Saturday, April 26, 2008
Finding Nemo - film clip idea for 'stories'
Last night we did the Rock Solid session Whats the story? This session is teamed on stories. In addition to the material we used a slip from Finding Nemo. The clip starts at DVD chapter 16 and ends in chapter 17 just after the film cuts to birds going 'Mine Mine Mine'. In these scene, Marlin (Nemo's father) tells his story to find his son, Nemo.
Labels: Rock Solid, Video clip ideas
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
X-Men 2 - Video clip for easter
I'm just been looking for a video clip to use for an Easter talk. I've decided to use a clip from X-Men 2 when Jean saves the day by giving up her own life to save the rest of the mutants from being overwhelmed by a dam that has collapsed.
The clip is at DVD Chapter 36 and starts at 1 hour 47 minutes and finishes at 1 hour 53 minutes. You could use this clip with my Armegeddon talk or my About a boy talk.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Simpsons Movie - does God speak to us?
I just watched The Simpson's Movie last night. In DVD chapter 3, Rev'd Lovejoy invites people to speak up if they have a "word". Shortly after this Grandpa has a revelation. This scene is about 2 minutes long. This could make a good discussion starter about How God speaks to us...does God speak to us?
Labels: Video clip ideas
Monday, January 14, 2008
Human Tetris
Someone posted this on the greenbelt forum, suggesting it might be useful...I guess you could use it as some kind of icebreaker....
Labels: Video clip ideas
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Shopping video clip idea - Pretty Woman
The theme for last Friday nights Rock Solid session was shopping. For a video clip, we showed part of Pretty Woman:
- 59 Mins 38 second - 1 hour 4 mins 14 seconds (DVD chapter 11). This is the scene in which Vivian discovers the joys of shopping...with lots of "sucking up". Although this video is a 15 certificate, their is nothing rude or offensive in this scene.
Labels: Rock Solid, Video clip ideas
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Juno - film on the teenage pregnancy
This looks interesting - another film on the teenage pregnancy front. You can find the IMDB page here.
Labels: Sex, Video clip ideas
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Echo Park
I watched Echo Park last night. Not the greatest of movies, but one that demonstrates the judgementalism that so often alive in our churches. The film is basically about a 14 year old girl who gets pregnant while still being technically a virgin. She conceives as a result of "fooling around". For this reason, you might want to use this film to highlight that you don't have to have sex proper to get pregnant. There's are a few scenes that you could use to demonstrate this point. All of this results in her father disowning her. He is the local priest and it brings shame on the family etc. She is taken in by an Uncle who, unlike her father, accepts her for who she is. The Uncle has also taken in another disgraced member of the family who is gay....makes you wonder who was the most "Christ like"...the priest or the uncle?
Perhaps this could be used with my teenage pregnancy talk.
Perhaps this could be used with my teenage pregnancy talk.
Labels: Sex, Video clip ideas
Monday, November 19, 2007
www.youthresourced.co.uk
I've just stumbled across Youth resourced. It has some "ready to use" discussions which are worth looking at - see here
Labels: Talks, Video clip ideas
Sunday, November 11, 2007
youthwork.co.uk conference
Just got back from the youthwork conference at Southport. Here are some websites I came across while I was there:
- http://www.stoptheguns.org/download/badman.mp4 - maybe could be used for some kind of discussion starter for gun crime / violence. See http://www.stoptheguns.org/advertising/index.php for more info.
- They "launched" http://www.schoolswork.co.uk/ while we were there - something to key an eye on. I think the idea is to provide / share resources and ideas for those working in schools.
