The Witches Study Guide - Film Education

1 All material in this Study Guide Film EducationThe WitchesStudy GuideThe WitchesPart OneHaving read The Witches you are in a position to look at some of the decisions which have to bemade in adapting a story for the puts up the thousands of pounds needed for making a film, they will want to be sure that thefilmmakers have thought everything out will also want to be sure that the film will attract audiences. People who put money into makingfilms do so as an investment. They do not want to make a loss. They hope to make a AudienceBefore you do anything else, you need to think about who is likely to want to see a film based onRoald dahl s book The Witches .Pair work:Talk to each other and agree on the following:1. The probable age range of the audience that the film will appeal Whether the film will appeal more to girls than to boys, or equally to Whether parents will approve or disapprove of the film, or will be guided by their The likelihood of the film appealing to the same audience in other help you now to understand how the story may be adapted for the cinema, you need to considersome of the choices a script-writer has to make in the beginning to write the film CharactersIf you have not already done so, you should spend some time discussing with each other how RoaldDahl presents his main characters in The Witches .

2 Are they one-dimensional or do they have good and bad sides?Decide whether or not you would want to present these characters from the book the same way in a film of The Witches bearing in mind the likely audience you have identified for the a character description using the table below, or make a labelled drawing if you prefer, of one ofthe following characters:The grandmotherThe witch who approaches Luke in EnglandLukeThe Hotel ManagerBrunoThe Grand High WitchCharacter _____General appearanceHabitual expressionsPosture & habitual gestures or mannerismsHairstyle. Features to be emphasised with make-upClothingVoice qualitiesHow I want people to understand my characterWork in pairs on one of the following. If you are not sure what is meant by a storyboard , get yourteacher to explain.

3 Some pairs should work on the opening sequence, others on becoming a mouse or the ending .THE OPENING SEQUENCEHow a film begins is important for getting the audience s attention and interest. Look again at the firsttwo chapters of the book, then discuss what you will have as your opening you can storyboard this opening sequence, so much the better. It should last about 4 or 5 minutesand accompany the title and other credits. Avoid any dialogue, but think of what music would be goodto go with A MOUSEOne of the most exciting parts of the story is when Bruno joins the Grand High Witch on the platformof the hall, and then suddenly, "Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-maker" takes effect, and Bruno turnsinto a mouse. Do you want to make this scene look shocking in the film, or do you think you need tobe careful of frightening your likely audience too much?

4 Remember, shots filmed at different timescan be edited together to look as if something is happening without a break. You can also edit-inshots of other people, their expressions, and their apparent responses to what is going how you think this scene should be done. Make rough notes of your ideas. Then make astoryboard from your notes and in the sound column add what kind of sounds (music, effects etc) youthink would be ENDINGThe last two chapters of the story (following The Triumph at the hotel) consist mostly of Luke and hisgranny talking to each other. Look at them to remind yourself of what they question for you is whether you would end the film in the same way. Discuss this with yourpartner, then write short notes on how you might end the film.

5 Start with Luke (who is now a mouse)and his granny back in their house in Norway, and introduce any changes to the story that you a storyboard from your now you will have realised that in adapting a story for the cinema, you can stick rigidly to the storyor you can treat it more as a basis for a film. You have just made some of the choices that ascriptwriter, working from the story of The Witches , would have to make in writing the equally important choices have to be made later, usually by the film director, when the script isfinished. The choice of locations, for instance, and the choice of actors, all of which will affect the lookof the film, and what people will make of it when they see the film!Part TwoNow that you have seen the film of The Witches you will be able to compare the choices thefilmmakers made in adapting the story for the cinema with your own choices.

6 Some preliminary workis necessary work:1. Talk to each other about what you liked and disliked about the Make a list of all the ways in which the film differed from the Discuss and see if you can agree on the three most important ways that the film differed from for some more detailed work on what the filmmakers did with the story - the choices they CHARACTERSU sing the table that you used before, describe how the character you took was presented in the yourself how the filmmakers wanted the audience to understand this character and write what youdecide into the box in the work in pairs on one of the following whichever you worked on before the opening sequence , becoming a mouse or the ending .THE OPENING SEQUENCEWhat did the filmmakers choose to use as the opening sequence to the film, to accompany the titleand credits?

7 How were the words of the credits themselves presented? What type of music wasused? What atmosphere did it create?What do you think the filmmakers wanted this opening sequence to communicate to the audience?BECOMING A MOUSEHow did the filmmakers choose to show Bruno changing into a mouse. Make a list of what you canremember of the sequence of the shots. What effect do you think the filmmakers wanted thissequence of Bruno s transformation to have on the audience? How do you think the filmmakers madethis sequence?THE ENDINGHow did the filmmakers choose to end the film? Describe briefly the last few scenes from when Lukeand his granny return to did the filmmakers chose to end the film in this way? What effect do you think they wantedtheir ending to have on the audience?

8 A FINAL DISCUSSIONYou have now done lots of thinking about some of the things that are involved in adapting a story forthe final class discussion can focus on what you think you have learned from your work.