A story-building adventure where you’ll learn how characters and structure shape every great tale. Collaborate with others and create your own play with your favourite characters.
Curriculum fit
We suggest you incorporate the workshop in your school subjects such as Language and Communication, Arts and Culture or Media Education. It can also be worked in through standalone projects, seminars, teaching blocks, courses, and similar methods. The students will learn:
- how not to consume but rather understand, analyse, critically approach and create media or literary content;
- how to successfully adapt a story;
- to better understand story structure and character motivations.
About the activity
The adaptation of stories accompanies us throughout our lives, whether it’s people telling us their experiences, or us living through our own, as well as stories from books and films. Adaptation teaches us to understand the formal elements of good stories, which we can then replicate. In this case, repetition is good because learning the art of storytelling helps us to structure our own experiences or ideas. This workshop is also a great way to learn and practice group collaboration. We play with variations on our ideas and suggestions as we create our project.
We’ve put together a short quiz so you can test your film knowledge after the activity – check it out!
What participants gain
- the ability to recognise the basic elements of a simple film narrative
- learn more about film storytelling
- presentation skills
- new experience of working in a team
Read more
What educators gain
- an opportunity to highlight the need for stories in our lives
- developing a vocabulary of characters and personality types (Toolbox)
- skill in leading and coordinating group work.
Read more
Resources
Venue requirements
- a child-friendly room with enough natural light
- a chair and working space (table) for each participant
- a table for a computer/laptop and a printer
- a table for the shooting set
- a flipchart or a whiteboard
- a space for catering/snacks (optional)
Technology
- a projector (TV, monitor)
- a computer/laptop with internet connection
- a printer
- a shooting light or a table lamp (2x)
- a photographic tripod with a phone holder (optional)
Supplies
- writing supplies (pens, pencils, paper)
- art supplies: coloured papers (A4), white papers (A4), scissors, gluesticks, wooden skewers, adhesive tape, cardboard (two empty cardboard boxes), a roll of fleece paper
Step by Step
Preparation
(30 mins)
(30 mins)
- When you first contact your participants about the workshop, ask them to bring a favourite hero/character along. This can be a book, comic, toy, miniature, or even thoughts or ideas without a physical object.
- Keep all aids ready at hand.
- Designate an area for filming. If possible, prepare it for filming by setting up a tripod in front of an empty table, with lights on the table so that you can start filming right away when you need to.
- Check if the printer is connected to the computer.
- Prepare a whiteboard or a flipchart, and a designated place to brainstorm collectively.
- Seating: try to create a coherent, non-hierarchical sitting space, preferably a circle.
Implementation
(6 hrs)
(6 hrs)
- Get to know each other. (TIP: Encourage everyone to say a few words about themselves, starting with yourself. Say your name and why you decided to run the workshop. Add a film question such as favourite film, series, character etc.) – 10 mins
- Introduce the workshop. You can also describe the desired outcome. (TIP: A visible outline helps children track the progress of the work.) – 5 mins
- (OPTIONAL) Begin with a short presentation of the three stages of film production (idea, development, film). You can use the guide in the toolbox. (TIP: The goal is not to overwhelm the participants with knowledge, but rather just to make them aware of the complexity of film as a creative activity. Feel free to write the basic concepts on the board.)
- Open the topic of heroes (of any gender), explain their importance in (film) stories, and how strong characters can inspire audiences. At the same time, give space for the participants to choose their heroes, offering to help them decide. – 10 mins
- Activity: Children present their favourite heroes. (TIP: List the heroes presented in a visible place so that both you and the children have an overview of what they will work with later.) – 10 mins. Objective: Let the children describe their heroes: their appearance, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. They have five minutes to prepare.
- Present the list of roles you will work with in the workshop to the participants: – 15 mins
- Activity: Participants draft roles that automatically assign them to groups. Each group is to have one Protagonist (hero/heroine), Antagonist, Mentor, and one (or more) Ally and a Guardian of treasures. – 10 mins
- The groups sit down at the tables, where they will now work as separate teams. – 5 mins
- RULES: – 20 mins
1. Each role has its purpose in the story, and everyone is responsible for their character.
2. Build the story consisting of 12 parts together.
3. Each of the 12 parts is a separate scene.
4. To help you create the scene, there are descriptions and instructions for each part.
5. For basic story construction, follow this rule: the Protagonist wants to achieve something, and the Antagonist stands in their way. - Collaborative story creation based on the following steps: – 60 mins
a) Beginning. Introduction of the Protagonist in Their Usual Environment
Scene Description: The story introduces a new world filled with dangers and challenges. The audience gets to know both the world and the Protagonist.
Instructions: The group answers: What does the world look like? Focus on key details such as the time period (past, present, future, alternate world), geography (nature, city, mountains, sea), and specific weather conditions (summer, winter, rain, polar night, etc.).
The Ally and the Protagonist answer: What connects them? Why are they close?
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Ally
Activity: Write the scene!
b) Call to Adventure.
