REEL PEACE program outline and how it works:

For the teacher/project leader/coordinator:
This project is designed in a particular way to help students learn to work through problems in a non-violent way. As such, we request that you do the project as it is designed to be done, without skipping any of the steps involved.

The objectives of Reel Peace are two-fold. The first objective is for the kids making the movie to learn about themselves, conflict-resolution and problem solving through journaling, improvisational acting, script-writing and acting. All while they are also learning the basics of how a movie is made. The second is for the kids watching the movies to be able to see modeled behaviors that teach them how to use the techniques shown in the movies to solve problems of their own. 

Because there are so many technical things involved with making a movie, it is easy to fall into the trap of having the activities be about moviemaking, and that’s not what this project is really about. It is about the kids learning conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills, and about them showing other kids how to learn the same skills through the completed movie. To avoid this pitfall of having it be about making the movie, the beginning sessions combine lessons about moviemaking, and topics to discuss conflict-resolution to create the storyline. You can also avoid the pitfall by being sure to start each session by creating the context for the program with the kids. The context answers the question: Why are we doing this? You should start each session by asking the question and having the kids create the answer. You may want to start the first two sessions by creating a context for them. They are creating these movies to help other kids learn to solve common problems that they all have. Or they are working on this project to create some answers to problems they all experience through conflict at home or in school. Try to always create a larger context. It should be something inspiring and should set the tone for the entire session.

The Reel Peace activity manual is meant to be followed in the order presented below for best results.
Each Session: 
1. Start with 3-5 minutes of peace. During this time have students close their eyes, breath deeply and visualize in their mind something that makes them feel peaceful. 
2. Do one warm-up exercise from the warm-up sheet. You can find more warm-up exercises online at the web address provided.
3. Have one or two people share something from their journals. 
4. Then go over the activity sheet for that session. 

Each session until the scripts are completed, approved and starting to be rehearsed, should end with one or two groups doing improvisational acting at the front of the room. It is important to use the improv to help to create dialog for the scripts, motivation for the actors and to have the students use the improv to work out solutions to the problems presented in the scripts and learn to work out solutions to their own problems.

Outline for the Program:

Session 1: Handouts: Journaling sheet, What is Improv sheet. Discuss each briefly. Then do activity sheet 1. The Root of the Problem.

Session 2: Handouts: Movie Genres sheet, Key Elements in a Movie sheet. Discuss each briefly. Do activity sheet 2. Keeping Anger from Turning into Danger

Session 3: Handouts: Three Stages of Movie Production. Discuss each briefly. Do activity sheet 3. The Storyteller

Session 4: Do activity sheet 4. Common Issues

Session 5: Handouts: Script Outline for a Scene and Scripting. Discuss each briefly. Choosing a topic for your movie and script writing. This can be done in smaller groups of 5 or all together as one large group.

Session 6: Scriptwriting and improv. Make sure to use the Key Elements in a Movie sheet and also to discuss preproduction again (this is on the Three Stages of Movie Production sheet).

Session 7: Handout: Motivation, Why We Do What We Do? Discuss handout. Finish up scriptwriting. Choose roles for people (Not only for acting in the movie, but if you are having the students also be camera people or in charge of lighting, costumes, props or setting. You do not need to have all of these things by the way, you can just have a camera person and use the kids regular clothes and have them bring in props etc. from home.) Start rehearsals for the script.

Session 8: Rehearsing script

Session 9: Handout: Creating a Shot Sheet and Storyboard. Because you are not doing a play, you are creating a movie, it is important to work out what shots you are going to take with the camera. Work together as a team (either the whole group or the smaller groups) to create a shot sheet and a storyboard for the movie. Rehearse script.

Session 10: Hand out Shooting the Video sheet. Finish shot sheets and storyboards and rehearse script with blocking.

For the rest of the sessions it is your choice to either continue rehearsing or start shooting the movie. It will also be your choice whether to edit the movie or for a fee Where Peace Lives can edit the movie for you. 

Reel Peace was developed under our sister division, Blindmen and an Elephant Productions, our documentary arm of Where Peace LIves. You can learn more about this division by clicking here. Below is a project we shot in 2006 in Peru following Dr. Jeannette Grauer, a dentist who travels to the Amazon each year to bring much needed care to the children in remote villages along the Amazon river. This short documentary highlights the work she is doing down there. Enjoy!