- http://www.sophianetwork.org.uk/ - a support network for "women in youthwork"
Labels: Activities, Illustrations, Training, Video clip ideas
Saturday, September 22, 2007
I prodounce you Chuck and Larry - film clip ideas
I'm in Singapore and I've just got back from a late night viewing of Adam Sandlers latest offering....I prodounce you Chuck and Larry. While the film was much like any other Sandler film (which I like!) it does have plenty of material for exploring issues such as acceptance / rejection / homosexuality / friendship. The film is about 2 best friends who are fire fighters (Charles and Lawrence) who decide to go for a marriage of convenience so that Lawrence can pass on his pension if he dies. They initially think it will be something that they can keep quiet, but it turns out quite differently. This them results in a series of events where they have to keep up this charade. As that plot is rolled out, they are exposed to prejudice as their once colleagues turn against them - there is a good scene where the Charles and Lawrence are pulled into the office my their boss because the rest of the team have raised a petition to get them moved on. After this meeting, Lawrence confronts the rest of the crew and reminds them of the times where they saved them....injustice...prejudice. There is also a time where the team walk away from Charles when he turns up to play basket ball, this scene turns into something good when one of the guys finds acceptance through what Charles and Lawrence are experiencing.
There are also some examples of clichéd evangelical right types who wielding banners tell them that they are going to burn for what they are....a good discussion in it's own right especially when read in the context of "love your neighbour", "Do not judge, and you will not be judged" ect etc.
Anyway...at the end of the film the rest of the fire department change their view and stand with them in the court, in the full knowledge that they may end up in jail...an example of what it means to be a friend...in fact you could say this film is an example of what it means to be a friend...to stand by your word...even when it costs you something
There are also some examples of clichéd evangelical right types who wielding banners tell them that they are going to burn for what they are....a good discussion in it's own right especially when read in the context of "love your neighbour", "Do not judge, and you will not be judged" ect etc.
Anyway...at the end of the film the rest of the fire department change their view and stand with them in the court, in the full knowledge that they may end up in jail...an example of what it means to be a friend...in fact you could say this film is an example of what it means to be a friend...to stand by your word...even when it costs you something
Labels: Sex, Video clip ideas
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Mr Deity
I was reading Bart Campolo's blog and I came across the Mr Deity video - what a great discussion starter for the subject of suffering.
Also, if you, like me saw him at the youthwork conference a couple of years ago, you'll be glad to know that you can get his talk on Ruth here.
Also, if you, like me saw him at the youthwork conference a couple of years ago, you'll be glad to know that you can get his talk on Ruth here.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Coldcut - revolution video
I saw these guys on Sunday night at Greenbelt. While this is not the video from the night it gives you an idea of the material they produce...the version of this they showed was about the Iraq war and all the various contradictions that surround it. I'm sure you could find some way of using their stuff in a discussion with older youth. I found a list of some other video's they have produced here.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Evolution and the Simpsons
Check out the intro the this eposide of the Simpsons - it could make a good introduction to the Evolution detate!
Labels: Video clip ideas
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Stranger than Fiction - film clip ideas
I watched Stranger than Fiction last night. It's basically about this tax man who starts hearing a voice in his head. The voice is narrating his life. It turns out that he is a character in a book and the voice is the author.
You could use this film to look at issues such as fate, 'loving your enemies', dealing with conflict...for example:
- Chapter 1 and 2 (about 8 mins). During these scenes we are introduced to Harold Crick, the main character, by the narrator. The narrator is describing his life...I wonder what people would have to say about us?
- Chapter 2 (8 mins 45) to Chapter 3 (11 mins 30). Harold goes to audit a customer...as soon as they learn he is a tax man they start giving him a hard time, but he remains composed. You could also use this to demonstrate some peoples attitude towards tax men - this might be useful to give context to Bible passages where Jesus is criticised for mixing with tax men
- Chapter 10 (37 mins) to Chapter 12 (46 mins). Harold turns up again to audit the same business. He is handed a box full of receipts that have been deliberately messed up - just make his life more difficult. After he spends the whole day there, Ana, the person being audited changes her attitude - she'd been baking for him. Perhaps this is a good example of how we might 'love our enemies'.
- Chapter 20. In this scene Harold calls the author...and a strange thing happens, the phone rings when she types it....here is an obvious connection with fate
Labels: Video clip ideas
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Last King of Scotland - video clip idea
A couple of weeks ago, I watched the Last King of Scotland. This film is about the life of Idi Amin, the good bits and the bad bits. While watching it, it occurred to me that you could use the start of this film with the 'life after school' session we did. You could also use it to discus choices, and making decisions.
