Donors Choose, So Choose Us

Donors Choose recommended that I send this out as an email. Please feel free to contribute if you have a mind to do so.  Thank you.

Hi all, 

So many of you have asked me how film class is doing this year. Thank you! I've created a classroom project request on DonorsChoose.org to give you a glimpse into what we're tackling right now: 

On with the Show: Film Class in Need of Cameras

The first seven days are key to my project's success. If you choose to give (any amount helps!), you'll receive updates and photos of this project in action and my students' sincere gratitude. I can almost hear the chorus of thank-yous from my kids already! 

Hope all is well,
McGhee

P.S. If you know anyone who might be interested in supporting public schools, please feel pass this message along.

IB Lit: Three Versions of Blanche After Vivien Leigh

Gillian Anderson on stage in London, 2016
(the audio is very soft)

Jessica Lange in a made-for-tv teleplay, 1995

Ann-Margret in a made-for-tv teleplay, 1984

IB Lit: Patient Blanche D.

In order to prescribe an appropriate therapy, the medical staff of Central Louisiana State Hospital need your help in establishing a background for their newest patient, Miss Blanche D______ (redacted for patient confidentiality purposes).

Assignment

Students will adopt the perspective of a psychotherapist and prepare a brief case study (350-750 words) of Miss Blanche. The task is to describe the habits and behaviors which drove the patient to the asylum; specifically, students must address the following:

• what are the patient's symptoms?
• what patterns of dysfunctional behaviors may have contributed to committing the patient to the asylum?
• are their any specific circumstances or events that may have precipitated her arrival?
• and finally, based on these patterns of behaviors and circumstances, is recovery possible in the immediate future, or is the patient to be committed for a long term (or even permanent) care?

Please note that this is not a typical book report, and as such students should not simply summarize the events of the play. The central question to answer (using the bulleted questions above as a guide) is how did the patient come to arrive at the asylum, and why.

Due Date

7 April 2017

IB Lit: A Streetcar Named Design

The first thing you will need to do is to figure out the dimensions of the Woodrow auditorium's stage. Your project must fit within the dimensions of that venue.

Stage Production: Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire

Directed by: You

Assignment: 

1. Stage Design: There are certain elements within the stage directions of Williams' play that must be followed in order for the narrative to make sense. Beyond that, the stage is yours to make. 
• the design must be scaled to fit in Woodrow's main theater
• the design must be rendered, but it may be real or virtual--toothpicks, Legos, CAD, graph paper, cardboard, whatever medium you prefer (Exception: you may not use the bones of your enemies)
• a 100-500 word rationale (explanation) of your creative decision must accompany your rendering of the stage. This rationale must include in-text citation of the play in order to justify your arrangement of the stage props and construction
2. Ad Design: There are a variety of recurring symbols and/or motifs that occur within the play. Pick the one your perceive to be the most important, and use it as the central image to create a poster advertising your production of A Streetcar Named Desire.  
• the minimum size of the poster is a standard, letter-sized piece of paper. There is no upper limit, but don't get silly
• a 100-250 word rationale (explanation) of the symbol/motif that you selected must accompany your poster. This rationale must include in-text citation of the play in order to justify your assertion of the symbol's importance

Due Date: 10 April 2017

Late projects will receive an arbitrary grade of 25 to provide the obligatory-yet-diminished credit due.

IB Film: The Hollywoodrow Shirt

It's that time of year again. The Official Hollywoodrow film crew shirt is now available to order online through CustomInk.com by clicking...

HERE.

The ordering window will close on the Monday we get back from Spring Break, so order as soon as you are able. You can pay online or you can being the money in to class. There is the possibility if enough shirts are ordered that the final price will drop; conversely, there is also the possibility if not enough shirts are ordered that the price will increase, so save your shekels and  convince your friends to order the coolest school spirit shirt at Woodrow.