 1:45 but it doesn't seem to do 15 minutes intervals)
A Block 2:30 p.m.
Warm-up: Blindness, both literal and figuratively, is a theme in "King Lear". Imagine you are blind. Walk around your house as if you can't see. What other sense helps you the most? If you want to push it further, go outside! This is good for imagination and trust.
If you can, watch the Stratford Festival's production of "King Lear" this evening. (It's free through Gem this month. Go to the Stratford Festival's website and choose "Watch".)
I hope you all got the invitation to the Zoom meeting tomorrow (if you didn't, email me!). The intention of the meeting is to bring you up to date as far as term 3 (the first term of second semester) report cards go, to talk a bit about the assignments on the blog and my expectations of your online work and how I will figure out your final mark. Grade 8's, tomorrow morning we are having a meeting about what will happen as far as the new term goes, so I will pass that info on to you. It is also a good way for us to try out the technology and see how it will work with our class. I am looking forward to seeing you. Make sure you read the letter Ms. Sakata sent home -- it gives you clear instructions for how to use Zoom.
Zoom Meeting Times
C Block 1 p.m.
B Block 1:30 p.m. (I wanted it to be 1:45 but it doesn't seem to do 15 minutes intervals)
A Block 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday 21 April 2020
Here is your lesson for April 22!
Question of the day: (optional, remember, but interesting!) What is your favourite photograph? (I have lots I love. One is of my son and my husband in Saskatchewan. We went home for a family reunion and the photo shows them looking out over the prairie. My husband was a very big guy (we lost him to cancer in 2015) and my son was very small at that time. My husband's hand is resting on my son's head. I love the prairie and them and that photo is really important to me.)
Warm-up: Remember the mime exercise you did yesterday about packing your backpack? Choose a new circumstance, like you're going to a sleepover at your cousin's house, or you're going to the beach or going camping for the weekend. Do a mime about packing under these circumstances.
Lesson: Keep working on your detailed plot outline. I included an example to give you an idea what I'm looking for.
On Thursday, we are going to try a Zoom conference and you should receive an invitation to your block's conference tomorrow afternoon. If you don't receive an invitation, please email me to let me know (I might not have your correct email address. I haven't hosted a lot of these meetings and so I could easily make a mistake.) If you can't make the meeting, email me before to let me know not to expect you.
Here are the Zoom rules! (Make sure you tell your parents to read Ms. Sakata's email about Zoom.)
1. Do not take screen shots or video of the meeting.
2. Behave like you would in the classroom.
3. Think about what is in the background -- you should avoid showing anything you'd rather us not see. You should try to light yourself from the front and not from the back.
4. Be patient.
See you on Thursday!
Warm-up: Remember the mime exercise you did yesterday about packing your backpack? Choose a new circumstance, like you're going to a sleepover at your cousin's house, or you're going to the beach or going camping for the weekend. Do a mime about packing under these circumstances.
Lesson: Keep working on your detailed plot outline. I included an example to give you an idea what I'm looking for.
On Thursday, we are going to try a Zoom conference and you should receive an invitation to your block's conference tomorrow afternoon. If you don't receive an invitation, please email me to let me know (I might not have your correct email address. I haven't hosted a lot of these meetings and so I could easily make a mistake.) If you can't make the meeting, email me before to let me know not to expect you.
Here are the Zoom rules! (Make sure you tell your parents to read Ms. Sakata's email about Zoom.)
1. Do not take screen shots or video of the meeting.
2. Behave like you would in the classroom.
3. Think about what is in the background -- you should avoid showing anything you'd rather us not see. You should try to light yourself from the front and not from the back.
4. Be patient.
See you on Thursday!
Sample of a detailed plot outline for my film, "It's Everywhere"
Tentative title: "It's Everywhere"
Music: Titan symphony by Gustave Mahler, 1st and 4th movements
Characters in bold.
Cassie Bellini comes home from Milan. She arrives in Vancouver on a sunny spring morning. She buys a chocolate bar from a kiosk and eats it while she drags her suitcase through the airport. She licks her fingers. Carl Trown, the cab driver, picks up her bag and puts it in the trunk of the taxi. She arrives at Beautiful Vista Care home, pays Carl and tips him, with cash. Beautiful Vista is a pleasant looking building surrounded by trees. Cassie is greeted by Emily Revere, her mother's nurse. Cassie gives Emily a scarf, a souvenir from Milan and shows her how to wear it. Cassie kisses her mom and sits down to help with her breakfast. Emily says goodbye and gets on the bus to go home at the end of her shift. She sees her friend, Alice Chow, on the bus. Alice is a hairdresser. Emily drops her purse and everything falls out on the floor of the bus. Alice and another passenger, Felix Demera, help her put things back into her purse -- her lipstick, tissues, the scarf from Milan, cough drops. Alice arrives at work at the salon. The first thing she does is make coffee. Janice Arkos is waiting for her, reading the Camus novel, The Plague. Alice offers her a cup of coffee which she accepts. Janice gives Alice a flyer for the school play ("The Masque of the Red Death") and Alice puts the flyer in the window of the shop. Alice leads Janice to the chair and they discuss the haircut Janice wants. Alice puts a cloak over Janice and runs her fingers through Janice's hair, wetting it. Then I want the camera to zoom out (and the music will change to the 4th movement of the symphony) and show the town and all the characters like tiny ants moving around, coughing, touching things and then maybe a picture of the virus itself, multiplying exponentially, as if it is in space.
At each encounter, I want a close-up of how the virus might move from person to person -- like when Cassie licks her fingers, a close-up of her fingers and then a close-up of Carl's hand picking up Cassie's suitcase.
That's a sample -- obviously, as I work through it, everything is subject to change!
Music: Titan symphony by Gustave Mahler, 1st and 4th movements
Characters in bold.
