SILENT MOVIE STORYTELLING ASSIGNMENT
Description: You will be working in groups of six (6) to bring a “silent movie” to life on stage.
Each group is to choose a specific genre to work in (i.e. horror, action/adventure, romance,
science fiction, fantasy, etc.) and will establish the major characters, relationships, setting,
conflict, action, climax and final resolution of the conflict. Each “silent movie” will be presented
using NO Dialogue whatsoever.
Time: “Silent Movie” scenes should be between 8-10 minutes in length.
You must tell Ms. Holden-Nims your group’s chosen genre before starting work on your scene.
Your challenge is to be as clear, detailed and imaginative as possible to ensure the audience
understands:
WHO your character is,
WHAT your relationship is with other characters,
WHERE the action takes place,
WHAT the major conflict in the story is,
HOW the conflict builds to a climax and
WHAT the final resolution of the conflict is at the end of the “movie.”
The final resolution may end on a “cliffhanger” where the audience is left in suspense as to what
may happen next to the main characters.
Intertitles: Posters may be used to create titles for lines of dialogue – no more than 4 lines on a
poster or for scene transitions. Letter must be large enough to be read from the audience.
Assessment: You will complete a preliminary worksheet to plan your character, story, conflict
and action – this will be turned in on the day of your performance. You will also complete a post
performance evaluation form.
You will have the opportunity to plan, and rehearse your silent movies in class prior to the final
presentation.
Total: 80 points
SILENT MOVIE CHARACTER & STORY PLANNING SHEET
Draw or find an image online, in a magazine or other source and write about your
character on a separate sheet of paper. This will be your character profile. Use the
following worksheet to help guide your character profile reflection & the silent film story
you’re creating with your ensemble.
1.Who is this character? What does he/she look like and how do they act?
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2.Where is this character? What’s their job/profession? Do they enjoy it?
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What’s your character’s relationship with the other characters in the story? Describe your
feelings.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. What does the character want? (objective) What obstacles prevent him/her from getting it?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. What actions, tactics, business will the character do to achieve their goal/objective in the
story?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Describe some specific emotions/expressions the character will go through in the story.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. What will be the surprise solution/climax for the character in the story?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
“Silent Movie” Performance Rubric
Performer __________________________ Role _______________ Group # ________
A
10-9
B
8
C
7
D-F
6-0
Student created
original and
appropriate internal
and external
characteristics to the
character they played.
Student created
appropriate internal
and external
characteristics to the
character they played
but based most of
them on themselves
Student created
appropriate internal
and external
characteristics to the
character they
played but all of
them were based on
themselves.
Student did not create
internal and external
characteristics to the
character they played
or the ones created
were not consistent
or inappropriate.
Movement
Student was
technically accurate in
the blocking. Their
movement was
creative, believable,
and justified.
Mannerisms were
added to the
characterization and
helped make the perf.
interesting.
Student was
occasionally
technically inaccurate
in the blocking. Their
movement was
believable, and
justified. Mannerisms
were occasionally
added to the
characterization.
Student was
frequently
technically
inaccurate in the
blocking. Their
movement was not
always believable or
justified.
Mannerisms were
not added to the
characterization.
Student was almost
always technically
inaccurate in the
blocking. Their
movement was not
believable or justified.
Mannerisms were not
added to the
characterization.
Preparation
Student was very
prepared for the
performance day.
They were memorized
with blocking and
movement and used
all rehearsal time
appropriately. They
brought in their own
costumes and props
to help tell the story.
Student was prepared
for the performance
day. They were mostly
memorized with
blocking and
movement and used
most rehearsal time
appropriately. They
borrowed some
costumes and props
to help tell the story.
Student was mostly
prepared for the
performance day.
They missed some
blocking and
movement and used
½ of their rehearsal
time appropriately.
They borrowed most
costumes and props
to help tell the story.
Student was not
prepared for the
performance day.
