TheBlackHole

2008Dir.PhilSansomandOllyWilliams

STUDYPACK

WrittenbyJessicaFryeDepartmentofLanguagesManchesterMetropolitanUniversity2010
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Targetgroup
Thepresentstudypackedisdesignedfor
languageteachersofageneralEnglish
courseforadultlearnersofEnglishasa
foreignorsecondlanguageofaproficiency
levelofB1(accordingtotheCommon
EuropeanFrameworkofReferencefor
Howtousethisstudy Languages,CEFR).

pack

Beliefsaboutlanguagelearningandteaching
Thisstudypackisbasedonacommunicative,learnercentredcurriculum.Language,accordingtoa
communicativeapproachtolanguagelearning,isbasedoncommunication;languagelearningisinthis
contextthenegotiationofmeaning.Inotherwords,languagelearningisassumedtobeaninductiveprocess
evokedbyactivitiesofproblemsolvinganddiscoverybythelearner.Thus,learningprocessesaredependent
onthelearnersindividualeffortaswellascollaborationwithotherlearners.Learnersbecomeresponsible
fortheirownlearningprocess,shiftingthefocusawayfromtheteachertothelearnersthemselves.The
activitiesinthisstudypackaredesignedtoencouragecollaboration,decisionmakingandrisktakinginorder
todeveloplearnersmetacognitiveandcriticalthinkingskills.Linguisticaims(suchastheuseofacertain
tense)areintegratedinthecommunicativeactivities.

Organisationofthestudypack
Theactivitieswithinthisstudypackareinchronologicalorder,distinguishingbetweenactivitiestobecarried
outbeforetheviewingofTheBlackHole,duringtheviewingandaftertheviewing.Theactivitiesare
interlinkedonseverallevels.Thecontentoftheactivitiesbuildslogicallyontoeachother,withlateractivities
recyclinglanguageitemsorcontentofpreviousactivities.Theactivitiesgraduallyprogressregardingtheir
levelofrestrictivenessfrommorerestrictedtolessrestricted.Inthesameway,theactivitiesbecome
progressivelymorepersonalised.Thegradetowhichstudentswillberequiredtoworkcollaborativelywill
increaseinthesameway.Thus,studentswillbeslowlyledtowardstakingmoreresponsibilityfortheirown
learningandtodevelopanappreciationoftheirpeerscontributiontotheirownlanguagelearning.

JessicaFrye2010ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityTheBlackHoleStudyPack
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Aimsofthisstudypack

Aftercompletionofallactivitiesofthe
studypack,studentwillhave

developedallfourskills(speaking,reading,
writingandlistening)withtheaidof
audiovisualmaterials
improvedtheirspokenfluencythroughthe
activeparticipationincommunicativetasks
withtheirpeers
becomemoreawareoftheirlisteningand
speakingingeneralandbeabletoidentify
thespecificareasinwhichimprovementis
needed
increasedtheirresponsibilityforthe
managementoftheirownlearninginorder
tobeabletolearnhowtoimprovetheir
languageskillsmoreautonomously
developedconfidenceintheirabilityto
communicateinEnglish
developedanappreciationoftheirpeers
contributiontothelanguagelearning
processthroughcollaborativeactivities
improvedtheirinterpersonalskills
(collaborativedecisionmaking)by
participatingincollaborativelearningtasks
increasedtheirunderstandingoffilmasa
mediumofcommunication
gainedtheabilitytoplanandcarryouta
groupprojectusingcreativity,IT,
research,andfilmeditingskills
improvedtheirabilitytothinkandrespond
creatively

JessicaFrye2010ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityTheBlackHoleStudyPack
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Synopsis
TheBlackHoleisatwoanda
halfminuteshortfilmdirected
byPhilipSansomandOlly
Williams.Ittellsthestoryofa
tiredandfrustratedoffice
workerstrugglingtodoa
photocopyingjob.Whenhe
discoversablackholeinthe
machinehefindsbetterthings
todo.

