Why Gooses* make Flipping Useless Librarians, but Great Educators

Using edutainment & humour to bang the message home

Gareth J Johnson: WTE & University of Leicester

UC&R/CoFHE Conference 2008, Liverpool

* Yes not geese…

Face Front True Believers

Introduction

Comedy is Easy, Dying is Hard

What makes comedy?

“a dramatic performance which pits two societies against each other in an amusing agon or conflict.” (wikipedia)

“Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die." (Mel Brooks)

“Monkeys and skulls – the essence of comedy!” (Billy West)

Comedy Is All About…

Timing – Short, punchyCounterpointsReversal of expectationsPhysical anticsAnimalsSilly wordsSubjective

But how can it be Educational?

Breaks the iceChange of focus raises attention levels Serious messages can be sugar coatedReinforcement of message through

demonstrationGives speakers a moment’s respitePost hoc viewing aids retention and

recall

Losing the Plot

Basic screenwriting technique helps but not essential

Plot & shooting template Helps plan themes, messages and locations Lists required props and stage requirements

Script templates Words and motions Uses a simplified screen writing format

Let’s look at an example From script to screen

Video 1

Data

Protection

Timing is everything

Creation takes a non-trivial amount of time For a 3-5 minute movie

Gets easier with practice Careful ambitions don’t outstrip ability!

Plotting/Scripting 1-2 hours

Set-up/Filming 1-2 hours

Editing/SFX 2-3 hours

Hardware

Video Camera formats include Hard drive or Flash DV and MiniDV tape Mini DVD-R or DVD-RAM

£150-500 for a reasonable mark Sony DCR-SR52E

30Gig HD model Carl Zeiss Lens, zoom, IR function etc

Decent PC/Mac to process

Software

Plenty of cheap but good software Windows Movie Maker

Basic but ok

Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11 Choice of the professional!

Adobe Premier Elements Vista issues

Personal preference rules More expensive suites available

E.g. Pro versions of Corel and Adobe’s products

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Groups of 3/4 Outline movie concept [Plot Template]

Think about What is your movie’s core concept? (in 10 words) What is the central message you want to pass on?

(in 25 words or less!) Next…

Plan 2/3 scenes (or more) [Plot Template] Sketch opening 3/4 lines of dialogue

Think about What cast, sets & locations would you need?

5 mins

10 mins

Share & Enjoy

Your ideas…ConceptMessageOpening line…

Your challenges…

Tips of the Iceberg

Careful of information overload One or two core messages only

Short and sweet Videos aren’t generally interactive The longer the movie…the more complex the

editing & the more time consuming the shoot

Clarity, pacing and engagement Keep them ever in mind!

A spotlight is a must have aid

Forthcoming Attractions

If you don’t want to become a Spielberg Plenty of suitable material on YouTube

If you don’t want to make a movie – why not a vodcast? Leicester experimenting – not comedy though

After today Reflect on any movie skills you lack? Where/how might you use movies? Try expanding your idea to a 1 minute script Come talk with me over the conference (or

afterwards) for further advice!

Video 2

Conference

Survival

Tips

Contact Details

Gareth J JohnsonInformation Librarian (Physical & Bio Sciences)

Tel0116 252 2055

Mailgareth.johnson@le.ac.uk

University of Leicester David Wilson Library University RoadLeicesterLE1 9QD

Weasel Televisual Enterprises (WTE)

Webwww.youtube.com/llordllama

Tel07786433103

Mailgazjjohnson@googlemail.com

Twitterhttp://twitter.com/llordllama

Facebookhttp://tinyurl.com/5khq26

References

Costello, John. (2006). Writing a screenplay 2nd edn, Pocket Essentials

Julia Cresswell (2000) The penguin dictionary of clichés Penguin Group, London

Maria C Novelly (1985) Theatre Games for Young Performers Meriweather Publishing Ltd, Colarado Springs

Wikipedia (2008). Comedy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedy (accessed 27/May/2008)

Raymond G Frensham (1996) Screenwriting, Hodder Headline Plc, London