Thin Ice

This particular Thin Ice is Antarctic and Scott's memorable early expedition. The subject could not be more relevant with issues of possible oil exploration in the Southern Ocean becoming news again. 

I have joined the award winning Shoofly Publishing team to work on producing an IT educational resource. My task is to help guide the sixth form students of Cramlington Learning Village in the production of 6 video dramas using the script Anne Curtis has devised.

Two weeks ago we met for the first drama session. They launched into character with exercises devised to get into the skin of the great explorers and adventures of early 20th century.
Here is an example of using breath to develop the emotional material in the script.

The language of the age was distinctive and using flash cards as a prompts we 'acted out' the distinctive manner of delivery characteristic of Edwardian Britain.Some of the expressions were completely new to the sixth formers which shows how  rapidly language changes and makes sense of the expression 'history is another country'.

But the 'greater game is ahead' as we tackle the filming of the video this week. We want their ideas to lead the process to get the most out of the challenge,while  I want to get the most out of the students. One of the gems of working through drama  is the way it opens doors to understanding and there is a host of 'learning' here for us all!
 Antarctic is as much about the past as it is about the present and the future, brought alive by the stories of the men who braved the southern ocean in their quest for answers. They have left a rich source of situations, language and images which may be of use when interpreting the script.
 link to  Shooflypublishing.wordpress.com

'A lesson from Heroic Age of Travel'

We started to work on the script preparing with understanding the concept of the conditions faced by the explorer using role play and drama exercises as a group.

It was great to see how focused the students were going straight into the script using their own
 understanding of the story and including a rich variety of accents and vocal delivery. We are ready for some recording

And just like a tip of an ice burg behind the scenes the Administrative team have been busy working on marketing  material. They even went so far as fun raising with a cake bake selling  initiative towards funds for the Dundee site visit and other ideas they are developing.

I am thrilled they have entered into the spirit of the challenge . .....and of course it is still fun!

The team have divided the responsibilities for the project to allow individuals a chance to develop there particular interests and enhancing the quality of the  product. we now have a full production team of: Director/filming crew/ Presenters/ Marketing /finance/administration/costumes and acting roles.

We are lucky to have a state of the art recoding studio in School and this has given the team some hands on experience in handling the technology of filming as well as the performing arts skills. Young agile minds have quickly taken to this challenge!

 

 

One of the ways we were able to give authenticity to the experience of making  a film was a trip to the Discovery ship and museum in Dundee. At the heart of the  theme is the first Heroic Journey of Scott's Discovery and the experiences of those early Polar adventurers. This offered a valuable engagement with history and a time to think about the extraordinary achievement of those early scientists and adventurers. Being able to stand on the bridge of Scott's ship, sit in the officer's mess or handle the early 20th century instruments all helped to give relevance to the project and huge sense of privilege to be able to pass this knowledge to others.

All this was made possible through the support of the Discovery Museum staff who have taken a personal interest in the development of work. They are keen to add the results to their educational resource which gives even more motivation to produce  fine results. 

This project is not just about the past as it asks questions about the future and our  understanding of the ecology. There is a fine balance of needs, verses the environment which is already affecting the survival of the last great wilderness on earth. The script  opens up the debate  through the medium of dramatic story telling. The theme is full of irony as we worry about oil to heat humans from a frozen land!

So we continue to make this film work on as many different levels as we can. Of course all this has to fit in with the rigors of the School timetable, the staffs time constraints and the pressures of young A level student to prepare for one of the most challenging times of their careers. A quote from Shakelton might give us all the right resolve:

"I hold that a man should strive to the utmost for his life's set prizes"