Cassie Bellini comes home from Milan. She arrives in Vancouver on a sunny spring morning. She buys a chocolate bar from a kiosk and eats it while she drags her suitcase through the airport. She licks her fingers. Carl Trown, the cab driver, picks up her bag and puts it in the trunk of the taxi. She arrives at Beautiful Vista Care home, pays Carl and tips him, with cash. Beautiful Vista is a pleasant looking building surrounded by trees. Cassie is greeted by Emily Revere, her mother's nurse. Cassie gives Emily a scarf, a souvenir from Milan and shows her how to wear it. Cassie kisses her mom and sits down to help with her breakfast. Emily says goodbye and gets on the bus to go home at the end of her shift. She sees her friend, Alice Chow, on the bus. Alice is a hairdresser. Emily drops her purse and everything falls out on the floor of the bus. Alice and another passenger, Felix Demera, help her put things back into her purse -- her lipstick, tissues, the scarf from Milan, cough drops. Alice arrives at work at the salon. The first thing she does is make coffee. Janice Arkos is waiting for her, reading the Camus novel, The Plague. Alice offers her a cup of coffee which she accepts. Janice gives Alice a flyer for the school play ("The Masque of the Red Death") and Alice puts the flyer in the window of the shop. Alice leads Janice to the chair and they discuss the haircut Janice wants. Alice puts a cloak over Janice and runs her fingers through Janice's hair, wetting it. Then I want the camera to zoom out (and the music will change to the 4th movement of the symphony) and show the town and all the characters like tiny ants moving around, coughing, touching things and then maybe a picture of the virus itself, multiplying exponentially, as if it is in space.
At each encounter, I want a close-up of how the virus might move from person to person -- like when Cassie licks her fingers, a close-up of her fingers and then a close-up of Carl's hand picking up Cassie's suitcase.
That's a sample -- obviously, as I work through it, everything is subject to change!
Tuesday's child is full of grace!
Welcome to Tuesday! It appears we are in for a change in the weather -- it is supposed to rain tonight. So get outside today so you can breathe the fresh air (unless you like the fresh air in the rain, which is nice, too.)
Here is your lesson for Tuesday:
Question of the day: When did you learn to ride a bike? (If you haven't, would you like to? Now is a great time to try it out, because there are fewer cars on the road!) Do you remember anything about what it was like to learn? (I was seven and I felt like I was "too old" to learn, but I don't recall it being too difficult once I decided I was going to do it. Once I did learn, I would go on long bike rides in my little Saskatchewan town, which is very flat, and I felt so free! I loved it.)
Warm-up: This relates to yesterday's question of the day. A government official has come to your door and told you that you have ten minutes to pack and you must go. When you say why, the person has already moved on to your neighbour's door. Mime packing your bag. Think of how you would pack each item. This is good for empathy, imagination and miming, of course.
One of you asked how long your detailed plot outline should be. Here is my answer to him:
I think at least a page and no longer than two pages. (I don't care about double spacing or whatever.) You should start by describing what we would see in the first shot and then tell everything that would happen (and the music we would hear) as the plot unfolds. If the location changes, that would be important to point out. If you use a card for dialogue, like they did in the movies we watched, that should appear. If the character is wearing particular clothes (like the way Buster Keaton wore the uniform at certain points) that should be pointed out. It is important to include anything that tells me what is happening.
I hope that's clear.
ABOUT ZOOM: Please read the letter from Ms. Sakata about Zoom before we try it on Thursday. It is important that your parents are aware that we are going to give it a try.
Mostly importantly, you DO NOT NEED A ZOOM ACCOUNT and the district recommends that you do not sign up for an account for the purposes of our class.
I'm excited about it -- it will be great to be able to touch base and discuss any outstanding issues. See you on Thursday!
Here is your lesson for Tuesday:
Question of the day: When did you learn to ride a bike? (If you haven't, would you like to? Now is a great time to try it out, because there are fewer cars on the road!) Do you remember anything about what it was like to learn? (I was seven and I felt like I was "too old" to learn, but I don't recall it being too difficult once I decided I was going to do it. Once I did learn, I would go on long bike rides in my little Saskatchewan town, which is very flat, and I felt so free! I loved it.)
Warm-up: This relates to yesterday's question of the day. A government official has come to your door and told you that you have ten minutes to pack and you must go. When you say why, the person has already moved on to your neighbour's door. Mime packing your bag. Think of how you would pack each item. This is good for empathy, imagination and miming, of course.
One of you asked how long your detailed plot outline should be. Here is my answer to him:
I think at least a page and no longer than two pages. (I don't care about double spacing or whatever.) You should start by describing what we would see in the first shot and then tell everything that would happen (and the music we would hear) as the plot unfolds. If the location changes, that would be important to point out. If you use a card for dialogue, like they did in the movies we watched, that should appear. If the character is wearing particular clothes (like the way Buster Keaton wore the uniform at certain points) that should be pointed out. It is important to include anything that tells me what is happening.
I hope that's clear.
ABOUT ZOOM: Please read the letter from Ms. Sakata about Zoom before we try it on Thursday. It is important that your parents are aware that we are going to give it a try.
Mostly importantly, you DO NOT NEED A ZOOM ACCOUNT and the district recommends that you do not sign up for an account for the purposes of our class.
I'm excited about it -- it will be great to be able to touch base and discuss any outstanding issues. See you on Thursday!
Sunday 19 April 2020
a day of reckoning is at hand . . .
Here is your lesson for April 20, 2020:
important note: Have you done all your journals? Did you recite your Shakespeare passage?
Catch up by Wednesday! Report cards are due and usually I nag you in person about getting things done, but this time, I can't! You need to look back at the blogs and do any journals you've missed. A couple of you did not recite "Speak the speech". You can recite it for me on Zoom (I can arrange it since we are now allowed to use it) or you can record yourself saying it and send it to me by email.
Question of the day (optional, but I'm really enjoying those of you who answer!): Imagine you have to evacuate your home. You can bring your backpack only. What would you bring in the backpack? (You have to walk, so it shouldn't be too heavy.) I would bring a change of clothing, a bottle of water, the book I'm reading and a backup (so Jane Eyre and then The Blue Castle), my phone, some fruit, a notebook and pen, soap, my toothbrush, a photo of my sons and my husband and a sleeping bag. And of course, I would have to hope that Daisy could walk with us (she wouldn't fit in the backpack.)
Warm-up: Do it, but you don't need to report on it to me, unless you want to. Find this clip on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbxDwaGwi2Q . It is a little dance routine to the song "Jailhouse Rock". Follow the guy's instructions and have fun with it! It is a physical warmup and dancing is energizing!