Scene Description: The Protagonist discovers a problem, an opportunity, or a responsibility. An initiating event occurs. There might be an unpleasant encounter with the Guardian of the Treasure, increasing the tension.
Instructions: The Protagonist answers: What is missing in the world? Why must they act? The group defines the stakes: What will happen if the Protagonist fails? The risk could involve an object, a person, or even life itself.
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Guardian of the Treasure
Activity: Write the scene!
c) Refusal of the Call.
Scene Description: The Protagonist hesitates, weighs options, fears the unknown, and refuses to leave.
Instructions: The Protagonist answers: What is stopping them from achieving their goal? What do they not want to leave behind?
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Ally
Activity: Write the scene!
d) Meeting the Mentor.
Scene Description: The Mentor provides guidance and sometimes a magical weapon. The Mentor may accompany the Protagonist until a confrontation with an enemy or step away for a time.
Instructions: The Mentor answers: Where do they live, and what do they do in the world? The Protagonist and Mentor answer: What does the Mentor show or teach the Protagonist?
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Mentor, Protagonist
Activity: Write the scene!
e) Crossing the Threshold.
Scene Description: The Protagonist crosses the threshold into the strange world, and the adventure begins. There is no turning back.
Instructions: The group answers: What does the new world look like? The Protagonist and the Ally answer: How do they set off on the journey? (on foot, by car, on horseback, etc.).
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Ally
Activity: Write the scene!
f) Challenges, Allies, and Enemies.
Scene Description: The hero is forced to form alliances and face enemies in the new world. They overcome obstacles, learning and improving their skills.
Instructions: The Guardian of the Treasure answers: What two obstacles does the hero face? The Protagonist responds with how they tackle these challenges, with possible help from the Ally and the Mentor.
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Guardian of the Treasure, Ally, Mentor
Activity: Write the scene!
g) The Inmost Cave.
Scene Description: The Protagonist finally reaches the goal of their journey—the most dangerous place where the treasure is hidden.
Instructions: The Antagonist answers: What does the secret location look like? Why do they hate the hero? The Protagonist enters with caution but without fear.
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Antagonist, Guardian of the Treasure, Protagonist, Ally
Activity: Write the scene!
h) The Supreme Ordeal.
Scene Description: The protagonist is on the verge of collapse, facing death. The audience experiences the tension alongside the protagonist who must confront their mortality. Near the brink of defeat, the protagonist resists.
Instructions: The Antagonist and Guardian of the Treasure answer: What is the toughest test the hero undergoes? The Ally or the Mentor may sacrifice themselves for the hero. The Protagonist must offer something valuable to succeed. The group (except the Protagonist) decides whether their sacrifice is enough. If not, the Protagonist must offer something even more valuable.
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Everyone
Activity: Write the scene!
i) Forging the Sword, Retribution.
Scene Description: After being “born again”, the Protagonist repels the enemy and secures the treasure.
Instructions: The Protagonist answers the following: How do they defeat the Antagonist? Who vanishes into the chaos of battle?
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Antagonist
Activity: Write the scene!
j) The Journey Back.
Scene Description: The hero flees from vengeful enemies, having stolen the treasure.
Instructions: The Protagonist escapes, leaving past dangers behind.
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Ally (optional), Mentor (optional)
Activity: Write the scene!
k) Resurrection.
Scene Description: The final confrontation with evil. The Protagonist, on the brink of defeat, finds strength and decisively overcomes the Antagonist.
Instructions: The Antagonist survived! Everyone explains how they managed to do so. The Mentor, the Ally, and the Guardian of the Treasure choose the final battle location. The Protagonist must ultimately defeat the Antagonist.
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Antagonist, Everyone (optional)
Activity: Write the scene!
i) The Return Home.
Scene Description: The Protagonist returns home with the treasure and changes the world they originally left. Sometimes, just knowing that the magical world exists is a reward itself.
Instructions: The Protagonist describes their return. Who returns with them? Who awaits them? What is different now compared to the beginning? (It can be a visible or a subtle change.)
Recommended Characters in the Scene: Protagonist, Ally (optional), Mentor (optional)
Activity: Write the scene!
(TIP: Story creation is a collaborative process, either as one large group or divided into smaller teams.) - Preparation for the final play. Use the internet to find images of heroes, then print them out so that children can start working with them. Fashion a small stick-puppet theatre. (TIP: This stage includes preparing both individual characters and the theatre scene, consisting of a backdrop and a few props. Ensure that consecutive scenes are distinguishable from each other. Alternate between interior and exterior settings or between natural landscapes and urban environments. The simpler, the better.) – 60 mins
- Rehearsal. At this stage, it is important for children to get well acquainted with the story. First, read it together out loud. Pause at each scene and point out which characters are in it, and which are not. Repeat this process for as long as needed. Focus on the spoken word, then on the movement of the characters. The children should know when a scene ends and another one begins. (TIP: This is very similar to a theatre play rehearsal: draw from that.) – 45 min
- Shooting the final performance. – 45 mins
Evaluation
(30 mins)
(30 mins)
- Thank everyone for their participation and dedication. Repeat key points and rules. – 10 mins
- Evaluate the workshop. Ask the participants what they liked and what they didn’t like, ask for tips on how to do it better. – 20 mins
Films to watch
8½
Director:
Federico Fellini
Country:
Italy/France
Year:
1963
Length:
138 mins
The Artist
Director:
Michel Hazanavicius
Country:
France/Belgium/USA
Year:
2011
Length:
96 mins
Make it accessible for all
Think of every possible participant and make the workshop accessible to ensure a fulfilling experience for all of them. Here are some tips to help break down barriers among children as well as between them and the lecturer.
