Main Attraction
Explain to students that filmmakers have to make considered decisions about what to include in the action and dialogue when adapting a novel for film. For an example of a script see the downloadable teaching resources above. Screenwriting requires a very different approach to novel writing mainly because what might work on the printed page may not translate well into live action. Similarly it also isn't possible to reproduce every small detail included in a novel - imagine what would happen if a screenwriter tried to recreate 'Great Expectations' word for word - it would make for a very long and complex film indeed!
Ask the class what they think would visually work well if they were to film the extract they've just read? What sort of mood do they think would be created at various points and why?
Now ask students again to work in pairs and to draw up a storyboard of the ten important events they identified during the starter. They should be made aware that this is not a test of their drawing/artistic ability rather it is about students showing how they are able to think through and communicate their ideas visually. For a good example of a storyboard see the downloadable resources above. They should consider:
- What actually happens in this extract?
- Who are the main characters?
- What is the atmosphere of the scene?
- What kind of story is 'Kes'? Comedy? Drama? Documentary?
- Who might the audience be for this type of story?
- How will they engage this audience?
- What emotions do they want the audience to feel?
If they have time they could add some textual explanation to their drawings suggesting atmosphere, whether there is music or sound effects and what these might be, as well as who might play the characters etc.
