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"The project was good beyond my expectations. I had never imagined that we would combine to form such a strong group. The way people volunteered transport, help and props pleased me. The entire community really got into the project, and even the most critical people showed up to our Premiere." - Student Quote
"How did First Degree progress from Primary Sources to Prime Time?"
- "First Degree" is a student written
film which was produced at the International School of
Düsseldorf, Germany by a team of students and
faculty working collaboratively with professional
filmmakers.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
What inspired the making of "First Degree"?
- "First Degree" was inspired by an
integrated Language Arts/Social Studies unit on the use
of "Primary Sources" as a method for exploring the past.
The unit on primary sources provided the "content" and
"skills" needed to write "First Degree".
- "First Degree" was further inspired
by a student made home video entitled "Attack of the
Killer Carrot" which was created at home by one of the
future writers of "First Degree" and premiered in class.
The student video served as the "inspiration" that
motivated the students to write "First Degree".
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
How many people were involved with the project?
- Over 45 High School Students served
as members of the production crew and worked as
talent.
- 120 Middle School Students graciously
provided "atmosphere" during the funeral and execution
scenes.
- Numerous members of the Faculty
provided overall support and worked as talent.
- Several Parents and other Community
Members also provided overall support.
Note: For many of the students and faculty involved, this was their first time acting.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
- Eight eighth grade students
(currently in grade 9) wrote the script
between November 1996 and September 1997. Writing took
place: after school;between basketball and volleyball
practices; before piano lessons; while baby-sitting;
during weekends; over holidays; before and after
homework; and any other time that the student
writers could squeeze in a
scene or two.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
- The writing process involved a number of steps which eventually lead to the Shooting Script:
- Students conducted research
using primary sources including:
Newspaper articles
Birth certificates
Death certificates
Court documents
Annual reports
School records
Photographs
Deeds
Maps
Wills
Narratives
Ballads
etc…
- Students collected and
reviewed informational sources from the World Wide
Web.
Students downloaded sample scripts, a "demo" script formatting program (later we purchased the full version), numerous style guides, and other information about the film industry in general.
- Students created a working
vocabulary list for creating appropriate dialogue.
Students created word lists from the primary sources, consistent with the time period of the setting for "First Degree". i.e.. 11 in the "forenoon" instead of "afternoon". Students also selected common historical names for characters.
- Students, as a team, wrote a
general outline or treatment of the major plot
sequences.
Students defined major characters and relationships; defined major plot points, decided upon settings for the major action of the film and selected a beginning, middle and end for the film.
- Students, as individuals,
wrote rough drafts of the primary sequences.
Conferring with each other when necessary to keep the plot consistent, student writers tried to best develop their area of the script.
- Students, as a team, compiled
the individual writing into one piece.
Students worked on transitions from sequence to sequence and found and corrected inconsistencies in plot and character.
- Students read aloud the rough
draft.
Students analyzed the dialogue and noted timing of the action.
- Students, as a team, rewrote
the rough draft to create the "First Draft" of "First
Degree"
Students worked on "polishing" the script and formatted it into official script format. The first draft was completed on March 17, 1997.
- Students sent the script to a
professional for consultation
(see "how
did the professionals get
involved?")
Students worked on revisions of the script. The shooting script was completed on December 1, 1997.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
How did students gain
access to all of the primary sources needed to research the
story behind "First Degree"?
- Their Language Arts/Social Studies
teacher, Mr. Tom Annis, grew up in the town where the
historical murder occurred. Prior to moving to Germany,
Mr. Annis, who had always been fascinated by the strange
circumstances surrounding the murder, collected the
majority of the primary sources when he provided research
assistance for a PBS three part Documentary about the
murder. These sources provided examples for the students
who were learning about the use of primary sources in the
study of history. After viewing
the documentary at the end of the unit, the students
thought that the story would be much more interesting as
a drama. Eight students started
from scratch, using the original documents, to write the
movie script for "First Degree".
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
Is "First Degree" a true story?
- Yes, mostly.
"First Degree" is based on an 1875 murder
and subsequent investigation, in a small New England
Town, which lead to the execution of the convicted
killer.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
What is the Film About?
- Who? Josie A. Langmaid, a 17-year-old school girl
- What? Murdered on her way to school
- Where? A small picturesque New England Town, a secluded path
- When? Morning of October 4th, 1875
- Why? Read the script or see the film: "First Degree"
- How?