Lesson: You should have sent me your pitch for your 2 minute film set in the present day times of the coronavirus. Now you need to work out the details of the plot. Where does it take place? Who are the characters? (Make sure they have names.) What happens in the movie? (Try to plot this step by step.) What music will you use?
Remember we will try to meet on Zoom on Thursday. Look at the previous blog post to see when your class will meet. Make sure I have your email address so I can invite you. We will check in, take attendance, talk about report cards and your films and I will answer any questions you might have. I'm looking forward to seeing your shining faces.
important note: Have you done all your journals? Did you recite your Shakespeare passage?
Catch up by Wednesday! Report cards are due and usually I nag you in person about getting things done, but this time, I can't! You need to look back at the blogs and do any journals you've missed. A couple of you did not recite "Speak the speech". You can recite it for me on Zoom (I can arrange it since we are now allowed to use it) or you can record yourself saying it and send it to me by email.
Question of the day (optional, but I'm really enjoying those of you who answer!): Imagine you have to evacuate your home. You can bring your backpack only. What would you bring in the backpack? (You have to walk, so it shouldn't be too heavy.) I would bring a change of clothing, a bottle of water, the book I'm reading and a backup (so Jane Eyre and then The Blue Castle), my phone, some fruit, a notebook and pen, soap, my toothbrush, a photo of my sons and my husband and a sleeping bag. And of course, I would have to hope that Daisy could walk with us (she wouldn't fit in the backpack.)
Warm-up: Do it, but you don't need to report on it to me, unless you want to. Find this clip on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbxDwaGwi2Q . It is a little dance routine to the song "Jailhouse Rock". Follow the guy's instructions and have fun with it! It is a physical warmup and dancing is energizing!
Lesson: You should have sent me your pitch for your 2 minute film set in the present day times of the coronavirus. Now you need to work out the details of the plot. Where does it take place? Who are the characters? (Make sure they have names.) What happens in the movie? (Try to plot this step by step.) What music will you use?
Remember we will try to meet on Zoom on Thursday. Look at the previous blog post to see when your class will meet. Make sure I have your email address so I can invite you. We will check in, take attendance, talk about report cards and your films and I will answer any questions you might have. I'm looking forward to seeing your shining faces.
Saturday 18 April 2020
Zoom on Thursday, April 23
Hi everybody,
I am trying not to post on weekends, but we just received authorization to use Zoom with classes, so I wanted us to give it a try. As you know (if you've read my blog), Thursday, April 23 is Shakespeare's birthday so we will celebrate by getting together. We will discuss your films and also upcoming report cards! If you think you missed any journals, please try to get them to me (you can email or take a picture of it and send it) before Wednesday of next week (that is when your report cards are due). Make sure I have your correct email by Wednesday so I can invite you to the Zoom meeting.
This is the schedule for the Zoom. I think I will spend 30 - 40 minutes with each class.
C Block/Grade 8 - 1:00 p.m.
B Block/Grade 9/10/Theatre Production 11 - 1:45 p.m.
A Block - 2:30 p.m.
It will be great to see you all and touch base. If you haven't zoomed yet, you're in for a treat!
I am trying not to post on weekends, but we just received authorization to use Zoom with classes, so I wanted us to give it a try. As you know (if you've read my blog), Thursday, April 23 is Shakespeare's birthday so we will celebrate by getting together. We will discuss your films and also upcoming report cards! If you think you missed any journals, please try to get them to me (you can email or take a picture of it and send it) before Wednesday of next week (that is when your report cards are due). Make sure I have your correct email by Wednesday so I can invite you to the Zoom meeting.
This is the schedule for the Zoom. I think I will spend 30 - 40 minutes with each class.
C Block/Grade 8 - 1:00 p.m.
B Block/Grade 9/10/Theatre Production 11 - 1:45 p.m.
A Block - 2:30 p.m.
It will be great to see you all and touch base. If you haven't zoomed yet, you're in for a treat!
Friday 17 April 2020
Are we happy it's Friday?
Just a couple of notes:
Some of you have sent me very long pitches. The idea of a pitch is that it is VERY brief, like 3 sentences or even less. It is a skill to say what you want succinctly. If you have given me a long and detailed description of your film, perhaps you can work with that to produce the end result, but you might want to think about how you can give the main idea in only THREE sentences. It's harder than you think.
Here is my pitch (for the two minute film I would like to make myself):
Each person infected with the coronavirus spreads the disease to about 2.2 people. Cassie arrives home from a holiday in Italy and takes a taxi to visit her grandmother at Beautiful Vista Care Home. Nurse Emily rides home on the bus and sits next to her neighbour, Alice, who cuts the hair of Janice Arkos (a high school drama teacher) who is directing her students in their spring production.
I tried to set up my classes in Scholantis -- some of you are probably using it already with other teachers. I am experimenting with it, but I don't want to shift away from the blog until I feel more sure about what I'm doing with Scholantis. And some teachers have really been struggling with it. Stay tuned.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Some of you have sent me very long pitches. The idea of a pitch is that it is VERY brief, like 3 sentences or even less. It is a skill to say what you want succinctly. If you have given me a long and detailed description of your film, perhaps you can work with that to produce the end result, but you might want to think about how you can give the main idea in only THREE sentences. It's harder than you think.
Here is my pitch (for the two minute film I would like to make myself):
Each person infected with the coronavirus spreads the disease to about 2.2 people. Cassie arrives home from a holiday in Italy and takes a taxi to visit her grandmother at Beautiful Vista Care Home. Nurse Emily rides home on the bus and sits next to her neighbour, Alice, who cuts the hair of Janice Arkos (a high school drama teacher) who is directing her students in their spring production.
I tried to set up my classes in Scholantis -- some of you are probably using it already with other teachers. I am experimenting with it, but I don't want to shift away from the blog until I feel more sure about what I'm doing with Scholantis. And some teachers have really been struggling with it. Stay tuned.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Thursday 16 April 2020
Whether we're giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. - Mr. Rogers
I feel good because I managed to reach a number of you and if you are chatting (virtually, of course) to anyone in your classes, please tell them to EMAIL ME AND LOOK AT THE BLOG! We can only manage this if we all do our part.
