Reel Focus
The Art
and Science of Filmmaking
FOR GRADES
5 to 7
MARCH 4-6, 2003
Roundhouse Community Centre
On Pacific Blvd. Between Drake and Davie Streets, Vancouver
CHOOSE FROM SIX FILM PROGRAMS
CREATED ESPECIALLY FOR GRADES 5 to 7
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Registration PDF
TUESDAY, MARCH 4
10:00 am
True colours – seeing
the person within
These compelling stories are about
seeing beyond our differences.
Little Hands
Director:Katrine
Talks- Documentary, Denmark, 2002, 18 min
Gain insight
into the lives of 9-year-olds who are deaf, as they play games
and interact with each other.
Glasses
Director:
Brian Duchscherer - Animation, Canada, 2001, 23 min
This
funny and poignant film is a vivid cinematic exploration of school
life and just how hard it can be when you don't see things quite
the way everyone else does.
Joe
Director:
Jill Haras - Animation, Canada, 2002, 9 min
Seraphim
"Joe" Fortes taught thousands of kids to swim and saved
over a hundred lives. Yet there were people who did not respect
him because of his skin colour. Through his determination, kindness
and love for children, Joe changed attitudes.
Christopher Changes His Name
Director:
Cilia Sawadogo -Animation, Canada, 2001, 7 min
When
his Aunt Gail from Trinidad tells him a story about a larger-than-life
character called Tiger, Christopher changes his name to Tiger.
Then he finds a better name… but gets into trouble when
he tries to cash a birthday cheque made out to Christopher Mulamba,
Based on the book by Itah Sadu
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here for workshops
11:30 am ~ Special Feature Film
I Was a Rat
Director:
Laurie Lynd- Drama, Canada/ United Kingdom, 2001, 97 min
“I
was a rat. Now I’m a boy,” says wet and bedraggled
Roger when he winds up on the doorstep of Bob and Joan. To this
couple, he seems like an ordinary boy until the “Daily Scourge”
newspaper pursues him. A fairground owner decides to put him in
a freak show, while a mad scientist thinks Roger is an alien.
Based on the best-selling book by Whitbread Award-winning author
Philip Pullman, I was a Rat stars Tom Conti as Bob, Brenda Fricker
as Joan, and Calum Worthy as Roger. Please note: This film will
end at 1:15
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here for workshops
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
10:00 am
Facing challenges
In
these films children in challenging situations face hard times
and learn something about themselves.
The Chinese Violin
Director:Joe
Chang - Animation, Canada, 2002, 9 min
A young girl
and her father leave everything familiar behind when they move
to Canada from China. The only piece of home they bring with them
is a Chinese violin, which connects them to the life they left
behind.
Disa Moves to Japan
Director:Benedicte
Maria Orvung- Documentary, Norway, 2002. 25 min.
After
she moves from Norway to Japan, young Disa finds herself in a
strange world where she is the only one with blue eyes and blond
hair. She wonders if it will be possible to become Japanese.
The Hungry Squid
Director:
John Weldon -Animation, Canada, 2002, 15 min
Dorothy
Sue Ann Murguson, whose parents are constantly on the road, has
to deal with a ravenous squid that devours her homework. Why can’t
she find someone who will believe her?
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here for workshops
11:30 am
Valuing the special talents of
others
The Chief and the Carpenter
Director:
Walter Tournier - Animation, 2001, U.K., 14 min.
This
comic folk tale from the Caribbean shows how the foolish actions
of a chief nearly destroy his island’s environment and its
inhabitants.
Roses Sing on New Snow
Director:
Yuan Zhang - Animation, Canada, 2002, 8 min
Maylin cooks
mouth-watering meals at her father’s restaurant in Chinatown,
but her father and brothers take all the credit. When a dignitary
from China arrives for a sumptuous banquet, Maylin's father serves
him her special new dish, Roses Sing on New Snow. The visitor
is so impressed that he demands the recipe!
Hamilton Mattress
Director:
Barry J. C. Purves- Animation, U.K./Denmark, 2002, 30 min
An
irrepressible Aardvark and his caterpillar companion embark on
an adventure in which friendship and talent triumph over prejudice
and greed.
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here for workshops
THURSDAY,
MARCH 6
10:00 am
The experience of war
See
how the lives of soldiers and civilians are changed forever by
the experience of war.
Showa Shinzan
Director:
Alison Reiko Loader- Animation, Canada, 2002, 13 min
This
animated film is based on the true story of a young girl named
Yasuka who comes to understand her grandfather, Masao Mimatsu,
an amateur geologist who documented the eruption of Mount Usu
during the Second World War.
War Game
Director:
Dave Unwin- Animation, UK, 2002, 29 min
From a football
game in the fields of Suffolk to a football game in the heart
of Flanders, War Game shows how three young men endure the harsh
realities of the First World War.
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here for workshops
11:30 am
Self reliance and respect
Learn
about why it is important it is to stick up for the ideas and
people we deeply care about.
The Friends of Kwan Ming
Director:
Christine Amber Tang -Animation, Canada, 2002, 7 min
Kwan
Ming takes three friends on his journey from China to the New
World. Once the men arrive, they all look for work but find nothing.
When opportunities finally arise, Kwan Ming lets his friends have
the best jobs, while Kwan takes a lowly position as helper to
a mean storeowner who makes three impossible demands. Based on
the story “The Friends of Kwan Ming” from Tales from
the Gold Mountain by Paul Yee.
Christmas at Wapos Bay
Director:
Dennis Jackson - Animation, Canada, 2001, 50 min
When
three grandchildren set out to learn the old ways of trapping
from their mushom (grandfather), they are taken on a journey that
puts their family Christmas in jeopardy. Cree filmmaker Dennis
Jackson's first stop-motion animation explores the spirit of a
native way of life in Northern Saskatchewan. This film was screened
at the Sundance Film Festival.
Click
here for workshops
WORKSHOPS
FOR GRADES 5-7
Workshops
offer students the opportunity to learn from professional filmmakers,
while they gain a practical, interactive introduction to the filmmaking
process.
Each workshop is
offered March 4, 5. & 6
at 10:00 am or 11:30 am
Video production
Practice video
camera techniques and learn about the production process with
local independent filmmaker Patrick Harrison.
Spin Your Own Tale
Three award-winning
directors, Christine Tang, Dennis Jackson,
and Martin Rose will help
you get animated in these hands-on workshops! Students will work
in teams and explore the magic of clay, puppet, or cut-out animation.
These workshops will focus on the creation of characters and telling
a story. Each animator will use backgrounds from their own work:
The Friends of Kwan Ming, Christmas
at Wapos Bay, and Joe.
Storyboarding
Learn how to tell
a story in 10 frames using Polaroid cameras with Jordan
Paterson.
How to Pitch a Story
Have you
got an idea for the next "Friends”? Melissa
Riley will help you develop an imaginative story idea and
then you can try to sell it.
THE REEL TO REAL SCHOOL
PROGRAM IS PRESENTED AT THE ROUNDHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE
181
ROUNDHOUSE MEWS (ON PACIFIC BOULEVARD BETWEEN DRAKE AND DAVIE
STREETS
UNDERGROUND PARKING IS AVAILABLE.
