Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Cinematography – the art of making movies – has evolved so much since the first films were released. Filmmakers continue to push creative boundaries even today.
Roundhay Garden Scene is considered the first film. It was a silent black-and-white movie produced in 1888 that showed people walking in circles and laughing. It was only two seconds long.
The first colour film, A Visit to the Seaside, was made in 1908. It was eight minutes long and showed people doing everyday activities.
Modern technology makes it faster and easier to make animated films, but early cartoons were drawn by hand. This technique is seen in early Disney films like Cinderella and Pinocchio.
Nowadays, filmmakers can even use technology to recreate the image and voice of actors who have died.
For instance, American actor Paul Walker played the role of Brian O’Connor in the Fast and Furious franchise. He died in a car accident in 2013 while filming Furious 7.
Filmmakers finished the movie using old footage of Walker and body scans of his brothers with his face digitally imposed on theirs.
Comparing original films with newer adaptations
Materials
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pen or pencil
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paper
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a film that has an original and a remake, such as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), or Cinderella (1950) and Cinderella (2015)
Instructions
1. Talk to a parent and choose a film that has a remake. Try to select films you have never seen before.
2. Watch the original movie one night and pay attention to the themes, costumes, and special effects.
3. Watch the remake shortly after on another night. Again, pay close attention to the themes, effects, settings, and costumes.
4. Once you have watched both movies, use the following questions as prompts to think about them:
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How did the costumes and setting evolve?
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Did any part of the plot change in the remake? If so, what changed, and why do you think the writers made this choice?
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If the story had special effects, how were they different in the two films?
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Did the remake improve upon the original? If so, in what ways?
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In what ways was the remake updated to suit a more modern audience?
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Which film do you think was more relatable? Why?
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If another remake was released in five or ten years, what changes would you like to see?
Become a screenwriter
Materials
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pen and paper
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movie
Instructions
1. Pick a movie you have never seen before and watch it with a friend or family member willing to join you in this activity.
2. Pay close attention to the characters and the plot, especially towards the end.
3. After you finish the film, think about the ending. Did you expect it? Did you like it? Was it a happy or sad ending for each of the characters?
4. Now, it’s time to exercise your creativity. Take a pen and paper and try to rewrite the ending of the movie. Maybe you can make it sad or create a redemption arc for a villain. Summarise the changes that you would make. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, you can try writing lines of dialogue that match your alternate ending.
5. Once you finish, compare your alternate ending with the family member or friend who did the activity with you. Did you have similar ideas?