Question of the day: (I have a few, but they're easy!) What time are you getting up these days? When do you start "school"? How long do you spend "at school"? Do you get outside every day? What is your favourite time of day now? I get up between five a.m. and six a.m. because Daisy wants to go for a walk. I start school at about 7 (I like to get going quickly.) I feel like I spend more time at virtual school than I do at real school -- we have meetings with different groups on staff and then I watch plays and read plays and try to come up with lesson ideas and spend time trying to contact you guys and emailing. Here I am at 7:25 p.m. still working! I do get outside every day. I walk Daisy and then I usually have my own walk (Daisy is slow and I like to walk quickly so I go on my own once.) My favourite time of day is 2 times! I like when Daisy and I get home from our early walk and I have my coffee and I like dinnertime when my sons and I sit down together and talk about the day.
Warm-up: Find one of the many tutorials on You-tube that teach you to do an accent. Spend ten minutes trying to acquire the accent. Then try to use the accent throughout the day. I tried Russian today.
Send me your pitch if you haven't already. I hope some day we'll be able to make these films -- I'm quite excited about the pitches I've read so far!
Question of the day: (I have a few, but they're easy!) What time are you getting up these days? When do you start "school"? How long do you spend "at school"? Do you get outside every day? What is your favourite time of day now? I get up between five a.m. and six a.m. because Daisy wants to go for a walk. I start school at about 7 (I like to get going quickly.) I feel like I spend more time at virtual school than I do at real school -- we have meetings with different groups on staff and then I watch plays and read plays and try to come up with lesson ideas and spend time trying to contact you guys and emailing. Here I am at 7:25 p.m. still working! I do get outside every day. I walk Daisy and then I usually have my own walk (Daisy is slow and I like to walk quickly so I go on my own once.) My favourite time of day is 2 times! I like when Daisy and I get home from our early walk and I have my coffee and I like dinnertime when my sons and I sit down together and talk about the day.
Warm-up: Find one of the many tutorials on You-tube that teach you to do an accent. Spend ten minutes trying to acquire the accent. Then try to use the accent throughout the day. I tried Russian today.
Send me your pitch if you haven't already. I hope some day we'll be able to make these films -- I'm quite excited about the pitches I've read so far!
Wednesday 15 April 2020
When one's all right, he's prone to spite/The doctor's peaceful mission;/But when he's sick, it's loud and quick/He bawls for a physician. Eugene Fields
Question of the day: What is one positive thing that has resulted from the coronavirus? I have seen photos around the world of cities before and after the lockdown and the air quality has improved greatly in big cities like Delhi and Sao Paulo. People are saying the air is "positively alpine".
Warm-up: Last night, I watched a performance of "Jane Eyre" by the National Theatre of Great Britain. (It was great!) One of the actors played a dog named "Pilot". He stole the show! Remember Charlie Chaplin playing the chicken in "The Gold Rush"? Think of an animal and how it moves and behaves and then try to act like the animal! (You might want to do this by yourself unless you aren't going to be embarrassed!) This is physical and creative.
I hope you're enjoying thinking about a pitch for your movie. Remember, the movie is supposed to be based in the time of the pandemic! Did you know (I might have mentioned this before, but I'm not sure) that Shakespeare wrote "King Lear" during a plague lockdown? They used to close all the theatres when there was a plague outbreak, so Shakespeare and his co-workers were all out of work when the plague was raging.
Remember, your pitch is due Friday. Once you're finished your pitch (and get my thumbs up), then you can go on to work on your detailed plotting and then, your storyboard or description.
Warm-up: Last night, I watched a performance of "Jane Eyre" by the National Theatre of Great Britain. (It was great!) One of the actors played a dog named "Pilot". He stole the show! Remember Charlie Chaplin playing the chicken in "The Gold Rush"? Think of an animal and how it moves and behaves and then try to act like the animal! (You might want to do this by yourself unless you aren't going to be embarrassed!) This is physical and creative.
I hope you're enjoying thinking about a pitch for your movie. Remember, the movie is supposed to be based in the time of the pandemic! Did you know (I might have mentioned this before, but I'm not sure) that Shakespeare wrote "King Lear" during a plague lockdown? They used to close all the theatres when there was a plague outbreak, so Shakespeare and his co-workers were all out of work when the plague was raging.
Remember, your pitch is due Friday. Once you're finished your pitch (and get my thumbs up), then you can go on to work on your detailed plotting and then, your storyboard or description.
All the world's a stage
Oooh! I couldn't resist this! Here are the actors of the Royal Shakespeare Company speaking our favourite passage of Shakespeare --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtvKKnQMxx8&feature=youtu.be
This is part of an initiative to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday, April 23, and David Tennant offered this up as his contribution. (Some of you might recognize the great David Tennant as Dr. Who or from "Broadchurch" but he is a HUGE actor and seems to be in everything.)
Here are the instructions:
The idea is that people everywhere film or photograph something Shakespeare-related and upload it to Twitter, Instagram or YouTube tagging @theRSC and using the hashtag #ShareYourShakespeare.
Organisers have offered a few ideas that also include: perform “All the world’s a stage” with your family; paint your favourite scene; tell a Shakespeare story using only emojis; rewrite a speech as a song. Or even teach your dog to bark some Shakespeare.
I don't use Twitter or Instagram so I'm not sure how to proceed, but I always celebrate April 23 and maybe I will be inspired. If you think of something, please share it with me, too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtvKKnQMxx8&feature=youtu.be
This is part of an initiative to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday, April 23, and David Tennant offered this up as his contribution. (Some of you might recognize the great David Tennant as Dr. Who or from "Broadchurch" but he is a HUGE actor and seems to be in everything.)
Here are the instructions:
The idea is that people everywhere film or photograph something Shakespeare-related and upload it to Twitter, Instagram or YouTube tagging @theRSC and using the hashtag #ShareYourShakespeare.
Organisers have offered a few ideas that also include: perform “All the world’s a stage” with your family; paint your favourite scene; tell a Shakespeare story using only emojis; rewrite a speech as a song. Or even teach your dog to bark some Shakespeare.