Overview Directedand Editing: PhilSansom

writtenby: PhilipSansom Starring: NapoleonRyan
OllyWilliams Genre: Drama
Producer: BenSullivan Runtime: 2:35mins.
Directorof Certification: UK:PG
photography: WillBex Production
Artdirector: DiamondDogs Company: HISFilms
Sound: FinchJudges Distributor: FutureShortsUK

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Previewingactivities
Activity1:Predictiontask
Focus:warmer,generateinterestintopic
Interaction:pairs
Materials:board,boardpens
Procedure
TheteacherwritestheshortfilmtitleTheBlack
Holeontheboardandasksstudentstoguess
whatthisfilmmightbeabout.Studentsworkin
pairswithatimelimitoftwominutes.The
teacherwritesthestudentssuggestionsonthe
board(oneperpair)intheformofkeywords.
Activity2willprovidethestudentswithsufficient
informationtoselfevaluatetheirpredictions.
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Activity2:Dictogloss
Focus:listeningfordetail,notetaking,
writingforaccuracy
Interaction:individual,groups
Materials:text(synopsisoffilm,seepage4)
Procedure
Theteacherwritesthewordsynopsisonthe
boardandelicitsthemeaningfromthe
students.Theteacherexplainsit(shouldthe
studentsbeunfamiliarwiththeterm)byusing
thesynonymsummary.
Theteacherinformsstudentsthattheywillbe
readafilmsynopsisanditistheirtasktojust
listen.Thestudentswillthenbereadthetext
againandtheteacherasksthemtotakeas
manynotesaspossible(workingindividually).
Itiscrucialthattheteacherinformsstudents
thatthetextwillbereadouttothemata
naturalspeedandthattheywillnotbeableto
copydowneveryword.Followingthisthe
teacherinstructsstudentstoreconstructthe
textofthesynopsisbyfillingthegapsintheir
notes.Theteachershouldmentionthatthey
arenotexpectedtoreconstructthetextword
forword,butshowanabilitytoreconstruct
itsmeaning.Studentsworkingroupsoffour
tocompletethistask.Theteachermonitors
thisactivityfocussingonstudentsaccuracy
(writing:spelling,grammar)andprovides
supportshouldstudentsstruggletocomplete
thistask.Feedbackonthistask(oncontent)
followsbystudentscomparingtheirtextsasa
class.
Theteacherthendrawsstudentsattention
backtothepredictionsontheboard(activity
1).Studentsareaskedtovoteonthe
predictionthatisclosesttotheactual
synopsis.

Whileviewingactivities
Activity3:Sequencing
Focus:preteachinglexis,dictionaryskills,
viewing(gist)
Interaction:group,individual
Materials:board,boardpens,dictionaries,
shortfilmTheBlackHole
Procedure
Theteacherwritesthefollowingphrases
scrambledontheboard(inarandomorder):
frustratedandovertiredworkerphotocopierprintsa
blackholecupofcoffeedisappearsdiscoversthe
possibilitiesstealsfromvendingmachinebreaksinto
theofficegainsaccesstothesafegetsgreedytrapped
inside
Theteacherasksstudentstolookupunknown
wordsinadictionary(workingingroups),and
thenelicitsthemeanings.Followingthis,
studentswillwatchthefilm,tryingtorearrange
thephrasesintothecorrectorder.
Activity4:Observationactivity
Focus:formingquestions(presentsimple),
prepositions,viewing(detail)
Interaction:group
Materials:shortfilmTheBlackHole,board
andboardpensforscorekeeping
JessicaFrye2010ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityTheBlackHoleStudyPack
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Procedure
Theteacherasksthestudentstonotedown
detailsfromthefilm(e.g.redfireextinguisher
rightnexttoofficedoor,clockonwall:3am,
etcetera)whilewatchingit.Followingthis,
studentsworkingroupsandformfivedifficult
questionsfortheothergroups(theteacher
monitorsthisforaccuracyinspellingand
grammar).Thegroupschallengeeachotherby
readingoutonequestiontotheopposinggroup
whotrytoanswerit.Agroupreceivesapoint
whentheopposingteamisunabletoanswer
theirquestionorwhentheyansweraquestion
correctly.Theteacherkeepsscoreontheboard.
Activity5:Stagedirections
Focus:imperative,prepositions,viewing
(detail),verbsofmovement,adjectivesonmime
Interaction:group
Materials:shortfilmTheBlackHole
Procedure
Theteacherelicitsthemeaningofthestage
directionsfromstudentsandelicitsthe
appropriategrammaticalform(imperative).The
teachermodels(orelicits)stagedirectionsfor
thefirstfifteensecondsofthefilm.
Suggestion:Standstillandhalfcloseyoureyesandgroan.
Pressthebuttonofthephotocopier,thenlookupina
frustratedmanner.
Studentsnowworkingroups,writingstage
directionsfortherestoftheshortfilm.Teacher
monitorsstudentswritingforappropriateness
oflexis,spellingandgrammar(imperative
form).
Thestagedirectionswillbereusedinactivity
10.
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Postviewingactivities