The clip in question is just after the start of the film (50 seconds - 4 mins). Nicholas, the main character, is having a celebration meal with his parents - has just qualified as a Doctor. The trouble is, he is faced with the prospect of joining his fathers practice...something he does not want to do. He wants adventure. In the next scene, Nicholas is in room. He picks up a globe, spins it and closes his eyes. He says "the first place you land, you go" and stops it with his finger....on the second attempt, his finger lands of Uganda...so there what he does...
The clip in question is just after the start of the film (50 seconds - 4 mins). Nicholas, the main character, is having a celebration meal with his parents - has just qualified as a Doctor. The trouble is, he is faced with the prospect of joining his fathers practice...something he does not want to do. He wants adventure. In the next scene, Nicholas is in room. He picks up a globe, spins it and closes his eyes. He says "the first place you land, you go" and stops it with his finger....on the second attempt, his finger lands of Uganda...so there what he does...
Labels: Video clip ideas
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Crash - video clip ideas
Here are some idea's for clips from Crash:
- Chapter 6 - a father arrives home and goes to see his daughter. She is hiding under her bed....she's frightened about bullets. He responds to her by telling this story about when he was 5....this fairy came into his room and gave him an invisible cloak, a cloak that would protect him. To comfort her, he takes off the invisible cloak and gives it to girl. I used this in this talk on fear.
- Chapter 12 - would you be a hero and put your life on the line? In the scene the police officer decides to put his life on the line even when it look like things are turning from bad to worse.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Saturday, June 02, 2007
www.wingclips.com
Check out www.wingclips.com - it looks like a source of free video clip ideas.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Friday, May 25, 2007
Trust - video clip - Finding Nemo
Chloe made a great suggestion for a clip about Trust. You'll find it at Chapter 28 (1 hour 23 min) to Chapter 29 - 1 hour 26 min 10 sec of Finding Nemo. Basically in this clip a fishing boat captures a load of fish. Nemo knows how to set them free, but his father, concerned for his saftey, trys to stop him...but he eventually caves in and decides to trust him...
Labels: Rock Solid, Video clip ideas
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Friends and Popularity - Mean Girls
On Monday I did this talk based about about being popular / fitting in / making new friends. The idea was to look at some of the issues that those moving on to sixth form / collage might face when they start in September.
Labels: Talks, Video clip ideas
Monday, April 16, 2007
Bullying video clips - ideas
I'm just been looking up some video clips that could be used to address the topic of bullying. Here are some ideas:
Billy Madison - 54 minutes to 57 minutes from the start of the video
Billy Madison - 54 minutes to 57 minutes from the start of the video
- See Jonathans talk here
- During this clip, Neil tears a strip of Del. He does it in a particularly vicious way.
- See my talk here
- See my blog entry here
- See my blog entry on scene 3 here
- See my blog entry here
- White Goodman comes to intimidate the opposition
- the first 7 minutes of this film give a fairly graphics example of a girl being bullied at school. She is beaten and forced to say she is a virgin. You could only show this to an older group (the film is certificate 15). This clip, however, might be the best real example of what might happen in a school.
- The film is based around a new student called Cady and her relationship with a group of girls called "The plastics". The plastics are the three most popular girls in the school. Basically, Cady gets sucked in to this group and then falls for the boyfriend of the Regina, who is the leader of the group. The plot then turns to revenge, which eventually involves everyone in the whole school. This climaxes in the scenes suggested. This starts when posters are distributed around the school full of slander / secrets about everyone in the school. During scenes 15/16 the teachers get everyone together to try add address the issues.
- Note that chapters 17 and 18 draw the film to a close by showing how Cady changed for the better and what lessons she had learned
Labels: Bullying, Video clip ideas
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
An Inconvenient Truth - environment talk update
On Monday I watched the Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth. If you haven’t seen this, then put it go on your list of things to watch! Basically it's a documentary outlining various facts / scientific research / evidence about global warming…it argues the case well.
I've updated my Looking out for planet earth talk to include a reference to this. I've also added the changes I made for The Day After Tomorrow version of the talk.
