- Title – Teachers (I’m still not keen but can’t think of a better choice!)
2. Genre – Originally a political satire with elements of In The Loop, this Drama still contains comedic moments reminiscent of British sketch shows like Monty Python.
3. Character- KATH (32) Loves working with children. She cares about people and believes there is good in everyone. Kath was brought up in Tottenham and currently lives on an estate in Peckham, she always wanted to be a primary teacher and loved her life with her family before the fire which burnt down their house and took her husband and child away from her. Now she lives alone in a big block of flats. She dreams of one day trying to have a family herself again when she is ready. She fears she might not ever be ready to risk the pain again.
Kath is persistent though and will try everything she knows in order to help someone, she’s got gumption and determination and she knows who she is, or she used to. She finds this new world confusing and is trying to stay calm and carry on but because she cares about people, she cares about their point of view.
Learning that her expectations of people need to be managed, people would be considerate and helpful but just get lost in their own opinions. She starts positive, trying to help and gets drowned by it. She wants to keep the unconscious child alive and tries everything in her power to do that, but she needs support and understanding from others.
4.Synopsis
1st Act – Kath is woken by sounds of a child playing and rushes round her flat trying to prepare for her first day back at school after Lockdown. She is haunted by the memory of a family she no longer has. As she makes her way out of the estate, she comes across an unconscious child on the pavement. She calls 999 and starts CPR to try and keep the child alive until the ambulance gets there. Haunted by the first time this happened Kath is determined to make up for her previous mistakes.
2nd Act – Kath’s neighbours start gathering round the incident, some attempting to make helpful suggestions and some just arguing with each other. The phone voice supports her to keep going and Kath does, even while dipping in and out of her own memories. The child starts agonal breathing and Kath sends one of the neighbours to the school to grab a defibrillator and they manage to stabilize her again.
3rd Act – The child’s mum arrives on the scene hysterical and is comforted by the neighbours while Kath continues to give the child CPR while remembering the horrors of what has gone before. The ambulance arrives and both mother and child get in before they speed off again, leaving Kath trembling on the pavement while her neighbours slowly disperse. Kath pulls herself together and heads towards work once more.
Questions to ask yourself.
- A personal view of what the film is “about”, or what the central concept of the film is attempting to achieve dramatically.
A collection of experiences of Covid 19 coming from different perspectives, articulating diversity. Educating yourself for your own survival of life.
- Why you wish to tell this story.
To promote appreciation of education and to explore different viewpoints surrounding our current climate and society.
- Any other extraneous information you feel is necessary, which can include why the concept is new and original, practical and economic constraints, use of metaphor and allegory, limitations on locations and characters, use of action and dialogue, visual storytelling, resolution, genre, etc.
I believe it would be fairly easy to film as there are not many locations and although there is a large cast, because it is set during a time of social distancing, it would not look at all odd to have those measures in place on set. The use of diaglouge will be the most important part of my story telling so I need to concentrate most on that.
- Why are YOU writing this? Why can’t someone else write the project?
I’m writing this because over lockdown I have experienced all of the different characters and points of view mentioned. Also as a (non school-based) teacher I believe I have some idea of the type of person Kath is and wanted to make a comment on how much we under-value teachers and educators in our society.
- Why are you writing the project NOW? Why is it relevant?
Over lockdown we all experienced many different thoughts and feelings and upheaval. We had to adjust to a new way of life. This is my way of exploring some of those themes.
- What makes you qualified to write this piece?
I’ve been a teacher for 5 years and I lived in the same area as I’ve set the piece, so I understand the characters and location
