A Study Guide by Katy Marriner

7 INSPIRING INDIGENOUS SHORT FILMS DVD available for purchase through Flickerfest http://www.flickerfest.com.au [email protected] A STUDY GUIDE by KAty mArriner http://www.metromagazine.com.au http://www.theeducationshop.com.au The New Black The New Black (2009) is a This study guide to The New Black is rated PG. series of seven short films accompany The New Black, Teachers should preview the made by Indigenous writers, has been written for upper films before showing them directors and producers. The primary and secondary to students. The subjects series is an initiative of the students. It provides and themes of Ralph, The Indigenous Department of information and suggestions Farm and Aunty Maggie and Screen Australia, in association for learning activities in English, The Womba Wakgun would with the ABC, New South History, Literature, Media and appeal to students in Grades Wales Film and Television curriculum projects exploring 5 and 6. All seven films SCREEN EDUCATION Office and the Pacific Film and the culture and concerns are suitable for secondary Television Commission. of Indigenous Australia. students at all levels. 2 INTroducINg The fIlms Ralph The Farm The Party Shoes Jacob » Drama » Drama » Drama » Drama » 10 minutes » 11 minutes » 11 minutes » 12 minutes » Writer / director: » Writer / director: » Writer / director: » Writer / director: Deborah Mailman Romaine Moreton Michelle Blanchard Dena Curtis » Co-Writer: Wayne Blair » Producer: » Producers: Darren Dale » Producers: Darren Dale John Harvey and Rhea Stephenson and Rhea Stephenson » Producer: Jessie Mangum » Olivia longs to know the » In an attempt to rid her » George and Milly and Max » For ten-year-old Madeline, people who came before mother of sadness, ten- and Gina live on a small it takes more than just her, in a place filled with year-old Jenny devises a station in the middle of the dreaming to survive mystery and wonder. Her plan that will hopefully make outback. While George and school; it takes a friend. mother Lauren, concerned her mother happy. When Max are away fencing, Max with what her daughter her mother discovers that receives news that Gina might discover, is forced the plan involves stealing has given birth to their son to come to terms with her letters from the neighbours, Jacob. Four months later own history and truths. she is forced to make some George and Max return changes in their life. home. Max is thrilled at the prospect of father meeting son for the first time but the joyous occasion soon turns to disillusionment as he realises Jacob is not his child. Nia’s Melancholy Bourke Boy Aunty Maggie and The Womba Wakgun » Drama » Drama » 11 minutes » 11 minutes » Drama » Writer / director: » Writer / director: » 11 minutes SF Tusa Adrian Wills » Director: Leah Purcell » Producer: » Producer: » Writer: Angelina Hurley Andrew Arbuthnot Kath Shelper and Anusha Duray » Producers: Bain Stewart » A young Yalanji girl and Lisa Duff witnesses her sister’s » A father and his adopted suicide. This is the tale troubled teenage son » Aunty Maggie and Uncle Peter of her descent into take a trip to the son’s struggle to feed their three melancholy and her birthplace of Bourke, nephews. The arrival of some journey of redemption. where they try to find the chickens provides a new food right words to say to each source … Eggs! When the other before it’s too late. new rooster becomes more of a headache and nearly SCREEN EDUCATION dies, Aunty Maggie’s quick thinking shocks the family and makes her famous. 3 The New Black » Have you ever heard anyone » What do the films have in common? » Do you know what a referring to something as In what ways do the films differ? message stick is? being ‘the new black’? The New Black is a collection of Message sticks were once ‘The new black’ is often a reference short fiction films. Like short stories, used by indigenous people as point in the world of fashion, for short fiction films offer a condensed a means of communicating. example ‘grey is the new black’ narrative and may or may not be part Messages were painted and or ‘brown is the new black’. of a collection. A short story usually inscribed on a stick, which was then explores one incident, has a single Why do you think the series transported by hand. The person setting, a small number of characters is titled The New Black? who carried the message stick and covers a short period of time. was traditionally granted safe and Working as a class and drawing on » Did you enjoy watching The protected entry to another Aboriginal The New Black make a list of the New Black? Which film did nation’s territory. Those who found features of a short fiction film. you enjoy the most? Why? the messenger on their land had an obligation