Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Retired AFL star Adam Goodes is known to many for his resilient journey in the face of detrimental treatment by AFL spectators and the media beginning in 2013.
In this lesson students will consider how the form of archival documentary can be applied to an issue of their choice. They will research for archival footage to effectively communicate a message for their chosen audience. Students will work on segments of the documentary individually, bringing them together to create a group project. The production work in this lesson assists students to experience some of the production activities undertaken by Shark Island Productions personnel in their quest to create an innovative film like The Final Quarter.
Using only archival footage aired at the time, The Final Quarter holds a mirror to Australia and is an opportunity to reconsider what happened on and off the football field. Learn more about the film here.
We highly recommend that students view the film in its entirety before participating in subsequent lessons. Our Watching the Film lessons are designed to support you in facilitating this process. Given the content, it is also important for teachers to communicate with parents and guardians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students before playing the film and/or engaging with the teaching and learning resources.
Note: This film may not be suitable for viewing by all young people. Teachers are advised to use their discretion when deciding whether to show this film. If teaching in a context with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, it is imperative that guidance is sought from the Principal and Aboriginal Education Officer (or equivalent) prior to screening the film.
Learning intentions:
- Students understand the process of selection and omission to construct meaning for an audience in an archival documentary.
- Students understand the scope of the production work completed by Shark Island Productions when they produced The Final Quarter.
- Students develop their editing and media production skills.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Years 9 & 10 Media Arts:
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Experiment with ideas and stories that manipulate media conventions and genres to construct new and alternative points of view through images, sounds and text (ACAMAM073)
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Develop and refine media production skills to integrate and shape the technical and symbolic elements in images, sounds and text for a specific purpose, meaning and style (ACAMAM075)
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Produce and distribute media artworks for a range of community and institutional contexts and consider social, ethical and regulatory issues (ACAMAM077)
Syllabus outcomes: PDM5.2, PDM5.4, PDF5.5, PDM 5.6
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability, Personal and Social Capability
Relevant parts of Years 9 & 10 achievement standards: Students produce representations that communicate alternative points of view in media artworks for different community and institutional contexts. They manipulate genre and media conventions and integrate and shape the technical and symbolic elements for specific purposes, meaning and style. They collaboratively apply design, production and distribution processes.
Topic: Learning Through Film, Social Issues, Creative Thinking
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: The Final Quarter – Assembling Archival Footage – Media Arts – Years 9 & 10
Time required: 100 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – teachers will support groups to produce their archival documentary.
Resources required:
- Archival Storyboard Worksheet – several copies per student (optional)
- Blank A3 paper for brainstorming by students
- Device with internet capability
- Editing software available to all students
- Filing cards (optional)
- Student Worksheet – one copy per student.
Keywords: film, documentary, media, The Final Quarter, archival, footage, conventions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, AFL, footy, football, editing, copyright, message, research, cutting, production, post-production, produce, direct, sound design.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
