Neuro Transmissions
How movie music manipulates your emotions
Have you ever watched a movie with the sound muted? It doesn’t really seem as impactful, even though the acting on screen is the same. It turns out that audio, and specifically music, plays a hugely important role in creating film as we...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Theme of Politics
Politics is boring until you see how it can directly affect your life! This lesson explores the theme of Politics in Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot. Discover the important ‘subplot’ of the UK miners’ strike of the 1980’s - a real...
Schooling Online
English Essentials - Flying Through Film - Cinematography (Stage 5, Years/Grades 9-10)
In this second lesson, we’ll fly through the world of cinematography. Filmmakers use an assortment of techniques, including shots, angles, camera movements and focus to influence viewers’ emotions. We’ve modelled analysis of iconic...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Theme of Family and Friendship
Families can be a source of joy and major frustration! Sometimes our friendships provide safe sanctuary during stormy family conflict. This lesson explores the theme of Family and Friendship in Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot. All...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Building Paragraphs part 1
Watch this lesson to learn the art of building top-notch paragraphs for an essay on Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot! We will show you how to structure your analysis of the themes of Family & Friendship and Politics. You will learn how...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Theme of Poverty and Social Class
Be inspired by a Northern English working-class lad who defies the odds! This lesson explores the theme of Poverty and Social Class in Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot. Discover how Billy pursues his love of ballet despite his family’s...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Context
It was tough times in Northern England in the 1980’s! Watch this video to learn about the historical context of Stephen Daldry’s acclaimed film Billy Elliot (2000). We explain the history of the UK miners’ strike of 1984-1985 and how it...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Al Pacino, Looking For Richard - Part 3 Summary
Things are tense in the royal household. The Queen’s relatives and sons are in grave danger as Richard ramps up his plot for the English crown. Richard’s talent for deceit is his main weapon in his war against all those who stand in his...
Schooling Online
English Essentials - Flying Through Film – Structure and Editing in Citizen Kane (Stage 6, Years/Grades 11-12)
In this first lesson, we’ll take a detailed look at different narrative structures and editing techniques. How are structure and editing powerful storytelling tools? We’ll answer this question and more with a detailed analysis of Orson...
Schooling Online
Powering Through Prose: George Orwell, 1984 - Plot Summary
Dive into the depths of Orwell’s dystopian world! We’ll walk the streets of Airstrip One, where Big Brother is always watching. We’ll break down the plot of ‘1984’. Winston Smith appears to be an average citizen, but is he? How does he...
Schooling Online
English Essentials - Flying Through Film - Structure, Editing and Genre in Films (Stage 5, Years/Grades 9-10)
Welcome back to Flying Through Film! In this lesson, we’ll explore the ‘big picture’ aspects of film. Get ready for a rigorous run-down on different film narrative structures, editing techniques, and genre conventions. Enjoy examples...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Building Paragraphs Part 2
Watch this lesson to continue learning the art of building paragraphs. Your next essay on Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot will rise to the top of the pack! This time, we will show you how to structure your analysis of the themes of...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Theme of the Power of Art
Art isn’t a frivolous past-time - it heals and transforms people’s lives! This lesson explores the theme of The Power of Art in Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot. Discover the way Billy’s passion for ballet changes his life and helps...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Al Pacino, Looking For Richard - Part 2 Summary
Continue the journey with Al Pacino as he figures out the tricky parts of Shakespeare’s Richard III. How important is iambic pentameter? What motivates the characters? As the plot heats up, Pacino concentrates on winning audiences over....
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Al Pacino, Looking For Richard - Part 4 Summary
Now that Richard has been crowned King Richard III, he becomes obsessed with holding onto his power. How far will he go to secure his stolen crown? Pretty darn far! But there are a few things Richard didn’t count on – the curse of old...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Al Pacino, Looking For Richard - Part 1 Summary
This documentary is Al Pacino’s love-letter to William Shakespeare. By exploring and performing Richard III, Shakespeare’s most complex play, Pacino invites us to love the Bard too. But is this play too complex for modern audiences? And...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Plot Summary
Welcome to working-class Northern England in 1984. Life is tough, especially for coal miners and their families as the UK miners’ strike drags on. Against this harsh backdrop, 11-year-old Billy Elliot has just discovered his love for...
Schooling Online
English Essentials - Flying Through Film - Mise-En-Scene and Sound (Stage 5, Years/Grades 9-10)
In our third lesson, we’ll take a closer look at two crucial elements of filmmaking: mise-en-scene and sound. To create believable scenes and immersive experiences for viewers, filmmakers carefully combine visual and auditory techniques....
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Theme of Gender
Boxing is for boys and ballet is for girls, right? Wrong!
This lesson explores the theme of Gender in Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot. Discover how Billy defies social stigma and out-dated stereotypes by pursuing his passion for...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Part 2 Summary
Billy defies his father and continues taking private ballet lessons. Not only is Mrs Wilkinson offering him free lessons, but she also wants him to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London! They start training and preparing Billy...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Part 3 Summary
When Billy fails to show up for his audition, Mrs Wilkinson goes to Billy’s house to find out why. She ends up in a heated argument with Billy’s brother, Tony. It seems that Billy’s ballet dream really is dead. Christmas arrives and...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Part 4 Summary
Billy finally receives word from the Royal Ballet School. His life is about to change in a very big way! Billy’s ordeal has brought the family closer together and emotional farewells are made. Meanwhile, the miners’ strike has failed,...
Schooling Online
Flying Through Film: Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot - Part 1 Summary
Eleven-year-old Billy Elliot accidentally discovers his love for ballet. Mrs Wilkinson, Billy’s ballet teacher, sees a rare talent in Billy. But this is the 1980s in working-class Northern England, and there are unspoken rules about what...
PBS
A Farewell to Arms: Shaping Fact for Fiction
Clips from the documentary Hemingway by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick reveal how Ernest Hemingway incorporated his own war experiences in A Farewell to Arms. Young writers then take an experience from their own lives and craft it...