Assessment overview

Task
Use an existing story (like a Greek myth) to create a short film. The film should be about 2 minutes long (negotiable).

Steps
1. In your pair or group of three, choose a story.
2. Summarise the story to work out the basic storyline and important bits.
3. Change the story so that the important bits are still there but change it enough that you create something
new.
4. Write a script for a short film that explores that source.
5. Create a storyboard for your film.
6. Film the sequences.
7. Use film editing software to edit and finalise your film.

Success Critieria
 We have changed the story in some way (not just copied it) □
 Our film makes sense when you watch it □
 We have used an extreme long shot, a long shot, a mid-shot and a close up) effectively □
 We have positioned characters and objects which are in each shot effectively □
 We have used high and/or low camera angles effectively □
Stretch Criteria (in addition to the Success Criteria)
 If someone knows the original story, they will see the connection to it in our film □
 Our story shows that we have a good or very good understanding of the original story □
 We have used framing, mise-en-scene and camera angles very effectively □
 We have also used other techniques (e.g. lighting, editing or sound) effectively □
Strategies for creating a story from another story
 Change which character is important
 Change the point of view from which the story is told
 Turn a hero into a villain, or a villain into a hero
 Change the place or time (setting) – e.g. make it a modern-day story
 Switch the genders around
 Think about what is not shown in the story and show it (what are the characters doing when they are ‘off-
stage’?)
 Do a prequal or sequel which adds to the message or themes
 Change the audience – how would you make this relevant to young kids? What about Japanese teenagers?
 Change the genre – make it a sci-fi, a fantasy, a horror movie etc
 Choose one part of the story to focus on and add more detail to change the meaning (e.g. retell ‘The Three
Little Pigs’ by telling the story of the building of the brick house. Three brothers work together through good
times and bad and become closer in the process…)

Tips
 Think about what you have and what is possible (i.e. don’t set your movie on a tropical island because we
don’t have one at school). If you’re not sure what’s possible, ask me.
 Use a montage to show long periods of time quickly
 Use a voiceover to fill in details you can’t show (e.g. what the character is thinking)
 Use sound/music or lighting to create the mood you want
 Example:
The Myth of Echo and Narcissus

Summary:
Narcissus was super-hot and he knew it. Everyone wanted to
be with him, but he was only into himself. One day Echo
started crushing on him but he rejected her. She was so sad
that she faded away to just a voice. Another god, Nemesis,
decided to punish him and made him fall in love with his
reflection in a pool of water. He stared at himself in the pool
of water until he died.

What is this story about?

Basically, this is the story of a girl crush gone wrong and a guy
who loves looking at himself.

Ideas:
Tragedy: Narcissus is a teen model who is ghosting Echo’s texts. She develops an eating disorder and stops coming to
school.

Drama: Narcissus is a teen girl who spends so much time taking selfies that she has no idea that Echo is in love with
her. She becomes addicted to her phone and misses out on everything going on around her. She fails school and has
to repeat Year 12. She overcomes her addiction and graduates at the top of her class.

Comedy: Narcissus is walking down the street on social media. Echo says, “Hi,” but he walks straight past into a post
and drops his phone into a puddle.

Horror/Thriller: Narcissus is an arrogant jerk, but Echo is a stalker who won’t stop texting him. One day she goes
crazy…

Other ideas:
Nemesis is a normal teenager by day, but by night she uses her social media presence to get justice. She cancels
Narcissus and he loses all his followers.

Narcissus is a troubled teen. Everyone thinks his life is so easy because he is good looking. Everyone thinks he
ignores them because he is selfish. Really, he has a lot going on at home and has ADHD. When he is in his head he
doesn’t realise people are talking to him. When Nemesis calls him out, she uncovers the truth.

Echo and Narcissus have been friends all through school. Narcissus becomes Instafamous and after a few years their
only contact is when Echo reposts/shares/reTweets Narcissus.

Many years after the events in the myth have taken place, a group of teens follow a whispering voice through the
forest to a beautiful pond…
Example storyboard:

Extreme Long Shot of school gates. Cut to medium shot of group of Mid-shot of Nemesis saying
A few kids walk past. A few cars students by fence talking. something to the other girl (Echo).
drive past.

Mid-shot of Echo saying something Cut to full shot of group of boys Cut back to close up of Echo. She is
back. Then she looks up because walking down street for a few happy/excited/nervous.
she sees something. seconds.

Cut to mid shot of Narcissus. Can Mid shot of Nemesis and boy Pan to Echo.
hear Nemesis and boy talking to looking at Echo.
each other in background. Talking
stops.

Pan to mid shot of Narcissus. Mid shot of Nemesis and boy Cut to Echo. She stops starting at
looking at each other. They start Narcissus and looks down.
laughing.
Cut to medium shot of all three.
Medium shot of boys pushing,
shoving and laughing.
Medium shot of boys pushing,
shoving and laughing.
Medium shot of boys. Narcissus
doesn’t even look. The boys all
laugh.
Close up of Nemesis. Concerned. Close up of Echo.
“You can do better Echo. He’s not “He doesn’t even know I exist.”
good enough for you.”
Mid shot of the three looking off to Cut to mid shot of Echo.
the left. “Hi Narcissus!”
Narcissus and the boys can be heard
off screen now.
Suddenly, Echo stands up.
Mid shot of the three looking off to Cut to mid shot of Echo.
the left. “Hi Narcissus!”
Narcissus and the boys can be heard
off screen now.
Suddenly, Echo stands up.
Full shot of Narcissus and boys Medium shot of the boys walking
walking past Nemesis and boy away (from behind).
sitting and Echo standing.