to safely deliver the Write a review of The New Black » What contribution does The New messenger to the elders of their that makes reference to the Black make to Australian culture? people. The messenger would then individual films in the series. » Have you heard of the Message convey the message to the elders. Your review should offer information Sticks Indigenous Film Festival? Messages included announcements about the series and your of events, ceremonies, meetings, The Message Sticks Indigenous Film evaluation of the series’ worth. happenings and disputes, as well Festival showcases the best new as invitations and warnings. Your review should begin with a Indigenous films from Australia and title. Below the title you should the world. It is an annual event. » A selection of The New Black films provide the name of the series screened at Flickerfest 2010. The seven films in the series The New and a rating that indicates your Black were shown at the Message Flickerfest is Australia’s only judgement of the series’ worth. Sticks Indigenous Festival in 2009. Academy®-accredited short film Indicate the form and genre of the festival screening the best short films You can find information about the series early in your review. You will from Australia and the world annually, 2010 Message Sticks Indigenous Film need to name the films in the series over a ten-day festival at Bondi Beach Festival at <http://www.sydneyopera and the directors of the films. You and throughout a national tour across house.com/About/Program_Message_ should also provide information Australia. Apart from Flickerfest’s Sticks.aspx>. about the subjects and themes of the International, Australian, Documentary film. Provide your reader with plot Post a comment about The New Black and Environmental competitions, they summaries for the films. You should or one of the films from the collection also host a competition for films by comment on how the filmmakers have on the Message Sticks Indigenous school students from across Australia. portrayed their subjects. You should Film Festival Facebook page at Find out more about Flickerfest at comment on how the filmmakers <http://www.facebook.com/group. <http://www.flickerfest.com.au>. have used production elements. php?gid=73960184141&v=wall>. Offer evaluations of the films and the series. What did you like? Why? What didn’t you like? Why? Spend some time reading reviews of feature films before you begin. SCREEN EDUCATION 4 TEACHErS MAy SELECT FrOM THE FOLLOWING ACTIvITIES TO SuPPOrT usINg The New Black STuDENTS’ vIEWING AND CLOSE ANALySIS OF THE FILMS that IN The classroom ArE parT OF The NeW BlAck. ralph The heart of ralph is friendship and belonging. As my first film, it was important to begin with a story that was accessible to me. ralph is a personal diary, made up of fragmented memories of someone being on the outside, about a young Aboriginal girl madly in love with an American teen heartthrob, surviving a world barbed with racism. – Deborah Mailman » What happens? Share your Garth, Madeline’s mum, Dean, » Deborah Mailman, the director thoughts about the plot of Madeline’s teacher and Garth’s of Ralph, has claimed that Ralph Ralph with your peers. dad? Share your choices with a is about the giddiness of first peer and then with the class. love. What moments in the story » What is the most important reveal this claim to be true? message of Ralph? » ‘Get a life … Have a bath.’ – Dean » What does Madeline learn about life? » What does Ralph tell us about life Madeline must endure the unkindness in Redfern, Sydney in 1984? of her classmates. Dean the school » Explain the significance of the bully is intent on making life a following symbols: Madeline’s letters » Dear Ralph, living hell for Madeline and her to Ralph Macchio, the posters teacher doesn’t seem to be all that Hi, it’s me again. It’s been a few days on Madeline’s bedroom wall, interested in protecting Madeline. since my last letter and I still haven’t Madeline’s bandanna and the pink heard from you. My school dance is Why is Madeline bullied? dress in the boutique window. coming up. I would love you to come. Were you surprised by the » Discuss the use of different settings Your number one fan, teacher’s indifference? to tell the story of Ralph. Why is each setting significant? Madeline. » Garth teases Madeline when he Ten-year-old Madeline has a crush draws on her exercise book and » The final scene of Ralph is like a on the karate kid, Ralph Macchio. chopsticks the cockroach but dream come true. Garth arrives By her standards he is the hottest then comes to her defence when in the nick of time. Why shouldn’t teen actor on the planet. That’s why she is bullied in the schoolyard.

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