I don't use Twitter or Instagram so I'm not sure how to proceed, but I always celebrate April 23 and maybe I will be inspired. If you think of something, please share it with me, too!
Tuesday 14 April 2020
"The life of the ebony clock went out" -- April 15
That quote is from "The Masque of the Red Death", which is a weird story written by Edgar Allen Poe. It makes one think of some aspects of the coronavirus, and maybe if you are looking for inspiration, you could read this story. It is available to read online (just google the title) or you can hear it read on youtube!
Question of the day: If you were to change one thing about one room in your house, what would it be? I would (and I am going to) change my office wall colour. It is green now and I think I will change it to a kind of gold colour.
Warm-up: Let's get the creative juices flowing! Set a timer for two to five minutes (you pick how long). When the timer starts ticking, you start writing. You can write anything. You can write "I can't think of anything to write about" but keep writing until the time is elapsed.
If you're stuck and can't think of an idea for your coronavirus film, it might help to read the news. I thought the story of the bus driver from Chicago (I think it was Chicago, or maybe Detroit) who died of COVID19 might make a good and tragic story. A lady coughed on him as he drove his bus and he wrote to the newspaper and said how scared he was and how he wished people would be more caring about other people and then unfortunately, the poor man got sick and died. He left behind six children and his wife. There are so many different stories of the people who are sick and also of the nurses and doctors and grocery store clerks and other people who have to go to work and are afraid they might get sick but know that the rest of us are depending on them.
You can also use your own experiences of being isolated, or missing out on school or having to babysit while your parents work, or anything of that sort. Sometimes a metaphor can help (like the ebony clock in "The Masque of the Red Death") -- to what could you compare the virus? Even a fairy tale plot could give you a start. Good luck! If you pitch an idea and then get a better one, just let me know.
Question of the day: If you were to change one thing about one room in your house, what would it be? I would (and I am going to) change my office wall colour. It is green now and I think I will change it to a kind of gold colour.
Warm-up: Let's get the creative juices flowing! Set a timer for two to five minutes (you pick how long). When the timer starts ticking, you start writing. You can write anything. You can write "I can't think of anything to write about" but keep writing until the time is elapsed.
If you're stuck and can't think of an idea for your coronavirus film, it might help to read the news. I thought the story of the bus driver from Chicago (I think it was Chicago, or maybe Detroit) who died of COVID19 might make a good and tragic story. A lady coughed on him as he drove his bus and he wrote to the newspaper and said how scared he was and how he wished people would be more caring about other people and then unfortunately, the poor man got sick and died. He left behind six children and his wife. There are so many different stories of the people who are sick and also of the nurses and doctors and grocery store clerks and other people who have to go to work and are afraid they might get sick but know that the rest of us are depending on them.
You can also use your own experiences of being isolated, or missing out on school or having to babysit while your parents work, or anything of that sort. Sometimes a metaphor can help (like the ebony clock in "The Masque of the Red Death") -- to what could you compare the virus? Even a fairy tale plot could give you a start. Good luck! If you pitch an idea and then get a better one, just let me know.
Monday 13 April 2020
Safe and Sound - April 14, 2020
Welcome back to this strange kind of school! I would ask any of you who know people in your Drama class (and are in touch with them) to ask them if they've checked the blog and have them send me an email. It is so much easier to keep track of you when you're right there and I hope we'll all be "right there" really soon!
Here is the question of the day. Remember I want you to think about it, but answering it is optional. Obviously, I am interested in your answers, but if you're too busy or feel overwhelmed that's okay. And remember, it might be a good idea to keep a diary. Think about when you're 80 and your grandchildren say, "what was it like during the pandemic, Granny?" You'll be able to take out your diary and explain "social distancing" and "PPE" and all of that.
What are you willing to line up for? (I would line up to see a play and I used to line up to get my children signed up for their pre-school which was very popular. And I lined up on Saturday morning to get into the grocery store, which I never thought I would do. Everyone was friendly (but distant physically) and patient and it was fine.)
Warm-up: Do the warmup, but you don't need to report back to me. Learn this phrase -- "through good tone, all not part must serve and then shape fit speech". That non-sensical sentence includes all the vowel sounds in the English language, including the British "aw" as in "awful" in a British accent! After you've learned the phrase, then put different consonants with the vowel sounds.
"Too too(d )toe, taw to' tar tuh ter taa te tay ti tee". Then end with the consonant -- "oom om oem, awm am arm uhm erm am em aym im eem". This is a good vocal warmup.
Last week, we watched the two classic silent films -- "The Gold Rush" and "The General". Both were set in historically significant time periods. We are living in an historically significant time.
I want you to plan out a silent film that is set in this time period (the time of the coronavirus). Give your film a title.
Your film should be 2 minutes or less.
You can do this one your own or work with a partner or partners, but obviously, you and your partners will have to work virtually, of course.
You must choose music to accompany your film. It can be one song or more than one. It should probably be instrumental music.
1. First, you will need to "pitch" it to me. A "pitch" is a short (three sentences of so) advertisement for your idea. If you were pitching "Batman", you might say "a rich guy turns himself into a superhero who fights crime using all sorts of cool gadgets. And he dresses up like a bat!" I plan to give you feedback for your pitch, just as if I were a big Hollywood producer (but probably nicer).
2. The next step is to figure out the plot of the film. What will happen? Who are the characters? Give them names. Make sure we have a sense of where it is. Try to follow that old friend, the plot line.
3. Next, plan the film in detail. You can write a detailed description of exactly what happens (for example: Music (theme from "Psycho") playing as Dean enters a coffee shop. It is sunny outside the window, but Dean is wearing a parka. The other patrons, dressed in spring clothes, ignore him. Silla is working behind the counter, wiping it with a rag. She waves and smiles. A card with her dialogue says, "Hey, Dean. You don't look too good", etc.) Or you can storyboard it. There are lots of free sites to show you how to storyboard something.
Here's an example of mine:
I hope that gives you an idea. Storyboarding is a great way of organizing yourself. If you look at https://www.storyboardthat.com or studiobinder.com or https://www.template.net/business/storyboard-templates/free-storyboard-template/, you'll get lots of information. (You should have a block or a cell for every 5 seconds or so or whenever your shot changes a lot.)