Note the Inconvenient truth website is www.climatecrisis.net
I've updated my Looking out for planet earth talk to include a reference to this. I've also added the changes I made for The Day After Tomorrow version of the talk.
Note the Inconvenient truth website is www.climatecrisis.net
Labels: Talks, Video clip ideas
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Having a bad day...Plains, Trains and Automobiles
I've just uploaded my talk entitled Having a Bad day. This is a different version on the What does God think of me talk. While updating this page I noticed that the readings we omitted from this talk - this should now work.
Labels: Talks, Video clip ideas
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Crime and Punishment talk
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Music and Lyrics - ideas
Just come back from seeing Music and Lyrics at the Cinema. It's basically a romantic comedy based around the writing of a song for this big name star. This is not a profound film but does have a few things that could be used to stimulate discussion:
- about a quarter into the film Sophie meets Alex (Huge Grant) for the second time. During this encounter Alex realised that she might have some talent for writing lyrics so he invites her to a gig he is doing at the Hilton that night. When she goes back to her sister's place she mentions this to her sister Rhonda Fisher and she goes crazy - Alex was her childhood idle. She drops everything to go this gig and behaves like a 10 year old at the gig. You could use this to ask: Who are your hero's? Who do you look up to? Who would you love to meet? Alternatively you could just use this to discus idles in general.
- near the start of the film Alex is been asked about staring in Celebrity has-beens - a show about people who have been and gone. Maybe you could use this to talk about living in the past verses living in the present or future...
- about two thirds through the film Sophie and Alex are in a restaurant celebrating that their song has been accepted. At that moment Sloan Cates walks into the restaurant - a "ghost" from Alex's past. The whole of the next scene is about her rustling up courage to confront him. This could be used to discus confrontation, letting things go, courage etc.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Saturday, February 10, 2007
How to capture YouTube clips - youthblog
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Bruce Almighty - having a bad day
On Friday we did the Bog Roll Bonanza session from this terms Rock Solid.
In addition to the published material we used a clip from Bruce Almighty chapter 4 (12 min 51 ) to chapter 5 (19 mins 10 seconds). In the clip, Bruce finds out he has not been chosen as the new anchorman. As a result of this he rants and raves...basically he is not having a bad day, or as the Rock Solid material he was having a "poo" day. The clip starts with Bruce on the Maid of the Mist and finish when the dog takes a leak on his carpet. Note there are a few rude words in this clip so you'll need to edit it / make sure it's suitable for your group.
In addition to the published material we used a clip from Bruce Almighty chapter 4 (12 min 51 ) to chapter 5 (19 mins 10 seconds). In the clip, Bruce finds out he has not been chosen as the new anchorman. As a result of this he rants and raves...basically he is not having a bad day, or as the Rock Solid material he was having a "poo" day. The clip starts with Bruce on the Maid of the Mist and finish when the dog takes a leak on his carpet. Note there are a few rude words in this clip so you'll need to edit it / make sure it's suitable for your group.
Labels: Rock Solid, Video clip ideas
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Talk on Parents - Big Daddy
I've just uploaded my talk on parents here. The first time I used this talk I used the Kevin and Perry clip, but this time I used Big Daddy.
Labels: Talks, Video clip ideas
Saturday, January 27, 2007
The Last Kiss
I watched this film on my recent trip to Canada - not a great film, and it is a little predictable. The film is about a guy who messes up his relationship with his long term girlfriend - he gets a little too close to another woman. It all blows up in his face and only then does he realise what he has done. The part that would be worthy of a video clip is near the end of the film. He has a conversation with Jenn's father, Stephen, and he tells him that if he wants to get her back it's quite simple...you do whatever it takes. This then results in him sleeping outside the front door for days and days until she lets him back in to the house. You could use this to ask the question - what are you willing to do for those things that are important in your life?
Labels: Video clip ideas
Monday, November 27, 2006
Christian no more videos
Check out Eric's blog entry on the four Christian no more video's. There's a link from church video ideas here.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Tin Cup - talk ideas
I watched Tin Cup last night. It's about a golf pro who's working at a driving rage...he ends up entering the US open...