Find out in advance about any special needs (via registration form or contact them). If you’re expecting underprivileged participants, you can ask local NGOs that specialise in their circumstances, and ask them to provide an inclusion assistant (as many as are needed). The assistant would attend the workshop and help the children tackle activities they might otherwise not be able to do.
General inclusivity tips:
- group work: this helps gain teamwork skills, focusing on cooperation, relationships, and self-awareness. You can mix group work, frontal teaching, project-based learning, and self-learning.
- choice: we teach self-competence, decision-making and responsibility, inner motivation, and participation.
- use all the senses in the educational process: it’s not just about listening: include activities that let participants learn about the material through touch, taste, smell, and observation.
- reflection: the workshop would not be complete without an end-of-session reflection. Invite people to share what they have observed and experienced. Analyse the session and people’s experience of it, let them give you feedback, and discuss takeaways, points of interest, things learned. This is the most important part of the lesson; be sure to leave enough time for it.
- meaningfulness and connection to real life: spend time discussing real-life situations where they might put to use what they’ve learned, and why it’s important.
- retrieval of knowledge: focus on key knowledge, clarify what children need to learn, check what they already know.
- participation: encourage the participants to take on different roles and tasks during the workshop. Support active participation up to individual limits (information seeker, presenter, timekeeper, helper, artist).
- differentiation and individualisation of learning: the participants don’t have to all hit the same marks, or do all the tasks in the same way or time – 3M/Graded assignments.
Thoughts & Experience
The workshop on the history of film was an enriching and insightful experience that offered a deep dive into the evolution of cinema from its early beginnings to the modern era. The content was well-structured, covering key milestones, influential filmmakers, and the technological advancements that have shaped the industry. The interactive elements, including discussions and film clips, made the material engaging and accessible.
John Smithcampany 
The workshop on the history of film was an enriching and insightful experience that offered a deep dive into the evolution of cinema from its early beginnings to the modern era. The content was well-structured, covering key milestones, influential filmmakers, and the technological advancements that have shaped the industry. The interactive elements, including discussions and film clips, made the material engaging and accessible.
John Smithcampany
The workshop on the history of film was an enriching and insightful experience that offered a deep dive into the evolution of cinema from its early beginnings to the modern era. The content was well-structured, covering key milestones, influential filmmakers, and the technological advancements that have shaped the industry. The interactive elements, including discussions and film clips, made the material engaging and accessible.
John Smithcampany
FOR ORGANIZATIONS
What organisations gain
- the opportunity to reach wider and young audiences
- the opportunity to reach out to people creating their own literary or dramatic works
- short video clips for promotion
Team requirements
- The workshop requires one lecturer with basic knowledge of film education and dramatic narrative construction.
- For groups of 10 or more participants, it is a good idea to also provide an assistant tutor* to supervise and assist the tutor*during the workshop.
- We recommend technical assistance – a person to operate the computer and printer, and help participants shoot the video.
- If the workshop participants include children with special needs (from any disadvantaged group), it is advisable to invite an inclusion assistant/guide who will be fully dedicated to the group, ensuring that all children have as equal and full an experience of the workshop as possible.
- A person to help with production.
Funding tips
Consider the following expenses before running the workshop:
- lecturer’s fee
- technical support
- inclusion assistant’s fee (if relevant)
- venue rental
- equipment
- catering (optional)
- film screening fee
The workshop blends theatre and film. If you are an organisation, you can use funds or grants for both. Or, if there’s a film festival or a showcase nearby, it might be a good idea to invite them to co-organise the workshop. Apart from better promotion, such collaboration can also help with technical support or to cover some portion of the expenses.
Promotion tips
- use any channel available (workshop organizer’s website, social media, newsletter or email invitations)
- create a registration form for people to sign up
- promote the workshop enough in advance to reach people organically
- consider paid advertising on social media (depending on your budget)
- in the description, be clear about what the workshop is about, when and where it will be held, and who it’s for
- post a video invitation from the lecturer or organisation member two or three days before the date
- flyers, posters, radio & newspaper ads (also online)
Find your audience
If your workshop is for younger participants, you can advertise it by contacting teachers, heads of schools, or parents. With teenage students, it’s best to approach either their class teacher or teachers of subjects, as they have a direct impact on students. The workshop may also appeal to students of after-class theatre or drama clubs. Direct email is also an option. For example, you can ask clubs to include your ad in their regular newsletters to their subscribers.
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