We might have to leave it here at this point, because film-making is a collective process, but at least you'll have figured out your first film (if it is your first). Maybe, once we get back to class, we can film them! Or maybe you can submit it to the WAG Film Festival.
Timeline:
Pitch due: April 17
Plot outline: April 24
Detailed rendering (written or storyboarded): May 1
Grade 8's: As you can see on the school website, we have discussed the date at which we will switch from Drama to Art and the elective teachers and the administration agreed that it would be best to remain with your same teacher until the end of the month at least. But this project will demand some visual artistry from you, so I hope you won't be too sad if you were thinking you'd be doing art on Tuesday.
Here is the question of the day. Remember I want you to think about it, but answering it is optional. Obviously, I am interested in your answers, but if you're too busy or feel overwhelmed that's okay. And remember, it might be a good idea to keep a diary. Think about when you're 80 and your grandchildren say, "what was it like during the pandemic, Granny?" You'll be able to take out your diary and explain "social distancing" and "PPE" and all of that.
What are you willing to line up for? (I would line up to see a play and I used to line up to get my children signed up for their pre-school which was very popular. And I lined up on Saturday morning to get into the grocery store, which I never thought I would do. Everyone was friendly (but distant physically) and patient and it was fine.)
Warm-up: Do the warmup, but you don't need to report back to me. Learn this phrase -- "through good tone, all not part must serve and then shape fit speech". That non-sensical sentence includes all the vowel sounds in the English language, including the British "aw" as in "awful" in a British accent! After you've learned the phrase, then put different consonants with the vowel sounds.
"Too too(d )toe, taw to' tar tuh ter taa te tay ti tee". Then end with the consonant -- "oom om oem, awm am arm uhm erm am em aym im eem". This is a good vocal warmup.
Last week, we watched the two classic silent films -- "The Gold Rush" and "The General". Both were set in historically significant time periods. We are living in an historically significant time.
I want you to plan out a silent film that is set in this time period (the time of the coronavirus). Give your film a title.
Your film should be 2 minutes or less.
You can do this one your own or work with a partner or partners, but obviously, you and your partners will have to work virtually, of course.
You must choose music to accompany your film. It can be one song or more than one. It should probably be instrumental music.
1. First, you will need to "pitch" it to me. A "pitch" is a short (three sentences of so) advertisement for your idea. If you were pitching "Batman", you might say "a rich guy turns himself into a superhero who fights crime using all sorts of cool gadgets. And he dresses up like a bat!" I plan to give you feedback for your pitch, just as if I were a big Hollywood producer (but probably nicer).
2. The next step is to figure out the plot of the film. What will happen? Who are the characters? Give them names. Make sure we have a sense of where it is. Try to follow that old friend, the plot line.
3. Next, plan the film in detail. You can write a detailed description of exactly what happens (for example: Music (theme from "Psycho") playing as Dean enters a coffee shop. It is sunny outside the window, but Dean is wearing a parka. The other patrons, dressed in spring clothes, ignore him. Silla is working behind the counter, wiping it with a rag. She waves and smiles. A card with her dialogue says, "Hey, Dean. You don't look too good", etc.) Or you can storyboard it. There are lots of free sites to show you how to storyboard something.
Here's an example of mine:
I hope that gives you an idea. Storyboarding is a great way of organizing yourself. If you look at https://www.storyboardthat.com or studiobinder.com or https://www.template.net/business/storyboard-templates/free-storyboard-template/, you'll get lots of information. (You should have a block or a cell for every 5 seconds or so or whenever your shot changes a lot.)
We might have to leave it here at this point, because film-making is a collective process, but at least you'll have figured out your first film (if it is your first). Maybe, once we get back to class, we can film them! Or maybe you can submit it to the WAG Film Festival.
Timeline:
Pitch due: April 17
Plot outline: April 24
Detailed rendering (written or storyboarded): May 1
Grade 8's: As you can see on the school website, we have discussed the date at which we will switch from Drama to Art and the elective teachers and the administration agreed that it would be best to remain with your same teacher until the end of the month at least. But this project will demand some visual artistry from you, so I hope you won't be too sad if you were thinking you'd be doing art on Tuesday.
Saturday 11 April 2020
Virtual theatre
One thing I miss about going out is that I can't see any plays, but here are some options for you, if you feel like watching a play (for free!) this evening:
National Theatre (of Great Britain) -- They are showing plays from their archives -- this week, it's a production of "Jane Eyre", which is adapted from the terrific novel about a young woman finding her way in the world. Written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847, it is a classic romance that everyone loves!
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (in London) -- Although the theatre itself is closed, they are showing their gender-bending Hamlet this week and other plays will follow. This is on their Youtube channel.
Stratford Festival on Film (Canada) -- If you go to their website, they offer plays like King Lear and The Tempest with the text highlighted at the side, so you can follow along and if you aren't sure what the actors have said, you can click on it for help. Go to their website and choose the "Learn" section and then "Performance Plus" for this offering. (They also have pay for view productions if you are interested. )
The Shows Must Go On (Youtube) -- If you like musicals, or in particular Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, you can access performances of his hugely popular oeuvre for free on Youtube. "Jesus Christ Superstar" is on today and others will follow. They screen for 48 hours (JCS started yesterday so move fast if you're interested) so it's like actually going to the theatre -- you have to be ready on the day! (Note: I watched "Jesus Christ Superstar" tonight and it was really terrific. Most of you know I am not normally a big fan of musicals but I loved this and it was terrifically performed and creatively staged. I think this is likely Andrew Lloyd Webber's best play.)
Arts Club Live from Home (Vancouver) -- The Arts Club has commissioned local artists to perform twice a week (Tuesday and Friday). The artists are paid a fee for their performances, because, as you can imagine, they're out of work these days -- tough times for actors and theatre folk. The Arts Club plans to do more digital performances as the days wear on.
Enjoy!
National Theatre (of Great Britain) -- They are showing plays from their archives -- this week, it's a production of "Jane Eyre", which is adapted from the terrific novel about a young woman finding her way in the world. Written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847, it is a classic romance that everyone loves!