- Chapter 2 (3 mins 30 secs) to Chapter 2 (6 mins 20 secs). Roy tells this riddle "a man is driving down the road with his son and he gets in a crash. Two ambulances come and they take the man and the son to different hospitals...the son goes into the operating room...the doctor look at him and says 'I can't operate on this boy...he's my son'...now how is that possible....". Dr Molly comes in and gives the answer...the Doctor is his mother...she makes the point that were assuming the Doctor is a man........maybe you could use this in some kind of discussion about gender / prejudice / stereotypes etc.
- Chapter 16 (54 mins to 1 hour 0 mins). Roy and David have a bet about who can hit the ball the furthest. The scene demonstrates that there is more to the game than just hitting the ball...Roy hits the ball a long way but David does something unexpected...rather than hitting the ball down the greenway he hits in onto the road...the ball bounces and bounces down the road...he wins the bet...the point he was making is that golf is not just about hitting the ball a long way...it's about using your head.
- Chapter 32 (1 hr 52 mins) to Chapter 33 (2 hours 1 min) - Perseverance...Roy is on the 18th hole and tries to do this long shot in order to clear some water and get the ball in the hole. Even though he's in the final for the US open and he's failed to take this shot successfully again, he takes the shot time and time again until he makes it....
Labels: Video clip ideas
Monday, November 20, 2006
Hero's rescue / Robin hood Prince of Thieves
I've just been looking up another clip for Hiede's youth alpha session 2. The material suggests using a clip from Robin hood Prince of Thieves - this bit where Robin rescues Marian from the Sheriff of Nottingham. The scene I'd go with is DVD chapter 40 (2 hr 10 mins 21 sec) to the end of chapter 43 (2 hours 20 mins 30 seconds).
If you need a shorter clip, you could go from chapter 42 (2 hours 15 mins)
If you need a shorter clip, you could go from chapter 42 (2 hours 15 mins)
Labels: Video clip ideas
Saturday, November 18, 2006
An Ideal husband - video clip idea
I watched An Ideal Husband last week. I didn't think it was a particularly good film - it got better as it went along. There was, however, one bit of the film that could be used in a discussion about relationships / marriage. Near the end of the film Lord Goring ask Mabel to marry him. She reply with "why"...she needs a reason why she should agree to marry him. He seems a bit stumped at this reply...like he hadn't considered that. It does, of course all work out in the end...
You could, of course, use this to explore why people should get married or why people do (in reality) get married or go out together.
You could, of course, use this to explore why people should get married or why people do (in reality) get married or go out together.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Movies about sin
Here are some ideas on video clips for "sin". I noticed these on http://www.ecunet.org:
Roy suggested:
Roy suggested:
- Shawshank Redemption - the prison escape sequence, what's the significance of it.
- Grand Canyon, Steve Martin's mediation on movies toward the end of the film in which he ruminates on the fallenness of human kind.
- How about the Revenge of the Sith, (Star Wars III), the scene in which Anakin Skywalker goes over to the dark side, killing children.
- The Apostle
- Most movies based on a comic book characters are struggle of good vs evil type movies. Like Superman Returns is new to DVD, or older movies, Hellboy, X-men, Hulk, etc. I was pleasantly surprised at the moral of Pirates of the Caribbean. Definitely shows "where your treasure is your heart will be" set in good vs evil context.....there are also possibilities for Toy Story II and Sky High is good vs evil set in high school. Others to consider Ever After or Princess Bride
Labels: Video clip ideas
Monday, November 13, 2006
Touching the void - talk idea
Watched an amazing documentary film last night called Touching the Void - one of the best films I've seen this year. This film is based on a popular book of the same name. Here's the plot summary from IMDB:
"In the mid-80's two young climbers attempted to reach the summit of Siula Grande in Peru; a feat that had previously been attempted but never achieved. With an extra man looking after base camp, Simon and Joe set off to scale the mount in one long push over several days. The peak is reached, however on the descent Joe falls and breaks his leg. Despite what it means, the two continue with Simon letting Joe out on a rope for 300 meters, then descending to join him and so on. However when Joe goes out over an overhang with no way of climbing back up, Simon makes the decision to cut the rope. Joe falls into a crevice and Simon, assuming him dead, continues back down. Joe however survives the fall and was lucky to hit a ledge in the crevice. This is the story of how he got back down."