Decapitation
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
- Facilitated by real professionals
from the film industry, students were given active
"hands-on" experience using professional camera, sound,
light and editing equipment. Students utilized production
forms and related materials and learned film and
production terminology.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
How long did the project take?
- The writing process and pre-production work took about a year to complete.
- The filming and editing took one week.
- "First Degree" was filmed, edited and premiered between December 1st and December 6th, 1997.
- The typical work day during the
production started with a crew call before sunrise and
ended with a wrap much after sunset.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
- "First Degree" was edited on an Avid Editing System at a top class recording studio by a professional film editor working with student editors. All digitizing of the daily footage was done by students.
- The studio time was graciously
donated to the project by Rudas
Studios of Düsseldorf,
Germany.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
How did the
professionals get involved?
- In April of 1997, the student
scriptwriters contacted Charlene
Joyce-Willingham, a film
producer with feature film credits including:
On golden Pond
Forrest Gump
The Preacher's Wife
Before and After
and most recently, Primary Colors
- The students sent Ms. Joyce a copy of the first draft of "First Degree" with a letter inquiring whether she might be able to critique the script for them.
- To their amazement, Ms. Joyce found time in her busy "Hollywood" schedule to read the script.
- The students received a very favorable E-Mail response from Ms. Joyce.
- Ms. Joyce welcomed their further questions and a collaborative E-mail relationship began.
- Students requested advice about the script and also asked numerous questions concerning the film business in general. i.e.. "Do you know Tom Cruise?" and "Can you get Alicia Silverstone to star in our film?"
- Plans were made for Mr. Annis, the students' Language Arts/Social Studies teacher, to meet with Ms. Joyce over the summer holiday to discuss the feasibility of creating a film "workshop" experience for the students during the Fall of 1997.
- The idea for the project was fully supported by Mr. Bob Ater, the director of the International School of Düsseldorf who also maintained an E-mail connection with Ms. Joyce. Mr. Ater saw the project as an extension of the school's work with "Project Zero" and a true opportunity for students to explore their "multiple intelligence's".
- Mr. Annis met Ms. Joyce in the States this past June. Both were very enthusiastic about the project and tentative thoughts regarding the project's logistics were discussed.
- In September of 1997, Ms. Joyce contacted the students with a final plan and Mr. Ater gave the go ahead.
- Ms. Joyce took care of the varied details, bringing together an incredible team of professionals who flew to Düsseldorf to assist the students. She designed workshops and efficiently undertook all arrangements involving the other professionals and the overall project. Ms. Joyce inspired the students and offered her services for free as a way to introduce young adults to the exciting world of filmmaking.
- On Sunday, November 30th, 1997 the professional crew arrived in Düsseldorf.
- During the time between December 1st
and December 6th, 1997 "First Degree" completed its
exciting journey from "Primary Sources" to "Prime
Time".
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
- Rocky Collins, Director
- Ron Wyman, Director of Photography
- Charlene Joyce, Executive Producer
- Meg Gilman, Sound Technician
- Other consultants to the project were
made available by Ms. Joyce:
Mr. Ernest Thompson, Academy Award winning writer
Mr. Kirk Wolfinger, Emmy Award winning director
Mr. James Donald, Technical Specialist
other professionals working with Ms. Joyce
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
What about the music for the film?
- All original music in "First Degree"
was written and performed by three talented students from
a local German High School.
Andreas Mertin
David Wirtz
Dominic Oley
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
- "First Degree" is approximately
one-half hour long.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
What is happening with the completed film?
- "First Degree" received a "Hollywood-style" Premiere on a full-size movie screen in the ISD Dahm's Theatre on Saturday, December 6, 1997. Over 250 people, including the local press, were present for the event. In addition to the screening, each professional spoke a few words about their experiences of working with the student team throughout the production. All cast and crew were treated to a standing ovation by the enthusiastic crowd who gave the film a good review as evidenced by their abundant applause.
- Currently, student editors are working on adding end credits to "First Degree". Due to the "Premiere" deadline during the original editing, it was decided to leave the creation of the end credits for a later date.
- Once the end credits are complete,
copies of "First Degree" will be made available in both
PAL and NTSC standard video versions.
-Return to Frequently Asked Questions Index-