Activity6:Collaborative
WritingActivity
Focus:narrativetenses(simplepast,
pastcontinuous,pastperfect),active
andpassivevoice
Interaction:group
Materials:none
Procedure
Studentsworkingroupsofthree,
writingtheframeofthefilmplot.The
groupsdealwithdifferentcontent,half
ofthegroupsdealingwithwhat
happenedbefore,theotherhalfwith
whathappenedafterwards.Theteacher
monitorsforaccuracyoflanguage
(written),payingparticularattentionto
tenseuse.
Peerfeedbackoncontent:theteacher
distributesallthepiecesofwritingto
theclassandthestudentswalkaround
Procedure
theclassroom,readingalltexts,
decidingwhichoneisthebestbefore Theclasswillbedividedintotwogroups:journalistsand
storyandwhichoneisthebestafter interviewees.Theintervieweeswillbeallocatedspecific
story. roles(companymanager,overtiredworker(picture),the
workerswife,hiscoworkers,apsychologist,etc.).Each
Thesetwostorieswillbereusedin journalisthastopreparequestionstoasktheinterviewees,
activity8. eachintervieweehastoprepareastory/opinion.Students
thenmingleandintervieweachother.Thejournaliststake
Activity7:Interviews notesonthecontent.Theteachermonitorswithout
disturbingthestudentscommunication(unlessrequiredfor
Focus:simplepast,pastcontinuous
successfultaskcompletion).
(questionsandopenanswers),speaking
Interaction:pairs Theinformationgainedduringthisactivitywillbereusedin
Materials:none activity8.

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Activity8:Writinganewspaper
article
Focus:writing,narrativetenses(seeactivity6)
Interaction:individual
Materials:textsproducedinactivity6,notes
fromactivity7
Procedure
Thestudentsareaskedtoproduceanewspaper
articleusingtheplotofthefilmaswellasany
informationgainedduringactivitysixandseven.
Studentsshouldsharetheirnoteswithone
another.
Thispieceofwritingshouldbecollectedinand
correctedbytheteacherwithparticularfocuson
thegrammar(narrativetenses).
JessicaFrye2010ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityTheBlackHoleStudyPack
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Activity9:Filmfunding(research
activity)
Focus:researchskills(Internet),reading(gist),
speaking(presentationskills)
Interaction:pairs
Materials:computerwithinternetperpair
Procedure
Studentsareaskedtofindouthowtogetfunding
fortheproductionofashortfilm.
Thewebsite
http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/filmfundinformation
canbeprovidedshouldstudentsfailtofind
informationthemselves.Studentsshouldfind
informationonwhattheyneedtoapplyforfilm
fundingandprepareashort,formalpresentation
oftheirresults.
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Focus:personalisationoftopic
Activity10:Making
Interaction:groups
yourownshortfilm Materials:computerwithvideoeditingsoftware(suchas
WindowsMovieMakerorAppleiMovie)

Task
Studentswillbeaskedtoworkingroupstoproducetheirownshortfilm.Theshortfilmwillbean
adaptationofTheBlackHoleandmustnotbelongerthanthreeminutes.Studentsadapttheplotby
transferringittoadifferent
time(e.g.19thcenturyBritain)or
setting(e.g.breakingintoahouse)

Theprojectwillbebrokendownintodifferentphases.Studentswillberequiredtoworkautonomously,
theroleoftheteacheristoaidandofferguidance.ThefollowingguidelineonHowtomakeafilm(forthe
students)hasbeenadaptedfromtheUKFilmCouncilwebsiteFirstLight.

PreProduction
Theidea Decideinwhichwayyouwanttoadapttheshortfilmandthencarry
outsomebackgroundresearch.Forexample,ifyouwanttoretell
thestoryin19thcenturyBritainyouneedtoknowwhataworkplace
lookedlikeatthetime,whattypesofclothespeoplewouldwear,
etc.
Thescript
Whenwritingyourscriptyoushouldconsiderthreemainpoints:
1.Structure:
Mostfilmsarebasedonathreeactstructureastheyhavea
beginning,middleandanend.
2.Characters:
Youshouldthinkaboutwhatkindofpeopleareinyourfilm?What
makesthemdothings?
3.Dialogue/Bodylanguage:
Whatwillyourcharacterssayandhowwilltheysayit?
Thestoryboard
Thestoryboardisaplanofyourfilmwithdrawingsorphotographs,
whichwillhelpyoutoimaginehowyourfinishedfilmwilllook.
Itmaybeusefultovisitthelocationwhereyouwillshootyourfilm
whenyouaremakingyourstoryboardtogetabetterideaofhow
youwantyourshotstolook.Agoodstoryboardwillsaveyourgroup
timewhilefilming.
Casting
Thecastisthegroupofactorswhostarinyourfilm.Youneedto
findthebestactortoplayeachcharacter.