There's some obvious points for discussion, i.e., making difficult decisions / choices, dilemma etc. Check out Chapter 5 (21 mins) to Chapter 7 (39 mins 45 secs). If you need a shorter version you could probably use Chapter 6 (26 mins) to Chapter 7 (39 mins).
The other point about this film in the courage that Joe demonstrates as he attempts to get back to the camp and how we can, with the right frame of mind, achieve the impossible - or maybe it was a miracle.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Homer proves there is no God
Labels: Apologetics, Video clip ideas
"Smiling addiction" and "Sin" videos
Check out the "Smiling addiction" and "Sin" videos at http://www.whitestonemotionpictures.com/
- Smiling addiction - this seems to be about happyness and where do you find it and what kind of things drag you down, although it could be some reference to drugs
- The Sin movie quotes Colossians 3:5 "Put to death whatever belongs to your sinful nature". It shows a man carrying a chest. He's dragging the chest to a grave, when he gets there he takes out the dirt in the chest and burys it....
Labels: Video clip ideas
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
The devil Wears Prada - discussion idea
Just come back from watching this film. It would be an interesting film to use with a discussion about choices, image, life style.
- Near the start of the film Andy goes for a job interview and is openly criticised because of what she is wearing and what she looks like. Later on Andy decides to dress like everyone else and all of a sudden, those who were pouring scorn on her start to accept her. During this part of the movie, Nigel takes her to the dressing room and find her some outfits...he flippantly says that it's going to be difficult as she's a size 6...all the clothes will be a size 2 or 4!!!
- As the film progresses Andy gets more and more sucked into her job. It gets to a point where all she does is her job, it takes precedence over everything. There's maybe a clip somewhere around the bit where it's Nate's birthday (her boyfriend) - she misses it because she has to work. Maybe this could be used with a discussion about life's priorities.
- Further on, Andy becomes Miranda's favourite assistant (she gets promoted to number 1 assistant). As part of this she has to tell the Emma (who was number 1 assistant) that she is taking her place...harsh! There are a number of scenes in the film like this where there are difficult choices to make - what would be the right thing to do?
Labels: Video clip ideas
Sunday, October 29, 2006
The Guardian
I went to see The Guardian on Friday night - a bit of a predictable film. It was a bit like Top Gun - it had all of the same elements in it. This would be a good film to show to discus sacrifice and currage. The rescue swimmers are trained to save life realising that it is highly dangerous and it might mean they loose there own life. Anyway, the last part of the film is all about this. Without giving the ending away too much, there's a scene near the end where two rescue swimmers are been winched up into the helicopter in a terrible storm. It becomes apparent that the cable is going fail. So rather than them both falling to their death, one of them chooses to detach themselves in the hope of saving the other.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Sunday, October 22, 2006
But I'm a Cheerleader - talk idea
We watched But I'm a Cheerleader last night - great satire on the subject of homosexuality. I think this would make a better clip for the homosexuality talk I did here. You'd probably just show the first bit the film where the send her off to rehab and she had to admit she's a "homosexual".
Labels: Sex, Video clip ideas
Monday, October 16, 2006
Volkswagen Polo Volkswagen Polo - Guardian Angels
I don't know if you've seen it but there's a new advert for the VW polo. This video shows a city full of people and each person has an angel following them around. I found an mov file you can download here.
Maybe if could kick start a discussion based around Psalm 91
Labels: Video clip ideas
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Accepted
Just come back from the Cinema where we watched Accepted. It has all the typical stuff you'd expect of a "teen flick", but it does raise a few interesting questions about education. Basically the film is about a guy who doesn't get accepted to collage and as a result is deemed a failure who will never achieve anything. So as a way out of this situation he creates this fake collage(with a building, dorms and everything) - it's enough to convince his parents and as it turns out, lots of parents to send their kids there. Anyway loads of people turn up after been "accepted" at the collage, all paying 10k a term.