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (in London) -- Although the theatre itself is closed, they are showing their gender-bending Hamlet this week and other plays will follow. This is on their Youtube channel.
Stratford Festival on Film (Canada) -- If you go to their website, they offer plays like King Lear and The Tempest with the text highlighted at the side, so you can follow along and if you aren't sure what the actors have said, you can click on it for help. Go to their website and choose the "Learn" section and then "Performance Plus" for this offering. (They also have pay for view productions if you are interested. )
The Shows Must Go On (Youtube) -- If you like musicals, or in particular Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, you can access performances of his hugely popular oeuvre for free on Youtube. "Jesus Christ Superstar" is on today and others will follow. They screen for 48 hours (JCS started yesterday so move fast if you're interested) so it's like actually going to the theatre -- you have to be ready on the day! (Note: I watched "Jesus Christ Superstar" tonight and it was really terrific. Most of you know I am not normally a big fan of musicals but I loved this and it was terrifically performed and creatively staged. I think this is likely Andrew Lloyd Webber's best play.)
Arts Club Live from Home (Vancouver) -- The Arts Club has commissioned local artists to perform twice a week (Tuesday and Friday). The artists are paid a fee for their performances, because, as you can imagine, they're out of work these days -- tough times for actors and theatre folk. The Arts Club plans to do more digital performances as the days wear on.
Enjoy!
Thursday 9 April 2020
Spring is like a perhaps hand . . .
Teach me half the gladness
That thy brain must know,
Such harmonious madness
From my lips would flow
The world should listen then -- as I am listening now.
--Percy Bysshe Shelley, "To a Skylark"
A character in a book I love (Mr. Carpenter in Emily of New Moon) says spring is responsible for a lot of bad poetry. Who can listen to a bird singing out the divine rapture of its little heart and not want to feel that same wild joy that it is expressing?
If we were at school now, we would be getting close to the end of the day and all of us would feel excited and full of anticipation for a long weekend away from hard work and drudgery and getting up in the morning. This has been a strange week -- kind of lonesome for me -- but I've really enjoyed our emails and I hope to receive more over the next few days.
On Tuesday, we'll be back at it. Get up ready for another week and make sure you check the blog. Have a wonderful four days off! Listen to the birds sing!
Wednesday 8 April 2020
"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year/Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." - Minnie Louise Haskins
I was very happy to receive so many interesting analyses of the two silent movies we watched this week. If you liked watching them, there is another fun one you could watch just for fun -- "Safety Last" by Harold Lloyd. It contains the iconic scene of Harold hanging from a clock high atop a skyscraper, with traffic buzzing by far below. Harold Lloyd did many of his own stunts and it is quite a fun film to watch.
If you haven't sent in your answer to the question -- between "The Gold Rush" and "The General", which is your favourite? -- please do! I am anxious to track everyone down (that's my goal for tomorrow) and want to provide you with lots of cool learning opportunities in these weeks when we can't meet at school.
Question of the day: Did you accomplish the goal you set for yourself on Monday of this week? If you did, congratulations! If not, what stood in your way? (I am glad to have reached most of you and will send out an email to the folks who were tracked down in our C Block call out and hope that I get a hold of most of you.)
Warm-up: Let's do a yoga pose! One of the most popular is "downward dog" and it's good for brain function and stress! Start on the floor on your hands and knees. Your knees should be perpendicular to the floor. Tuck your toes under to grip the floor and lift your hips up to the ceiling until you make a triangle shape. Straighten your knees slowly. Try to push your heels down onto the floor, but don't worry if you can't get them there. Transfer your attention to your hands and spread your fingers widely. Keep breathing! Feel yourself extending into the pose, lengthening your spine and arms and widening your shoulders. When you are finished, bend your knees back to the floor. If you type "downward dog" or "downward facing dog", you can see video of people doing it, if you can't picture it from my description. It is a great stretch and also strengthens your arms and back.
Jean Luc Godard, the great French film director said, "in order to criticize a movie, you have to make another movie". Hm. Thought-provoking.
If you haven't sent in your answer to the question -- between "The Gold Rush" and "The General", which is your favourite? -- please do! I am anxious to track everyone down (that's my goal for tomorrow) and want to provide you with lots of cool learning opportunities in these weeks when we can't meet at school.
Question of the day: Did you accomplish the goal you set for yourself on Monday of this week? If you did, congratulations! If not, what stood in your way? (I am glad to have reached most of you and will send out an email to the folks who were tracked down in our C Block call out and hope that I get a hold of most of you.)
Warm-up: Let's do a yoga pose! One of the most popular is "downward dog" and it's good for brain function and stress! Start on the floor on your hands and knees. Your knees should be perpendicular to the floor. Tuck your toes under to grip the floor and lift your hips up to the ceiling until you make a triangle shape. Straighten your knees slowly. Try to push your heels down onto the floor, but don't worry if you can't get them there. Transfer your attention to your hands and spread your fingers widely. Keep breathing! Feel yourself extending into the pose, lengthening your spine and arms and widening your shoulders. When you are finished, bend your knees back to the floor. If you type "downward dog" or "downward facing dog", you can see video of people doing it, if you can't picture it from my description. It is a great stretch and also strengthens your arms and back.
Jean Luc Godard, the great French film director said, "in order to criticize a movie, you have to make another movie". Hm. Thought-provoking.
Tuesday 7 April 2020
Did you see the super pink moon?
I hope you did because it was pretty huge, but not pink. (Apparently, they call it a pink moon because there are a lot of pink flowers blooming - except I haven't seen that many pink flowers yet.)
Anyhow, remember these questions of the day are OPTIONAL. Lots of you are asking if you HAVE to answer them. I want you to think about them, but whether you share your answer with me or not is up to you. Of course, I'm always interested in your answers. Question of the day: Do you do anything special to celebrate on the first long weekend of the spring? (I know there are a lot of important observances around this time of year.) I used to do an Easter egg hunt for my sons, but they aren't interested in hunting for eggs anymore -- I just put an Easter basket out now for each of them, with candy, a joke and a gift card for them. Then we have a nice meal together.
