Host School Teacher Interviews

Episode 1: Bullying (Secondary)

Interview with Melinda Boston, Drama Teacher, Underdale High School

How did the students respond to the process?

"Having been involved in scripting made the students think about what is involved in bullying, in particular the role of the bystander – both the critical role in terms of being able to help solve the problem, and also the role as a second in command, backing up the bully."

What did they gain from the experience?

"For those who were star struck in their notion of the film and television, it was valuable for them to realize that there’s a lot of standing around, then having to do take after take, and having to be fresh each time. They also learnt a lot about naturalistic acting, which is very different from stage acting."

How do you feel students watching the videos will respond?

"I think students watching the videos will be very ready to talk about these issues in their school and peer environments because they are so realistic, the performances so un-forced."

Episode 2: Relationships

Interview with Ashley Coats, Drama Teacher, Mercedes College

How did the students respond to the process?

"From the beginning the students were not only enthusiastic about the process but had a sense of ownership of what they were doing. They were determined to make the film authentic/ring true and in doing so shared a lot of their fears, hopes, pressures and personal trials."

What did they gain from the experience?

"It was rewarding for all students involved, technical and acting. A great confidence booster to be apart of a professional film production."

How do you feel students watching the videos will respond?

"They will certainly respond to the reality of the films and should certainly go on to discuss many pertinent points about their lives and relationships."

Episode 3: Stress

Interview with Jenni Henzell, Multi-Arts Teacher, Marryatville High School

How did the students respond to the process?

"From the start, the students were keen to contribute to a teaching resource that promised to be true-to-life and, consequently, more appealing to young people than what is generally available in schools. They obviously enjoyed generating ideas for the script and were determined that the characters and scenes were authentic and believable. As such, it was a great problem-solving exercise."

What did they gain from the experience?

"The attraction of working on a project which has a real audience and a wide distribution was evident but for most students the professional film-making processes were a revelation. They soon found that a short scene required numerous shoots and lots of patience and that all aspects of the performance and filming had to be carefully planned and coordinated. The making of a successful video demands commitment, self-discipline and group skills. Being involved in Stories of Us gave the students valuable experience of working in a team and an introduction to the world of work. There was a real sense of achievement in watching the final product."

How do you feel students watching the videos will respond?

"The situations affecting the characters are ones that many students will relate to. Anyone viewing the videos feels emotionally involved and can sympathise with the characters. Because the dialogue developed from improvisation, it is the language of young people and appears to be spontaneous – as if it is happening at the time and has not been rehearsed or staged. I believe that the videos will spark some very lively discussions."

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