This film raises all kind of interesting questions about the nature of education - basically it argues for what we might call informal peer-lead education. While this movie is no master piece I think it's one of those films that youthworkers and young people can relate to. It was interesting that there were lots of cheers / applause from the audience during the screening (mostly youth). I can't remember that last time that happened while I've been at the cinema...interesting.
You could certainly use the start of the film with the Life after school talk I outlined here. There would also be scenes that you could use about rejection, acceptance, bullying (Sherman is made to do all these humiliating things in order to become a member of a fraternity) and the purpose of education...
Labels: Bullying, Video clip ideas
Friday, October 13, 2006
www.screenit.com - looking for a movie topic?
See the "topics to talk about" section on each of the reviews: http://www.screenit.com/all_titles.html
For example, see http://www.screenit.com/movies/1996/the_nutty_professor.html#tt
Labels: Video clip ideas
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Pacifier - talk ideas
I watched The Pacifier last week - quite funny, it's a bit like a cross between School of Rock and Kindergarten Cop. Here are some scenes that could be used to stimulate discussion:
- Chapter 5 (30 min - 31 mins 40). Seth is in a fight - 6 against 1. The Vice principle says that's a good thing! Use it to talk about bullying? The Vice also does some big talking and challenges Shane to a session on the mats.
- Chapter 6 (31 min 40 - 34 min 40). The children all have to wear these GPS style tags so Shane knows where they are. One of them flushes there tag down the toilet and Shane goes to get it. He ends up in the sewer covered in you know what. You could use this to talk about how committed you are...how far would you be willing to go for your cause / job...
- Chapter 7 (31 mins to 38 mins). The girls get bullied by the boys...the girls run and hide. Later in the film the girls have learnt to stand-up for themselves - see chapter 12 (1 hour 2 - 1 hour 3).
- Chapter 8 (39 min 25 - 44 mins 44). Two intruders break into the house...Shane fights them off. This could be used as an alternative clip for the fighting talk I did here.
- Chapter 11 (55 mins 10 - 49 mins 20). This has got to be the best scene in the whole movie. Basically, the vice principle, the "meminator", has been bullying Seth. As a result of this Shane challenges him to a fight (wrestling match). Anyway, basically Shane wins. Again, this could be an alternative to the fight talk, or maybe a talk about pride or similar.
Labels: Bullying, Video clip ideas
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
RS Session 3 "Strike a light" - hidden talents
This session attempts to look at our qualities and talents. In addition to the published material we're going to show a clip from Bring it on in which Missy show's off her gymnastic talents. The clip can be found in chapter 4. Start the scene just after the line "I don't like wearing underwear". Finish just after the line "I'm overruling you". The Missy obviously has talent as she does everything she's asked to (back flips etc), however, this is not immediately apparent at the start of the clip...this is because she doesn't look like the kind of girl who would be into that stuff.
Other clips could include:
- the scene in Forest Gump where Forest discovers he has a talent for ping pong..."like a fish in water". There are other scenes that you could use...he discovers he can "run like the wind"
- the bit Water boy where he tackles some guy. See the clip reference in this talk I did here
- in Sister Act, there's a bit where the younger nun discovers she can sing
- School of Rock also has a scene where the Alacia goes to see Dewey (Mr S). She tells him she wants to sing...so she does...he says something like "nice horns"
- Billy Elliot the bit where he dances for his dad. If I remember right, the scene starts when his dad is returning home from the pub and they find the lights are on in the sports hall. It finishes when did dad tells him to go home.
- Happy Gilmore - an obvious one...Happy is a hockey player who discovers he has a talent for golf.