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PreProduction
Scheduling Getorganised!Ascheduleisaplanofwhatwilltakeplaceateach
stageofyourproduction.
Whenschedulingalwaysrememberthatthingsmightnotgo
accordingtoplan.Therecouldbebadweatherorpooravailable
light.Sobuildextratimeintoyourshootingplansforthis.

Production
Direction TheDirectorchoosestherightcamerashotsforthefilm.Visitthe
followingwebsitetofindoutmoreaboutdirecting:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/oneminutemovies/howto/direct.shtml

Camera Thecameraisthemaintoolforshootingyourfilm.Keepyour
camerasteady!Whenusingthecamerawithoutatripodyouwill
needtotakestepstominimiseshaking.
1. Keepyourlegsapartandelbowsbent.
2. Leanagainstawall,orcar,oranythingnearbyifyoucan.
3. Ifitsalowshot,restthecameraonasandbagorcushion.
Foramovingshot,tryusingawheelchair,skateboardorshopping
trolleytogetaround.Puttingyourcamerainanettedshoppingbag
canhelptoalleviatecamerawobble.

Sound Poorsoundqualitywillruintheaudiencesexperienceofwatching
yourfinishedfilmsomakesureyougetitright.Visitthefollowing
websitetofindoutmoreaboutsound:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/oneminutemovies/howto/sound.shtml

PostProduction
Editing Changingfromoneshottoanothercanbedoneinthreemainways:
Becreativeanduseyourimaginationwhenediting,youmaywantto
thinkaboutthefollowing:
1.CutWheretheactionswapsfromoneshottoanother.
2.DissolveWheretheactionchangesfromoneshottoanotherby
aslowblend.
3.FadeWhereashotappearsordisappearsslowlyfromorintoa
blankscreen.
Alwayscutonanaction,asthiswillconnectyourtwoshots.Try
usingamovement,suchasacharacterputtingonahatorusingaTV
remote.Wheneditingyouneedtogetthepaceorthespeedofthe
filmright.Makesuretheactionisnttooslowandboringortofast
andrushed.

Sound Filmeditingsoftwarealsoallowsyoutouseasoundtrackinyour
film.Thiscanbeagreattooltocreatetherightmood.

JessicaFrye2010ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityTheBlackHoleStudyPack

FurtherReading
TheBlackHole
TheshortfilmTheBlackHoleiscurrentlyaccessible
onlineonthreewebistes:
Sansom,P.andO.Williams(dir.)2008.TheBlackHole.
BBCFilmnetwork.RetrievedFebruary20,2010from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p005yytg
.Virginmediashorts.RetrievedFebruary20,2010from
http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/films/past_entrants/
theblackhole
.Youtube.RetrievedFebruary20,2010from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_Msrdg3Hk
Detailedplotoutlineofthefilmwrittenbythedirectors
Sansom,P.andO.Williams.PlotsummaryforTheBlack
Hole(2008).InternetMovieDatabase.RetrievedMarch
15,2010from
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430144/plotsummary
JessicaFrye2010ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityTheBlackHoleStudyPack
11
Filmographyofthedirectors
AboutDiamondDogs.HSILondon.RetrievedMarch15,
2010from
http://www.hsilondon.co.uk/#/directors/commercial/dia
monddogs/
UsingFilminClass
Sherman,J.2003.Usingauthenticvideointhelanguage
classroom.Cambridge:CUP.
Stempleski,S.andP.Arcario(eds.)1993.Videoinsecond
languageteaching:usingselecting,andproducingvideo
fortheclassroom.Alexandria,VA:TESOLInc.
Usingfilmintheclassroom.BFIEducation.Retrieved
April19,2010from
http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/witm/classroo
m.html
Websitesgivingguidanceonmakingamovie
FirstLight.RetrievedApril23,2010from
http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/
Howtomakeaoneminutemovie.BBC.Retrieved23
April,2010from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/oneminutemovies/howto/
Shortfilmsonline
BBCFilmNetwork:showcasingnewBritishfilmmaking.
BBC.RetrievedApril24,2010from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/
FutureshortsChannel.Youtube.RetrievedApril26,2010
from
http://www.youtube.com/user/futureshorts
Virginmediashorts.RetrievedApril24,2010from
http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk


ResourcewrittenbyJessicaFrye
aspartoftheMATeachingEnglishasaForeign
Language,ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity(2010)
Email:j.frye@mmu.ac.uk
Allimagescontainedinthispublicationarescreenshots
takenfromtheshortfilmTheBlackHole(2008)andusedfor
educationpurposeonlywithoutclaimofownership.
FormoreinformationonFILTAvisitwww.filta.org.uk

JessicaFrye2010ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityTheBlackHoleStudyPack