teacher's preparation
For this activity we are using the short film, The Truth About Tooth.
You will need
- To be able to watch the film again.
- To print off the sheet of eight images provided.
- Pens and paper.
how to do this activity
Groups
Split the class into 3, 6 or 9 groups. Give each a large piece of paper, pencils and pens.
Pupils' prep
On a separate piece of paper ask each group to write down who their audience is - who are they aiming their piece at? - Consider things like:
- What age are they?
- Where do they live?
- What do they do?
- What kinds of things do they like and dislike?
- What kinds of things do they believe in?
- They should use these notes to remind them when they create their piece.
The task
Ask each group to choose just one still image from the selection. This should be the one they think best represents the film to their audience.
Now they need to write an accompanying piece of prose:
- a short blurb describing the film for the back of the DVD;
- a tagline for the poster;
- a short newspaper review.
The blurb and the review should both be short, about one paragraph. The tagline is one sentence - something catchy that sums up the spirit of the film, gets the audience's attention and makes them want to see the film. 'This time she won't take no for an answer!', or 'One man, one dream, a thousand miles to go' - that kind of thing.
share and discuss
- What different approaches have the groups chosen, and how have they used their image and text to support this approach?
- Do they reflect the atmosphere of the film?
- How much do they describe the film and the techniques it uses?
- Maybe a group has 'sold' the film as something quite different - will an audience be disappointed?
- Do they portray it as fact or fiction? Or something in the middle?
Further activities
- Design the dvd cover itself
- Create text for a viral email