Warm-up: Take a walk around the block. Look for signs of spring (my neighbour's tulip tree is in bloom -- it's great!) Listen to the birds. Smile at your neighbours. (This will promote sensory awareness, trust {smiling at your neighbours} and is a bit physical.)
I've been really interested to read your many and varied responses to the two movies. Lots of you have made me notice things I hadn't before -- thanks. Make sure you send me your thoughts on which one is your favourite. This is NOT optional.
If you happen to be in touch with anyone from Drama class, please tell them to check the blog. I have a lot of people I haven't heard from yet.
Monday 6 April 2020
Important info here!
I have some answers to your questions -- mainly the one several of you have asked -- "do I HAVE to do these things?"
You are expected to do NO MORE than three hours a day of school work, but you are expected to do what you are assigned. The School Board has told us that your term three report card will be delayed, but will be based on the work you did before spring break. Then, we are expected to produce a final report in June and that will be based on the work you do now! Which means you DO have to do the assigned work. (As far as Drama is concerned, I will tell you what you MUST do and what is optional.)
This week, you will be contacted by your teachers at least once. In the following weeks, you should expect to be contacted twice by each of your teachers.
To help me out, if you are talking to anyone in your drama class (virtually, of course), please mention that they should email me and look at the blog.
I have been happy to see lots of you responding to the two movies I asked you to watch (see previous blogs). By Wednesday, please send me an email saying which of the two movies you liked the most and say why -- you MUST do this!
Here is your question of the day -- (this is always optional as far as handing it in goes, but I am interested in your answers.) What is something you're worried about? Imagine if you told someone your worry -- what would they say?
Warm-up: Choose an activity (for example, reading a book, going for a walk, making a sandwich). Do the activity (or mime it). Every 10 seconds or so, change the adverb that describes how you do the activity. Go through the alphabet! (for example, anxiously, bravely, calmly, daringly, excitedly, etc.) (This is a good warmup for working on your interpretive and creative skills.) (You should do the warm-ups I assign, but you do not need to report on them to me. They're for your own benefit as drama students.)
I have been really interested in reading your thoughts about the movies and also any of the other ideas or answers you've sent. I will respond to each of your emails so you know I received them.
I hope you are all well and not too worried! We will figure this out, but we have to be patient with ourselves -- it is uncharted territory for all of us.
You are expected to do NO MORE than three hours a day of school work, but you are expected to do what you are assigned. The School Board has told us that your term three report card will be delayed, but will be based on the work you did before spring break. Then, we are expected to produce a final report in June and that will be based on the work you do now! Which means you DO have to do the assigned work. (As far as Drama is concerned, I will tell you what you MUST do and what is optional.)
This week, you will be contacted by your teachers at least once. In the following weeks, you should expect to be contacted twice by each of your teachers.
To help me out, if you are talking to anyone in your drama class (virtually, of course), please mention that they should email me and look at the blog.
I have been happy to see lots of you responding to the two movies I asked you to watch (see previous blogs). By Wednesday, please send me an email saying which of the two movies you liked the most and say why -- you MUST do this!
Here is your question of the day -- (this is always optional as far as handing it in goes, but I am interested in your answers.) What is something you're worried about? Imagine if you told someone your worry -- what would they say?
Warm-up: Choose an activity (for example, reading a book, going for a walk, making a sandwich). Do the activity (or mime it). Every 10 seconds or so, change the adverb that describes how you do the activity. Go through the alphabet! (for example, anxiously, bravely, calmly, daringly, excitedly, etc.) (This is a good warmup for working on your interpretive and creative skills.) (You should do the warm-ups I assign, but you do not need to report on them to me. They're for your own benefit as drama students.)
I have been really interested in reading your thoughts about the movies and also any of the other ideas or answers you've sent. I will respond to each of your emails so you know I received them.
I hope you are all well and not too worried! We will figure this out, but we have to be patient with ourselves -- it is uncharted territory for all of us.
Sunday 5 April 2020
Back to school!
Hi everybody,
Several of you are asking me whether you "have" to do these assignments or not. We will be having a staff meeting this afternoon and I will ask that very question. At this point, many of you have heard that if you were in a position to move to the next grade or to graduate, the ministry would promote you or allow you to graduate, but we have not been told anything about what that looks like as far as continuing your studies and our role as your teachers.
I urge you to at least watch the two movies I've listed here -- "The Gold Rush" and "The General". They are great movies and worth your while. Think about the questions I've given with regard to both movies.
I did suggest in my first post when we were finished spring break, that you keep a diary. I think that's a good idea, just to keep track of what you are doing.
For April 6:
Question of the day:
What do you want to accomplish this week? (Check with yourself on Thursday and see if you were successful.) My goal is to get in touch with all my students! (you can help with that by emailing me back or commenting here in the blog)
Warm-up:
Check out the Phoenix choir (on Youtube) singing their COVID19 version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" (they include the lyrics at the side). Try to sing along. (This is a vocal warmup.)
Finish watching the two movies. Send me an email by Wednesday. Tell me which movie you liked best and explain why.
Several of you are asking me whether you "have" to do these assignments or not. We will be having a staff meeting this afternoon and I will ask that very question. At this point, many of you have heard that if you were in a position to move to the next grade or to graduate, the ministry would promote you or allow you to graduate, but we have not been told anything about what that looks like as far as continuing your studies and our role as your teachers.
I urge you to at least watch the two movies I've listed here -- "The Gold Rush" and "The General". They are great movies and worth your while. Think about the questions I've given with regard to both movies.
I did suggest in my first post when we were finished spring break, that you keep a diary. I think that's a good idea, just to keep track of what you are doing.
For April 6:
Question of the day:
What do you want to accomplish this week? (Check with yourself on Thursday and see if you were successful.) My goal is to get in touch with all my students! (you can help with that by emailing me back or commenting here in the blog)
Warm-up:
Check out the Phoenix choir (on Youtube) singing their COVID19 version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" (they include the lyrics at the side). Try to sing along. (This is a vocal warmup.)
Finish watching the two movies. Send me an email by Wednesday. Tell me which movie you liked best and explain why.
Friday 3 April 2020
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!
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!
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