Missed most blocking
and movement and
used less than ½ of
their rehearsal time
appropriately. They
borrowed all
costumes and props
or did not use at all.
Ensembleness
Student and group
worked very
effectively during
rehearsal time. Final
presentation was w/in
8-10 minutes.
Student and group
worked effectively
during most of their
rehearsal time. Final
presentation went 1
min over/under 8-10
min time allotment.
Student and group
worked together ½
the rehearsal time
effectively. Final
presentations
significantly over
time allotment.
Student and group
worked together less
than ½ the rehearsal
time effectively or not
at all. Final pres. was
significantly under the
min time of 8 minutes.
Performance
Characterization
Total Points for Performance Section
GRADE
Story and
Character
Development
A
B
C
D-F
10-9
8
7
6-0
Characters
Relationships
and characters
were clear and
enhanced
throughout the
“silent movie”.
Individual
characters were
apparent but the
relationships
were somewhat
unclear.
Some characters
and relationships
in the “movie”
were clear, but
others lacked
definition and
clear connection
to the plot.
Characters were
not well defined
and relationships
were confusing.
Plot
Plot was so clear
it did not matter
that there was
no dialogue.
Included clear 3
point storyline
beginning,
middle and end.
The general
theme was clear
but specifics
were a bit foggy.
May not have
had clear 3 point
storyline.
The scene was
visually pleasing,
but had no clear
plot. Storyline
was not easy to
follow.
The plot was not
apparent
through the
actions
performed on
stage. Clearly
lacked beginning,
middle, and end.
Music
Music chosen
was appropriate
for the the
“silent movie”
and clearly
underscored the
theme/plot.
Intertitles were
easy to read,
furthered the
plot, and were
appropriate in
number.
Music worked at
some points of
the “movie” but
did not motivate
the piece overall.
Intertitles were
overly used
and/or were
difficult to read.
The music had no
connection to
the plot of the
“movie”.
Intertitles did not
further the plot
or were so
excessive that
the audience
read most of the
storyline rather
than seeing it
visually
represented.
No music was
used. No
intertitles were
used.
Student’s
answers for CA
worksheet were
complete and
creative and
used to create an
original and
interesting
character.
Student’s
answers for CA
worksheet were
complete and
used to create an
appropriate
character.
Student’s
answers for CA
worksheet were
incomplete
and/or not used
to create an
appropriate
character.
Student’s
answers for CA
worksheet were
incomplete
and/or not
turned in and
not used to
create an
appropriate
character.
And
Intertitles
Character
Analysis
Total Points for Analysis Section
Grade
SILENT MOVIE CHARACTER & STORY PLANNING SHEET
Draw or find an image online, in a magazine or other source and write about your
character on a separate sheet of paper. This will be your character profile. Use the
following worksheet to help guide your character profile reflection & the silent film story
you’re creating with your ensemble.
1.Who is this character? What does he/she look like and how do they act?
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2.Where is this character? What’s their job/profession? Do they enjoy it?
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What’s your character’s relationship with the other characters in the story? Describe your
feelings.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. What does the character want? (objective) What obstacles prevent him/her from getting it?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. What actions, tactics, business will the character do to achieve their goal/objective in the
story?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Describe some specific emotions/expressions the character will go through in the story.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. What will be the surprise solution/climax for the character in the story?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Silent Movie – Evaluation Sheet
1. How well did you work as a group? Did your ideas change a lot during the rehearsal
process?
2. What was your character(s) and what skills and techniques did you use to create them?
Give examples of the physical gestures and facial expressions you used.
3. What Silent Movie techniques did your group use in your work? Give examples of still
images, mime, music and placards you used in your Silent Movie.
How did these help to communicate your story to the audience?
4. If you performed again what changes would you make to improve your work?
5. What did you like best about the other group’s work? What was your favorite moment?
6. What have you enjoyed the most during the Movement/Silent Movies topic and why?
7. Finally, write down two goals for your future practical work.