Alternatively, you could use some extreme sport type videos...there are some links here, but they are not that good:
- http://www.cpdsa.org/modules.php?name=S_pics&file=video-index
- http://www.inline.spb.ru/video/day-const/day-const2001.mpg
- http://www.archive.org/details/fashitzit_skate
- http://grouper.com/video/MediaDetails.aspx?id=932337&ml=o%3d7%26fk%3dextreme%26fx%3d&
Labels: Video clip ideas
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Bryan Adams:The Passion of the Christ
See this - not sure it works, but I think it's an interesting idea. Maybe it would work better with a different song.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Bible films blog
Check out Matt's blog Bible films - it looks like one I'll be following! Matt seems to write for Faith and Films Critics. If you look at their website, they have some free discussion guides - click on the Cinema in focus links, i.e.:
Labels: Talks, Video clip ideas
Monday, July 17, 2006
Miracles of Jesus - BBC one
This could be something to watch out for...hopefully it won't be too cheesy.
Labels: Video clip ideas
Monday, July 10, 2006
Dove campaign for real beauty
Surley we could use this video for something: http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/commercial.asp?src=InsideCampaign_commercial
Labels: Video clip ideas
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Bring it on - film clip ideas
Here are some ideas for clips from the film Bring it on:
- Scene 1 (up to 2 mins 30). The film starts with the Toro's singing (copied from imdb.com) :
- At the end of this, Torrance's top falls down (you can't see anything)...she's stood in front of a crowd....
- You might be able to use this scene to talk about popularity...or maybe embarrassing moments
- Scene 3 (8 mins 50 - 11 mins). A new boy joins that class - two lads basically try to poke fun at him by calling him a looser, however Cliff kind of holds his own, Make be you could use this to talk about acceptance / rejection or something like that
- Scene 4 (11 mins 50) - Scene 5 (19 mins). The team are interviewing for new people to join the squad. Missy comes along to sign up...the other people on the team act like they don't like her because of the way she looks, however, she is a very good gymnast and in fact probably the best person for the job...some on the team object but Torrance (the captain) overrules them. Again you could use this to talk about popularity, rejection, acceptance, first appearances, jealousy, fitting in etc.
- Scene 5 (19 mins - 24 mins). The new team are practicing their new routine when Missy points out that it's actually ripped off from some other team. This throws the whole team into disarray. What should they do? Use the stolen routine? Come up with something of their own but risk loosing? It covers all those kind of moral dilemmas - is it better to loose doing the right thing that win my cheating? Lying / cheating etc. etc.
- Scene 6 (24 mins 30 - 26 mins 30). Things are going bad...Torrance asks the question "do you believe in curses". She thinks she may be cursed...look at all the bad things that have happened...superstition etc...
- Scene 10 (46 mins - 58 mins). Embarrassment....crisis...nightmare...they go to the Tournament only to find out that someone else is doing their exact same routine...but the still go on and do it!
- Scene 10 (1 hour 5 mins 50 - 1 hour 8 mins 50). Torrance goes to see the Clovers (the team that they stole the routine from at the start) to give them some money. This to make it possible for them to attend the national championship competition....talk about justice, guilt, charity...
- Scene 15 (1 hour 11) - Scene 18 (1 hour 27ish). Winning / loosing / competition. They get through to the finals...they come second, but that's good!
Labels: Video clip ideas
Friday, June 30, 2006
Stuck on you - talk ideas based on video clips
Watched Stuck on you a couple of weeks ago. It's about two men who were born physically connected together or "conjoined". It's themes include: prejudice, ambition, dreams, team work, self esteem, body image. Here are some bits that might be used as video clips:
- Scene 2 (2 min 20 - 6:30). In this scene Bob and Walt are in their burger bar serving customers. They must make the food within 180 seconds or the customer gets it for free - a good example of team work. Also in these scene Rocket splits a drink at the customer goes off on one. He says something like "keep the freaks in the back" - so they throw the customer out. You could use that to talk about prejudice.
- Scene 3 (10 mins - 18 mins). Walt does his annual performance in town. At the end he tells Bob about his dream to become a real actor - dreams etc.
- Scene 7 (27 min 48 - 34 mins). Bob and Walt meet Meryl Strep - they are fans. Could you use this to talk about idols?
- Scene 8 (34 min - 43 min 30). Walt arranges for