LESSONS: Contemporary Films From China - The Film Foundation PDFs (6-12)

[Ryan Goble]

Melissa's post got me thinking...

The folks at the Film Foundation (run by Martin Scorsese) presented at last year's Teach, Think, Play conference in NYC.

MC Popper CATHERINE GOULEY an award-winning author of books for young adults and curriculum writer for The Story of Movies educational outreach program presented on some international film curricula she developed for middle school students. The film she highlighted was a moving Chinese film called The King Of Masks. If you get a chance to write her ask her HOW they selected the films. It is an interesting story.

You can read what students said about her presentation at the TTP Reflection Gallery!

Here are links to the resources at the Film Foundation website:

An Introduction to Contemporary Chinese Film Featured film lessons: The King of Masks (Recommended for students in grades 5 – 8) Teacher’s Guide (PDF) Student Activity Booklet (PDF) Beijing Bicycle (Recommended for students in grades 7 – 12) Teacher’s Guide (PDF) Student Activity Booklet (PDF) Kekexili: Mountain Patrol (Recommended for students in grades 9 - 12) Teacher’s Guide (PDF) Student Activity Booklet (PDF) Teachers will need a DVD copy of the film(s) to be studied, to correspond with the written lesson material. All of the films can be rented or purchased for use in the classroom. Although these films are quite different in content and cinematic style, each reflects China’s changing society. The Film Foundation and its and its Chinese partners selected these films based on the following criteria: age-appropriate content, excellence in filmmaking, and educational value. This unit is intended as an introduction only and not as an in-depth study of China or China’s rich film heritage. Each lesson has multiple activities that can be taught over 3 – 5 days. The lessons are interdisciplinary in approach, both reinforcing and challenging students’ knowledge of literature, history, geography, art and music. Additional Teacher Resources: Reading Subtitles (PDF) Director Wu Tianming and China’s Generations of Filmmakers (PDF) Director Wang Xiaoshuai and the Sixth Generation (PDF)

[Jeana Rock]

I'm surprised that To Live is not on the list. My students love this movie every year. However, if the Chinese government is making the choices, I understand why it was overlooked.

[Ryan Goble]

Jenna, yeah, great point - you really should e-mail Catherine about this - the selection story is facinating!!

Thanks for sharing that suggestion!!

RRG:)

[Amy Kremer]

This is a great resource for me. My students train as the Junior Jury for our city's local film festival each year. This semester we are studying the Chinese experience in their English class while they study 20th century Chinese history in their history class. The whole month of March we will explore China through films and Beijing Bicycle and King of Masks are both on my list. Prior to finding this I had struggled to find any teaching resources on King of Masks, which is such a powerful film. SO glad to have found this!

[Ryan Goble]

Amy so glad you dug this - if you really dig the materials do contact Catherine and let her know as she was the head writer. Thanks for jumping in the discussion!!

[Amy Kremer]

I put in a friend request. That has to happen first, right, before I can contact her?
Thanks,
Amy

[Ryan Goble]

Good question - I think you should be able to just send her a message but I could be totally wrong... maybe I can just do that since I'm the admin?