Australian film podcast

May 3, 2020
Australian Stories

Create a short video essay about an Australian film. In this video essay, you will:

  • Introduce the film by briefly describing its storyline.
  • Briefly discuss the film’s production and reception.
  • Discuss who made the film and describe their style as a director.
  • Analyse the film’s story, commenting on, where appropriate:
    • Opening, development and resolution
    • Point of view from which the narrative is presented
    • Multiple storylines
    • Establishment and development of characters
    • Structuring of time
    • Setting
  • Analyse your favourite scene, commenting on the director’s use of:
    • camera techniques
    • acting
    • mise en scene
    • editing
    • lighting
    • sound
  • What are your overall impressions of the film? Has it changed or reinforced your perception of Australian films?

Write a script

Write a script that incorporates short excerpts of dialogue from the film. Here are some hints for writing a broadcast script:

  • Be clear. When you are writing a script for radio or a podcast, ensure that your meaning is immediately clear to the listener. When you’re listening to audio it is often inconvenient or impossible to go back and register for clarity. Ensure your writing is immediately clear to the audience.
  • Simple sentences. Write simple, direct sentences with a single idea. Try to keep the number of words in a sentence down to twenty.
  • Be conversational. When you’re writing broadcast copy, imagine that you’re talking to a friend. Use contractions like don’t, won’t or can’t. Remember that the most engaging copy acknowledges that you’re talking directly to the audience. Avoid overly formal, stilted language or jargon.
  • Avoid alliteration, sibilance and difficult words. When you are writing broadcast copy, ensure that you read back over it aloud to identify stumbling blocks. Alliteration, a series of words beginning with the same letter or sound, is one example of something that is difficult to say. Sibilance, or successive ‘s’ sounds, also make copy difficult to read. Avoid words that are difficult to pronounce, especially if there are simpler alternatives.
  • Simple words. George Orwell once wrote, “Never use a long word when a short word will do.” This advice particularly applies to broadcast writing. Avoid language intended to obfuscate and inveigle.
  • Active voice. Every sentence has a subject. The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that does something. In an active sentence, the subject does something. In a passive sentence, the target of their action takes the position of the subject. The passive voice is awkward and unnecessarily wordy. Avoid it.
    • Active: John (subject) looked (verb) at the train (object).
    • Passive: The train (object) was looked (verb) at by John (subject).
  • Cut words. Cut unnecessary words from sentences whenever possible.

Examples

Bait – Elsa Liu
Gabriel – Caylie Tan
Razorback – Wilson Wong
The Castle – Mitchell Perrin
Tomorrow, when the war began – Briana Kendirian
Red Dog – Michael Mckenzie
Mary and Max – Theo Papahatzis
The Dressmaker – Reema Chabchoul

Assessment criteria

  • 9-10: A sophisticated discussion of how media codes and conventions are used to communicate meaning, engage audiences express the style of a filmmaker. A sophisticated discussion of how prior knowledge, such as perceptions about the Australian film industry, might influence your engagement with a film. 
  • 7-8: A detailed discussion of how media codes and conventions are used to communicate meaning, engage audiences express the style of a filmmaker. A detailed discussion of how prior knowledge, such as perceptions about the Australian film industry, might influence your engagement with a film. 
  • 5-6: A satisfactory discussion of how media codes and conventions are used to communicate meaning, engage audiences express the style of a filmmaker. A satisfactory discussion of how prior knowledge, such as perceptions about the Australian film industry, might influence your engagement with a film. 
  • 3-4: A limited discussion of how media codes and conventions are used to communicate meaning, engage audiences express the style of a filmmaker. A limited discussion of how prior knowledge, such as perceptions about the Australian film industry, might influence your engagement with a film.
  • 1-2: A basic discussion of how media codes and conventions are used to communicate meaning, engage audiences express the style of a filmmaker. A basic discussion of how prior knowledge, such as perceptions about the Australian film industry, might influence your engagement with a film.